The Ultimate Fall Guide to Peterborough & the Kawarthas
There is something about fall in Peterborough and the Kawarthas that just hits differently.
The lakes get quieter, the trees turn every shade of red and gold, sweaters come back out of storage, and suddenly spending an entire Saturday driving around looking at leaves and buying baked goods feels like a perfectly reasonable plan.
Whether you live here, you’re visiting for the weekend, or you’re considering making Peterborough and the Kawarthas home, fall is one of the best times to explore this part of Ontario.
So grab a coffee, bring a sweater, and maybe clear some space in the trunk for an unreasonable number of pumpkins. Here are some of my favourite ways to enjoy fall in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Go Chasing Fall Colours
Let’s start with the obvious.
Peterborough County is beautiful year-round, but fall might be its best season.
One of the easiest ways to experience it is simply to get in the car and head north or east of Peterborough. The Kawarthas Tourism website actually has several pre-planned fall driving routes through the region, including routes through Lakefield, Buckhorn, Warsaw, Keene and the Stoney Lake area.
A particularly beautiful drive takes you north toward Stoney Lake, with stops around Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Buckhorn and Lakefield.
Other routes combine fall colours with places like Warsaw Caves Conservation Area, Lang Pioneer Village and local farm markets.
My advice? Don’t rush it.
Pick a route, stop when something looks interesting, grab lunch somewhere local and make an afternoon of it.
Take a Fall Hike
Cooler temperatures + fewer bugs + colourful trees = elite hiking season.
There are plenty of trails around Peterborough and the Kawarthas that are especially beautiful in September and October.
A few to put on your list:
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area
A local favourite with trails, forests, lookout points and the area’s famous caves. It’s a great option when you want your fall walk to feel like a bit more of an adventure.
Mark S. Burnham Provincial Park
Just east of Peterborough, this is an easy option for a shorter fall outing. The park has approximately 2.4 km of trail through mature forest, including old maple, beech, elm and hemlock trees.
Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary Nature Area
There are three loop trails here, ranging from approximately 1.9 km to 2.9 km. It’s an easy way to get into nature without travelling far from Peterborough.
South Drumlin Loop
Located around Trent University, this approximately 3.4 km loop includes views of the Trent Canal and surrounding landscape.
And if you’re up for a bigger adventure, Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park is hard to beat for that true Ontario wilderness feeling.
Visit a Farm, Pumpkin Patch or Fall Market
Is it really fall if you haven’t bought a pumpkin directly from a farm?
One of the best things about living in the Peterborough area is how quickly you can go from downtown to farm country.
Throughout the Kawarthas you’ll find farm stands, local produce, pumpkins, corn mazes and seasonal treats.
Vanderview Farms, near Norwood, is one to watch for fall fun, with produce, seasonal photo opportunities and a corn maze.
You can also explore farm markets and producers throughout Douro-Dummer, Selwyn, Otonabee-South Monaghan and Asphodel-Norwood.
A local fall drive with a farm stop is also an excellent excuse to come home with apples, squash, preserves and six decorative gourds you absolutely did not need.
Put Applefest on the Calendar
If apples are more your fall personality than pumpkins, head to Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on Sunday, September 27, 2026 for Applefest.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and celebrates the fall harvest with apples, demonstrations and seasonal activities, including the historic cider mill in operation.
Lang Pioneer Village is already a beautiful place to visit in the fall, so this one makes for a great family outing.
Check Out the Keene Pumpkin Festival
Another one worth putting on your calendar is the Keene Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Keene is only about 15 minutes east of Peterborough, and the annual festival turns the village into a full-on celebration of fall.
If your ideal October weekend involves pumpkins, small-town Ontario and autumn scenery, this is an easy addition to the bucket list.
Experience a Classic Fall Fair
Fall fairs are one of those traditions that make smaller Ontario communities so much fun this time of year.
The Norwood Fair takes place over Thanksgiving weekend and has been a local tradition since the 1800s.
Think agricultural exhibits, competitions, entertainment, food and the kind of community atmosphere that makes you remember why living outside the GTA can be pretty great.
If you’re willing to venture a little farther west, the Lindsay Exhibition also runs from September 19 to 27, 2026.
Explore Local Arts & Culture
Fall isn’t only about pumpkins.
The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour gives you a chance to explore the work of local artists throughout the region while simultaneously getting one of the prettiest drives of the season.
It’s basically fall-colour sightseeing with an artsy side quest.
There are also fall programs happening throughout Peterborough at places including the Art Gallery of Peterborough, Peterborough Museum & Archives and other city cultural facilities.
Make Your Own Coffee + Fall Colours Tour
This might be my personal favourite.
Choose a town, grab a coffee and wander.
Start in Peterborough, explore East City or downtown, then head toward Lakefield. From there, continue north toward Buckhorn or Stoney Lake.
Or make a completely different day of it and head east toward Keene, Warsaw and Norwood.
The best fall days around here don’t necessarily need a complicated itinerary.
Coffee. Cute town. Country roads. Fall leaves. Bakery stop.
That’s the itinerary.
