While many people associate New England with some of the world’s best fall foliage, and rightly so, Canada offers many of its fantastic destinations for viewing the array of yellows, oranges, and reds splashed across the region. From British Columbia’s magnificent west coast to the mountains and fjords of Newfoundland, you’re sure to find an ideal spot for an autumn escape here. These views are the best when it comes to a getaway among brilliant fall foliage in Canada.
Alberta's Rocky Mountains
Alberta is home to some of Canada’s most beautiful mountain scenery, with the dramatic Rockies even more stunning in the fall. The area typically experiences relatively warm, dry weather in September and October, while the biggest crowds of the year have left, and visitors have a better chance of finding solitude while taking in the yellows of the aspens and the reds sub-alpine larch trees. One of the best ways to experience it is to hike the 13-mile-long Banff Legacy Trail while watching for wildlife along the way. Other options include mountain biking, overnight horseback riding excursions, and even dinner trains that roll through the colorful trees. It’s easy to find solitude with summer tourists gone and spots for drinking up all of the colors of the aspens and sub-alpine larch. Alberta is renowned for its golden larch trees that are transformed into blazing hues of yellow in the fall.
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Algonquin Provincial Park offers outdoor adventures year-round in a spectacular landscape that spans 4,750 miles and includes forests, rolling hills, and lakes and is dotted by solitary moose. The trees burst into color between late September and early October, the perfect backdrop for exploring the thousands of rivers and lakes. It’s an ideal place to lose yourself in the wilderness, where silence is broken only by the songs of the birds, the ripple of the water, and the occasional rustling of the leaves.
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail is among the most scenic drives on the planet, and when autumn arrives, it becomes even more magnificent. The roadway meanders around the northern shore, where leaf peepers will be awed by the gorgeous hues that blanket the highlands. Continuing on the northern coastline leads into stretches of Highlands National Park with its breathtaking vistas from multiple lookout points and hiking trails. In addition to its stunning landscapes, you can enjoy a laid-back atmosphere as well as a culture with unique Gaelic origins and the soulful sounds of the fiddle in many of the lively pubs.
Niagara Parkway, Ontario
River Road, also known as the historic Niagara Parkway, follows the curves of the Niagara River, which divides the U.S. and Canada. Once called “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world” by Winston Churchill, during autumn, it’s like driving through a gallery of Impressionist paintings. The loveliest stretch during this season is between the towns of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Queenston, at its peak in early October. The maple trees that edge the river create a changing panorama of gold, orange and red while the grass is still lush and green. Along the way, you’ll find several scenic lookout spots to take it all in, including Heights Park in Queenston, which showcases an impressive vista of the river and Lake Ontario.
Laurentian Mountains, Quebec
The Laurentian Mountains of Quebec offer something for everyone in every season. In the fall, this region boasts flora that changes brilliantly, from the golden birch trees to the sugar maples, with bursts of orange, yellow, and red that typically peak from the end of September through mid-October. The rolling hills, mountains, and lakes make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, and you’ll find plenty of options for fueling up those adventures too. This area boasts a rich, diverse cultural scene thanks to the mix of people who settled in the area: Amerindians, French, Irish, and Scots.
Butchart Gardens - Victoria, Vancouver Island
Blankets of autumn hues blanket Canada’s western regions, including Vancouver Island off the west coast. The capital city of Victoria boasts plenty of fun attractions, including the serene and foliage-filled Butchart Gardens. Its famed Japanese Garden is a showcase of vibrant maples and golden chrysanthemums, peaking from late September to mid-October. By then, the summer crowds have dwindled, and the weather is often ideal. There are plenty of outdoor adventures in remote areas nearby, including multiple hikes in Pacific Rim National Park.
Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick
The variety of trees and colors in New Brunswick compares to that of New England, but here you won’t have to battle the crowds. Those who arrive in mid-October should explore the Bay of Fundy region, the last to experience fall’s transformation, creating an impressive array of colors along the coast. Fundy Coastal Drive, similar to Cabot Trail on Cape Breton, is ideal for a leaf-peeping maritime adventure where you’ll not only view the various shades of yellow, orange, and red but witness some of the highest tides on the planet.
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador
The west side of Newfoundland is home to Gros Morne National Park. It is renowned for its outdoor adventures, dramatic forest-covered mountains, freshwater fjords, and rugged shorelines, all highlighted by the striking colors of autumn. It stretches nearly 700 square miles as part of the Long Range Mountains and is dotted with tiny seaside villages while thousands of moose roam the land – one of the world’s highest moose densities. The best way to experience it is to get out and hike on the Baker’s Brook Falls or Western Brook Pond trails or, if you’re looking for big thrills, view the canopy of color from a zip-line with Marble Zip Tours.
Confederation Trail, Prince Edward Island
The forests of Prince Edward Island, one of the best places to visit on the Atlantic side of Canada, burst into an extraordinary array of colors in autumn. It also enjoys one of the most prolonged fall foliage periods in the northeast region of the continent due to the warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, creating a relatively moderate climate. Autumn brings vibrant apricot-orange sugar maples and splashes of reds from the cherry, sumac, and red maple trees mixed in with the brilliant yellows of beech, birch, and poplar. The color can often be enjoyed from mid-September through late October, with the many trails in the area offering a great way to experience it, including the Confederation Trail.
Mont Tremblant, Quebec
If you’re looking for fall foliage without the crowds, head to Mont Tremblant. In the first half of October, you can enjoy stunning autumn foliage around this area of Quebec in the Laurentian Mountains. Locals refer to fall in this spectacular region as “les couleurs,” which means “the colors” in French because they’re truly impressed with everything from golden birch trees to sugar maples creating dazzling hues. The soaring mountains, rolling hills, and lakes in the area make it a popular destination for outdoor adventures like hiking and paddling, and you’ll find plenty of tasty cuisines to fuel up for them thanks to the diverse culture.
