Fall Colours With Your Dog: 10 Autumn Walks in Hamilton & Burlington (2026 Guide)

Published October 2026 · ~7 min read

Hamilton has more than a hundred waterfalls and a front-row seat on the Niagara Escarpment, and October is when all of it turns red, orange and gold. Better yet, nearly every great fall walk around here welcomes dogs. We’ve been part of this community since 1993, and these are the autumn walks our team and our customers keep coming back to. A few popular spots now need a reservation, so read the fine print before you load up the car.

When is peak fall colour around Hamilton?

Usually from early to late October. The Hamilton Conservation Authority notes that colours begin changing in mid-September and last through the end of October, sometimes into November, and that the western end of the watershed tends to peak before the east. Weekday mornings are the sweet spot: softer light, cooler temperatures for your dog, and far fewer people on the stairs.

10 dog-friendly fall walks at a glance

Can I bring my dog to Dundas Peak, Tew Falls and Webster Falls?

Yes, leashed dogs are welcome, but you need a reservation. For fall 2026, the HCA requires online reservations seven days a week from September 26 to November 8, with no walk-up or same-day entry, and walk-ins from the road are turned away. Book at hcareservations.ca: slots open nine days ahead at 7 a.m., each reservation covers one vehicle and includes parking, and you choose two hours at Webster Falls, two hours at Tew Falls and Dundas Peak, or four hours for both. Fees are per vehicle and per passenger plus a $10 reservation fee, and your receipt also gets you into other staffed HCA areas the same day.

Tew Falls drops 41 metres into the gorge, and the trail from there to the Dundas Peak lookout is about 1.8 km one way, uphill with stairs, so plan an hour to an hour and a half. Webster Falls is gentler, with beginner-friendly trails and an accessible lookout. The two areas aren’t connected by trail, so drive between them. Street parking nearby is enforced and illegally parked cars are towed.

Which walks don’t need a reservation?

Most of them. The Dundas Valley Conservation Area is our pick for a full morning: the 3.4 km Main Loop passes the Hermitage ruins and Sulphur Spring under a canopy that glows in October, and the wider 40 km trail system connects to the Bruce Trail. (The G. Donald Trail is closed for storm repairs until further notice.) In Stoney Creek, Devil’s Punchbowl pairs a 34-metre falls with big views over the lake, and the Eramosa Karst has more than 7 km of quiet trails and boardwalks through meadow and forest. Both are a short drive from our store on Nebo Road, so they’re an easy add-on to a food run.

For something shorter, Albion Falls is a 19-metre cascade viewed from platforms on the north side, and the Escarpment Rail Trail starts from the same Arbour Road lot. The Chedoke Radial Trail is a gentle 2.7 km stretch along the brow of the Mountain, and the waterfront path through Bayfront Park is flat, paved and perfect for senior dogs or short legs.

What about Burlington?

Mount Nemo is Burlington’s classic escarpment walk, with loops from 1.4 to 3.3 km and a lookout where you can spot the CN Tower on a clear day. Reservations aren’t required but are recommended through Conservation Halton, and booking online is cheaper than paying at the gate (and Mount Nemo’s gate isn’t always staffed). Along the bay, the Royal Botanical Gardens’ Hendrie Valley trails welcome leashed dogs on a 1.6 km marsh boardwalk, where you might catch the fall salmon run. Pets aren’t permitted in RBG’s gardens, the RBG Centre or the Rock Garden, just the nature trails. Heads-up: the Cherry Hill Gate parking lot is closed October 2–4, 15–18 and 22–25, so check RBG’s site before you go.

What are the rules for dogs on Hamilton and Burlington trails?

• Leash, always. Hamilton’s pet by-law and Conservation Halton both require a leash no longer than 2 metres, and HCA requires pets on leash at all times. In Burlington, dogs are off-leash only in the city’s designated leash-free parks, so trails like Kerncliff Park are leash-only.
• Stay on marked trails. Making your own path counts as trespassing, and there’s no public access to the bottom of Tew, Webster, Albion or Devil’s Punchbowl falls.
• Keep back from edges. The City of Hamilton’s waterfall safety guidance asks everyone, especially children and pets, to stay at least one body length from the edge. A short leash matters most near a gorge, where one squirrel can end in a fall.
• Beaches are off-limits at HCA parks unless posted as a pet beach, including the main beach at Christie Lake.
• Know the Bruce Trail exception. Dogs must be leashed on the Bruce Trail, and one short section near Waterdown (beside Patterson Road) is closed to dogs at the landowner’s request.
• Pick up, every time. Leaves hide it, but everyone’s boots find it.

What fall hazards should I watch for on the trail?

Three big ones. Ticks are more active in fall, not less, and leaf litter is prime habitat, so do a nose-to-tail check after every walk and keep your vet-recommended prevention going. Our tick guide shows safe removal. Wild mushrooms pop up after fall rain; treat every one as suspect and keep your dog from grazing. And wildlife: HCA posted a coyote activity alert at the Eramosa Karst this year, so keep small dogs close, especially at dawn and dusk. Our fall pet safety guide covers all three in detail.

What should I pack for a fall walk with my dog?

• Water and a bowl: cooler days still mean thirsty dogs on hilly trails. The Messy Mutts collapsible bowl packs flat.
• A secure harness: stairs and crowds are easier with a no-pull option like the RC Pets Pace harness.
• High-value treats: for recall and polite passing on narrow trails. Zuke’s Mini Naturals are small enough to hand out all walk.
• Waste bags: a spare roll of Earth Rated bags (a Canadian brand) in every jacket.
• A warm layer and visibility: late-day walks get chilly and dark fast. The RC Pets Starling reflective jacket keeps short-coated dogs warm and visible in one layer, and the RC Pets Luna vest slips over anything for the walk back to the car.
• An old towel: for muddy paws before they hit the seats.

Heading out more than once this season? Our summer GTHA dog-friendly guide lists local off-leash parks for the days you want to let them run.

The bottom line

Book Spencer Gorge early if Dundas Peak is on your list, and otherwise just go: Dundas Valley, the Punchbowl, the Karst, Mount Nemo and Hendrie Valley are all waiting, leash on and tick check after. We’d love to see where your dog takes you this fall, so share your photos with us on social, and stop by 45 Nebo Road on your way up the Mountain for trail treats.

PetMax.ca is a family-owned, Canadian pet supply retailer based in Hamilton, Ontario. We’ve been helping pet owners since 1993, ship across Canada with free shipping on orders over $89*, and offer free local delivery in Hamilton and Burlington on orders over $30*. This article is general information, not veterinary advice. When in doubt about your pet’s health, contact your veterinarian.
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