Ottawa's fall colours are hitting their stride in the Greenbelt, and the National Capital Commission has a short list of trails to help you get out and see them.
In a post on Instagram, the NCC (@ncc_ccn) says the colours are "mid-season" across the Greenbelt right now, with yellows and oranges starting to pop. The post opens with the line "The limit (of reasons to love fall) does not exist!" and shares four of the agency's favourite hiking routes for taking it all in.
The four trails
Here is the NCC's list:
- Old Quarry Trail
- Jack Pine Trail
- Trail 31
- Greenbelt Pathway West
The post is bilingual. In French, the routes are listed as Sentier de la Vieille-Carrière, Sentier des Pins-Gris, Sentier 31 and Sentier de la Ceinture-de-Verdure Ouest.
Planning your outing
The Instagram post itself is a teaser. The NCC says parking locations, distances, detailed maps and things to see along the way are all in a blog post linked from its Instagram bio, so that is the place to check before you head out. We have not verified those details ourselves, so rely on the NCC's own page for trail specifics.
The agency also suggests saving the list for your next outing or sending it to someone you would like to hit the trails with. The photos in the post are credited to nadinesperspective, boubikes and charming_ottawa.
Timing matters
"Mid-season" is the key phrase here. The post says the colours are only starting to come in, with the yellows and oranges beginning to stand out, so the Greenbelt could look different from one weekend to the next. If you want to catch the change, it may be worth planning more than one visit, or choosing a trail you have not walked yet.
For anyone in the city looking for a free, low-key weekend plan, a walk through the Greenbelt this time of year is hard to beat. Check the NCC's blog for route details, pack layers and decent footwear, and go see what the trees are up to.
Source: Instagram post by @ncc_ccn, the National Capital Commission, posted October 3, 2026.
