Scarlet reds. Deep yellows. Brilliant oranges. Canada is a great place to witness autumn’s glory. Here are some recommendations on where to see great fall colours in Canada.
ONTARIO
Muskoka is a great place to see fall colours change, with quiet roads and wide open lakes that make the viewing all that more spectacular. The RMS Segwun and the Wenonah II ships traditionally run out of Gravenhurst into mid-October and offer amazing fall colour trips. The hills around Huntsville and Dorset also are ideal for fall colours, as is Killarney Provincial Park, north of Parry Sound. Caledon and the Forks of the Credit River area are wildly popular with fall colour enthusiasts, with lots of elevation changes to improve the view. I’ve never had the pleasure, but folks who’ve tried it say the Agawa Canyon train trip near Sault Ste. Marie is one of the best ways to see the fall colours. The website 400eleven.com keeps track of fall colours for you. You also can try ontarioparks.com/fallcolour. Can’t manage a getaway from the GTA? In Burlington, the Mount Nemo Conservation Area has outstanding views from the top of the Niagara Escarpment. Toronto and its surrounding suburbs have wonderful ravine parks and open spaces. Sunnybrook Park has lovely fall colours, as well as ¬a riding stable where you can watch the horses go through their paces. Or take a dipsy-doodle drive over the bridges that span the Rouge River in northeast Scarborough.
Take a ride on one of the Muskoka Steamships out of Gravenhurst and enjoy the fall colours on wonderful Lake Muskoka. PHOTO COURTESY MUSKOKA STEAMSHIPS & DISCOVERY CENTRE
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver offers a surprising amount of fall colour in places such as Stanley Park and Queen Elizabeth Park, where you’ll find more deciduous trees than you would in the mountains or areas further north. Rent a bike at any number of spots near Stanley Park and take a ride along the seawall for great autumn displays in shades of red and yellow mixed with deep green cedars and other evergreens. The Okanagan Valley serves up wonderful food and wine and some lovely fall foliage displays.
Stanley Park in autumn. JIM BYERS PHOTO
ALBERTA
The Icefields Parkway is best known for its Rocky Mountain views, glaciers and wildlife. The evergreens obviously don’t change colour, but you’ll find more than enough deciduous larch trees and aspens that shift from green to iridescent yellow and red in the fall. Take a gondola ride in Jasper, Lake Louise or Banff for gorgeous views of the countryside, or try the hike at Sunshine Meadows, where you’ll pass lovely mountain lakes and can work your way over the border into British Columbia. Edmonton has surprisingly pretty fall colours, especially if you stroll or ride your bike along the North Saskatchewan River valley. Try a ride along the Cowboy Trail south of Calgary for a gentle, pretty drive along the Rocky Mountain foothills. And be sure to stop in the town of Turner Valley for a great burger at Chuckwagon Cafe.
QUEBEC
Rent an electric bike in Montreal with Dyad Cycles, then take it for a spin to the top of Mount Royal. You’ll be rewarded with sensational views in one of the world’s great urban parks, plus tremendous views of downtown and south towards the Eastern Townships and the U.S. border. Even better, make the drive from Montreal to Quebec City on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, taking in Trois Rivieres or dipping north into the Mont Tremblant area, where you’ll find fantastic hiking and changing colours from maple, birch and beech trees. Not to mention views that go on just short of forever. Also worth checking out is the Charlevoix region, just east of Quebec City on the St. Lawrence River. You’ll find lovely inns and great art galleries. Another great bet is along the Ottawa River near the Fairmont Chateau Montebello.
The grounds are oh-so-lovely at the Fairmont Chateau Montebello. – JIM BYERS PHOTO
NOVA SCOTIA
The Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia is a great spot for a Maritimes getaway. You’ll find lovely views from the hills on either side of the valley, as well as pretty rivers and tall, white church spires popping up between the red and yellow maple trees. Small cities such as Bridgetown, Annapolis Royal and Wolfville have tons of charm. The city parks in and around Halifax are often ablaze with colour. Or try the drive along the coast near Mahone Bay and lovely Lunenburg, where you’ll also find colourfully painted homes in a dazzling array of hues straight out of the crayon box. And don’t forget Cape Breton, home to one of the world’s great drives, the Cabot Trail.
AND ALSO….
– Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg is one of Canada’s top urban parks.
– Butchart Gardens in Victoria is a world-renowned repository of flowers and beautiful trees.
– Newfoundland & Labrador gets more fall colour than you might expect. Try the Deer Lake and Corner Brook areas.
– Prince Edward Island is gorgeous in fall, with trees that sometimes match the red in Anne of Green Gables’ hair.
– Saskatoon sits on the South Saskatchewan River, and you’ll get great views from the city’s bridges or by walking the riverside trails.
