16 Best Places to See Fall Colours in Canada

As autumn wakes up and shakes its leaves, we’re treated to a spectacle of greens, reds and golds across the country. Next to sinking into oversized knit sweaters, sipping on pumpkin spice lattes and feeling cozy, watching the leaves transition is one of the best things about this time of year. But you need to act fast! It all happens in the blink of an eye.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the top destinations and places to see the fall colours across Canada — from the west coast to the maritime provinces and even up north!

• Stanley Park, British Columbia
• The Buchart Gardens, British Columbia
• Elk Island National Park, Alberta
• Banff National Park, Alberta
• Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba
• Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
• Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Canyon Sainte-Anne, Québec
• Mont-Tremblant, Québec
• Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
• East Coast Trail, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Miscou Island, New Brunswick
• Confederation Trail, Prince Edward Island
• Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
• Dawson City, Yukon

Vancouver’s sprawling Stanley Park is one of the most stunning places to watch the leaves shift from cool greens to warm golds and reds. Breathe in the crisp air as you walk along the seawall or bike through more than 27km of forest trails that get you up close and personal to Douglas fir, red cedar and bigleaf maple trees — many of which are hundreds of years old.

If you love flowers just as much as you love forests, The Buchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay (a 30-minute drive from Victoria on Vancouver Island) is a great spot to do some leaf peeping. There are five unique areas to wander through, but the Japanese Garden steals the show in autumn. Visit from early October through November to take in the spectacular colours of its Japanese maples, dahlias, chrysanthemums and beautyberry shrubs.

Rolling hills, glassy lakes, roaming bison and beautiful displays of fall foliage — you’ll find all of that and more at Elk Island National Park, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve. Located less than 50km from Edmonton, it’s a great option for an outdoorsy day trip.

Banff National Park will take your breath away at any time of year — but it’s especially gorgeous (and peaceful!) during the fall once the summer crowds have disappeared. Whether you’re road tripping on the Trans-Canada Highway or staying in the small town of Banff, make sure to catch a glimpse of Lake Louise and the Bow River. The reds and oranges of the area’s sub-alpine larch and aspen trees really pop against the turquoise waters.

In addition to being home to some of the best fall colours in Canada, Riding National Park is an idyllic spot for a fall getaway. The little town of Wasagaming (approximately 100km from Brandon) is full of quaint accommodations and restaurants, including the Whitehouse Bakery. We bet the French Toasted Cinnamon Bun tastes even better after a walk around Clear Lake.

The Ontario Parks website boasts an in-depth fall colour report. If that doesn’t convince you that Algonquin Provincial Park (situated between Toronto and Ottawa) boasts some of the season’s most stunning landscapes, we don’t know what will! From mid-September to mid-October, the changing leaves create a kaleidoscope of vivid colour. The park’s sugar and red maples transition first, followed by its birch and poplar trees, and then finally its tamarack trees.

Thousand Islands National Park is a hidden-gem spot for leaf peeping. Right along the St. Lawrence River, about 60km west of Kingston, are granite islands lush with trees and wildlife. We recommend hiking to the lookout at Landons Bay, embarking on a guided kayak trip or camping in an oTENTik (a cross between a tent and an A-frame cabin) at Mallorytown Landing.

There’s no better view of the fall colours than the one you get aboard the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. Making your way from downtown Sault Ste. Marie to Agawa Canyon Park, you’ll learn about the region’s rich history and see the rugged landscapes that inspired some of the Group of Seven’s most notable artworks.

This magical fall destination is less than an hour’s drive from Québec City. So, what makes Canyon Sainte-Anne so special? For starters, its part of the beautiful Laurentian Mountains. For another, it gives you plenty of ways to discover the autumn colours — think hiking trails, suspension bridges that allow you to cross a rushing river and a unique AirCANYON flight experience.

Mont-Tremblant in Southern Québec is one of the top ski resorts in Canada — but it’s just as much of an outdoor playground in the fall as it is in winter! Mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing and more can all be enjoyed against a backdrop of sugar maple trees and birch trees. Colours begin to change in early September and continue to mesmerize visitors with their red, orange and golden hues through the end of October.

New England is famous for its fall colours — but you don’t have to cross the border to experience it! Nestled on Newfoundland’s west coast, Corner Brook is within the Long Range Mountains (the northernmost extension of the Appalachians) and therefore contains many of the same tree species that make Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont so iconic at this time of year.

Coastal scenery and autumn colours collide on the East Coast Trail near St. John’s. Take your pick from 336km of wilderness paths that direct you past towering cliffs, sea stacks, fjords and even a geyser — how you discover North America’s easternmost coastline during the fall is entirely up to you.

Located 300km east of Fredericton, Miscou Island’s fall foliage is super unique; instead of trees, people come here to see the peat bogs. Covering nearly a half (45%) of the island, these wetlands change from mossy greens to fiery reds each year. The largest and most impressive swath of colour can be viewed from the Interpretive Peat Bog Boardwalk near the circa 1856 Miscou Lighthouse.

Thanks to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Straight, Prince Edward Island has a moderate climate — giving it one of the longest autumn seasons in North America. Take advantage of it by exploring the Confederation Trail. Spanning the entire length of the island, walking or biking along this 449km track is one of the best ways to see fall foliage in the maritime provinces.

The leaves on Cape Breton Island begin to change colour in late September — but you should plan your visit for mid- or late-October, when the destination boasts one of country’s most brilliant displays of bright yellow and golden foliage. The best way to see it? Driving along the scenic Cabot Trail.

You can spend almost 24 straight hours appreciating vivid colours in Dawson City! By day, the fall foliage will capture your hearts — and then at night you can likely catch a glimpse of the northern lights (which are visible from the end of August and throughout the entire autumn season).

Don’t miss your chance to see fall colours across Canada! Check out our current travel deals or chat with a Travel Expert today to start planning your cozy getaway.