10 Things you Need to Know About the Fall Loop
Fall in love with Ride the Highlands again this year (see what we did there?). It’s no secret this region has some of the best fall colours in the world, and we’re proud as punch to give you yet another reason to ride your motorcycle.
Fall means no bugs, fresh crisp moody mornings, and lots of reasons to stop to take photos or warm up with some delicious food finds. Be sure to pack light, and to ‘leave’ lots of room for all the fall foraging you’ll do along the way.
Here are 10 things you should know before you head out.
1. The Fall Loop at 278km long, was created with optimal fall colour viewing in mind, winding and twisting its way through some of the most spectacular forests and small towns. You could do it all in a day but we always recommend that you dawdle, take in the sights, and stay overnight.
2. Do the loop counter-clockwise. By going west through Algonquin Park you’ll minimize traffic delays caused by the automotive fall colour enthusiasts.
3. Climb the Dorset Lookout Tower to the top for an epic view of the Lake of Bays below. Advanced booking is required for busy fall colour weekends, otherwise it’s first come first served. Click here for more information.
4. Ride up to Skyline Park overlooking the town of Haliburton. The road up goes through a residential neighbourhood so please keep those throttles tamed. It’s a short walk for some awesome views.
5. There are some stops worth the short detour off the main loop, including Rhubarb Restaurant. Located in Carnarvon, this duo can be found in the same building with the restaurant located above the microbrewery. Fuel up on some delicious food from Rhubarb’s local seasonal menu.
6. Check out the official Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report for the most up to date colour information before you head out.
7. Close to the eastern edge of Algonquin Park, take a break at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre to learn more about the park and check out the great view at their viewing platform. To see when colours are getting to their peak, check out their current live webcam.
8. The Fall Loop takes you on multiple Top 10 Roads including Hwy 60, Hwy 118, and Elephant Lake, Peterson and Loop Road. Feel free to do some ‘down and backs’ on other Top 10 roads that are close to the fall colour route.
9. A little-known fact: Most riders love pumpkin spice drinks to warm up to. Check out all things fall flavoured at Robinson Café & Gelato.
10. There is no better time to test out that heated vest or grips that you installed this summer. Fall riding means lots of layers and don’t forget to pack a couple rags to wipe everything down after the morning dew.
The Fall Loop should definitely be on your to do list before you park the steed for a long winter’s nap. Be sure to take lots of pictures, and tag us at #ridethehighlands so we can share them. Have a ‘gourd’ time!
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