Canada's Best Places for Fall Foliage

The fall colours will soon be at their peak in those parts of the Northern Hemisphere that erupt into colour every autumn. In Canada, the sugar maples in the East are turning a brilliant orange that pops against the deep blue sky, while aspens in the Rocky Mountains are rustling their sunshine yellow leaves. Japanese maples lining entire blocks in Vancouver glow fire red when the late afternoon sun hits them. These brief flashes of fall colour gently ease us into what we all know is coming: months of short, dark days, snow, ice, and (along the West Coast) chilly, unrelenting rain.

But for now – for the glorious months of September and October – we can all enjoy these crisp and colourful fall days.

Many people travel to parts of North America in the fall just to witness the spectacle of the changing leaves. Following is a list of some of the best areas to experience this fall phenomenon in Canada.

Canada's Best Places for Fall Foliage

1. The Niagara Parkway, in Ontario

Just over an hour from Toronto, this is a beautiful drive at any time of year, following the curves of the Niagara River. The best section to enjoy the fall leaves is in between the historic towns of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake. The local Niagara guides on ToursByLocals take pride in showing off the beautiful Niagara region beyond Horseshoe Falls, with its historic homes, wineries and riverside drive.

2. Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains

Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains are famous for their fall foliage. The sugar maples, beech trees and yellow birch are nothing short of dazzling. Ask a Montreal guide to take you on a day trip from the city to see them!

3. The Cabot Trail

The Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Highlands is widely recognized as one of the world’s best drives. At this time of year, it rewards fall colour-seekers in a spectacular way: fiery reds, oranges, rusty browns and golds blanket the highlands and reach their peak by mid-October. Don't miss exploring the Cabot Trail with local guides Brenda or Barbara!

4. Algonquin Park

Algonquin Park is one of Ontario’s most popular parks – but at a staggering 7,000 square kilometres, it never feels crowded. Sugar maples erupt into colour in late September, while the aspens, tamaracks and red oaks reach their peak in the middle or end of October.

5. Banff National Park

While the West is not renowned for fall foliage in the same way as the East, it still puts on a beautiful, if subtler display of colours. A hike up to Lake Agnes from Lake Louise in Banff National Park will be far quieter than in the summer, and reward the hiker with the brilliant yellows of the sub-alpine larch and aspen trees. The larch is famous as the only coniferous tree to shed its needles, and their golden colour splashes across mountainsides. Ask a local Banff hiking guide, like Peter, Greg or Terry, to take you there. Local Tip: This is a bonus, for those of you travelling to Vancouver (where ToursByLocals is headquartered.) This city isn't necessarily known for its gorgeous fall colours, but it should be! Our favourite spot to see fall popping? Join the locals on the 2600 block of Cambridge St, in East Vancouver. Walk down the middle of this quiet residential street and you'll be engulfed in a fiery tunnel of maples that seem to literally glow red in the afternoon sun. Magical.