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16 Outstanding Fall Adventures & Activities in Canada
With fall officially underway in a few short days it’s time to think about what you can do to take advantage of what I think is the best season in Canada. With a little luck we’ll get sunny warm days, cool nights and no bugs.
Here are 16 outstanding adventures and activities I think would be great fun to do this fall.
- The obvious choice is to hit the road or the trails in search of the best fall foliage. Where do you find that? There are fantastic colours all over the country but the best colours are seen in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. Some of the hot spots to visit include the Laurentians, Eastern Townships and Gatineau Hills of Quebec, Algonquin Park in Ontario, Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, the Fundy Trail, Kouchibouguac National Park and some of the river valleys like the St. John River and Miramichi River Route in New Brunswick. In Alberta head to Lake Louise and join the throngs hiking to the Larch Valley, located on the way to Sentinel Pass.
Mount Tremblant, Quebec decked out for fall
- Have you always wanted to see a grizzly bear? With salmon spawning there is no better time to see grizzlies than right now. You can head to Bella Coola on the coast of BC or inland on a multi-day trip to Chilko Lake. Knight Inlet is also a great place to watch them.
- Can you tell the difference between a poisonous and non-poisonous mushroom? If not why not sign up for a course and spend a day outside mushroom hunting. There are a number of Mycological Societies across Canada that offer meetings and outings. Terra Nova National Park in Newfoundland hosts a mushroom foray at the end of September. If you’d rather eat them than look for them check out the Sunshine Coast Mushroom Festival in mid-October.
Edible or poisonous mushrooms? I have no idea.
- Have you ever been to the Adam’s River in the Shuswap region of British Columbia? Every October you can watch thousands if not millions of sockeye salmon return to spawn on the Adam’s River. Big years are considered to be every fourth year – and 2014 is the next big year.
Adam’s River sockeye
- Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan is now a Dark Sky Preserve. This is where you can see some of the darkest skies in Canada – and what better time than at night in the fall before it’s too cold outside. I’ll be heading there next week to explore the park during the day and at night in a Ford Flex - thoughtfully provided by Ford.
- The Celtic Colours International Festival on Cape Breton Island takes place from October 5th to 13th. This is your chance to attend a fiddle or square dancing workshop. Listen to music including Natalie McMaster, a Cape Breton girl. Catch a Gaelic breakfast, try playing the harp or learn how to quilt. There are loads of activities for all ages.
Cheticamp area – where some of the concerts are played
- I remember my grandmother raving about her trip up the Agawa Canyon near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on the Algoma Central Railway. It’s a one day trip that transports you through the forests of the Canadian Shield. Fall colours are spectacular especially in the latter half of September and into the first week of October.
Getting ready to explore the Agawa Canyon by train
- Grapes are ripening in the Okanagan so that means the Okanagan Fall Festival is just around the corner. This year the festival begins September 28th and runs until October 7th. Take a vineyard tour, eat lunch among the vines or learn about wine and food pairings.
Grapes ripening in the Okanagan
- The 61st annual Niagara Wine Festival opens on September 21st and runs until the 30th. Take a seminar on How to Educate Your Senses. Watch the parade, catch some concerts in the vineyards and treat your palate so some amazing wine.
Niagara vineyard beside Lake Ontario
- Beer and bratwurst are the stars – at least as far as food is concerned at the annual Oktoberfest in Kitchener-Waterloo. This is the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany. This year it runs from October 5-13th.
- If you’re a bird lover than catching one of the fall migrations is what you’ll want to do. In Ontario head for Point Pelee. On the west coast visit the Riefel Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver. Snow geese start arriving in early October in huge numbers – between 50,000 and 100,000 birds depending on the year.
Snow geese in flight at Reifel
- It may not feel like fall if you head to Churchill, Manitoba but if you’d like to see polar bears en masse then mid- October to mid-November is the time to go.
Polar bears in Churchill
- Head to northern latitudes in search of the Northern Lights.
- Go apple picking in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia, in the Niagara region of Ontario or in the Eastern Townships in Quebec.
- Visit a local fall fair and search out the biggest pumpkins and squash. Or go to a farmer’s market and support the local farms.
- Get out for one last day in the kayak or canoe.
Kayaking in Calgary
What is your favourite fall activity?
Leigh McAdam
Photo credit: Mount Tremblant, grizzly, Algoma train, Adam’s River sockeye, snow geese, northern lights
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About Hike Bike TravelAvid world traveler. Craves adventure - & the odd wildly epic day. Gardener. Reader. Wine lover. Next big project - a book on 100 Canadian outdoor adventures.
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15 Responses to 16 Outstanding Fall Adventures & Activities in Canada
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I’ve been all over the world – to all continents but Antarctica and to a grand total of 53 countries. I’ve always got some sort of an adventure planned – even if it’s only a weekend. I thrive on change and travel provides that.
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Somehow, 2013 must be the year when I’ll finally come and visit Canada! Every time I read one of your posts and look at the photos my heart tells me that it’s time to go!
Simon recently posted..Ghent, Little Gem of Flanders
Well Simon I hope you come to the Rocky Mountains so I can finally meet you. My door is open.
I would definitely want to see the grizzlies. Although I love giant pumpkins too. I wonder where I can see a grizzly eating a giant pumpkin…
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted..United Airlines lost my luggage, part 2: The wait for reimbursement
I love Autumn in Canada! I always head to a chalet this time of year in either Tremblant or the Laurentians. The colours are so beautiful! And I swear, everything I make has apples in it for a month!
@Charlie Well I’d like to invite myself over and offer myself up as a guinea pig for any apple creation.
I love fall for it’s colors, although I’m a big summer fan
I haven’t been to Adam’s River but must plan it for 2014. It looks like an interesting sight.
Shamis @ Gawaya Travel Blog recently posted..5 Must See’s For A Sweet Tooth In Paris
So many fabulous things to do..what a great list Leigh! I’d love to do all of them. To see the fall colours en mass would be fabulous and the grizzly bears but I would have to head further north to fulfil my dream of seeing the polar bears and the Northern Lights.
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..The Oldest Outdoor Theatre in the World
After reading this list, all my fall activities would sound inordinately dull. You really have some extraordinary nature attractions.
Italian Notes recently posted..Eggplant /aubergine caviar
What a great list of ideas and one that was obviously labor intensive. Thanks for putting this together, Leigh!
Jackie Smith recently posted..TPThursday: Circling the Cyclades
@Jackie My husband asked me how I could come up with a list like that. I said a little creativity and research.
Looks like a beautiful time to visit Canada! I would love to see the polar bears, watch the birds migrate, go for the Niagara Wine Festival… alright, I want to do all of it. *dreams*
Shivya recently posted..Mauritius: 9 Experiences to Take Your Breath Away, Literally!
@Shivya If it’s a good fall and it is this year then the days are usually sunny and warm. It’s such a pretty time of the year.
Hiking is definitely my favourite Fall activity, only because eating pumpkin pie and drinking hot chocolate probably shouldn’t count as “activities!” I miss Fall in Canada, it’s so beautiful! Great ideas to get the most out of such lovely crisp weather
Lauren recently posted..How To: Travel When You’re Young, Married, and Probably Poor
You hit a lot of great fall activities. Hiking and backpacking is my favorite fall activity as the weather is just perfect, especially after the brutally hot summer we had.
Traveling Ted recently posted..Elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand says feed me
@Ted I’ve been hiking most weekends this fall and loving i. The colours are just about at their peak in the mountains too.