Fall officially arrives on Tuesday, September 22, though anyone who has lived through an Ottawa autumn knows the city rarely rushes into it. The reds and golds tend to peak a few weeks into October, giving everyone plenty of time to plan where to go once the leaves really turn.
Local Instagram account @ottawaisnotboring put together a reel rounding up the city's best fall-colour spots, and it's a solid starting list for anyone mapping out weekend walks over the next month.
Downtown and central spots
Rockcliffe Park and the Rockeries are a perennial favourite, with winding trails and river views that turn especially photogenic once the maples change. Major's Hill Park, right beside the Chateau Laurier, offers a mix of open lawns and mature trees with a view over the Ottawa River and into Gatineau. Strathcona Park, tucked along the Rideau River in Sandy Hill, is a quieter option for anyone who wants fewer crowds.
The Dominion Arboretum, part of the Central Experimental Farm, is arguably the most deliberate fall-colour destination in the city: it's literally a collection of tree species chosen for variety, so the palette shifts block by block as you walk through. And the Rideau Canal downtown, especially the stretch near Dow's Lake and Confederation Park, pairs the colour show with a bit of people-watching.
Worth the short drive
A few more spots round out the list for anyone willing to go a little further: the grounds at Rideau Hall, the boardwalks through Mer Bleue Bog (good for reds from the bog's low shrubs), Hog's Back Falls for colour paired with moving water, and Confederation Park near the Canal.
Across the river in Gatineau Park
No Ottawa fall list is complete without Gatineau Park. Pink Lake's short loop trail is one of the most popular in the region come October, King Mountain and Champlain Lookout both offer sweeping views over the Ottawa Valley once the canopy turns, and the Mackenzie King Estate adds some history to the walk with its ruins and gardens.
Colours typically build through early-to-mid October in the region, so there's no need to rush out this week, but it's worth bookmarking a few of these for when the canopy really lights up.
Source: Instagram @ottawaisnotboring
