Okay, okay, okay. We all get sad when summer ends, but is there anything better than the first few weeks of fall?
Think of those sweaters, scarves, pumpkin-spice-something-or-others and of course, gorgeous fall colours. If you’re in need of a little post-summer pick-me-up, we recommend getting outside and experiencing just how beautiful autumn in our province really is. Here’s our guide to spotting the best fall foliage in BC:
1. Campbell Valley Regional Park – Langley, BC
Located in south Langley, Campbell Valley Regional Park is home to abundant trails, ponds, bridges, marshes, meadows and stunning fall foliage. Aside from the seasonal highlights, be sure to check out the historic Lochiel Schoolhouse, a single-room school that was built in 1924.
2. Green Timbers Urban Forest – Surrey, BC
Enjoy the gorgeous fall colours from Green Timbers Urban Forest’s network of nature trails, each of which traverses the area’s scenic second-growth forest. In addition to fall foliage, Green Timbers also stands as one of Surrey’s largest parks and the birthplace of reforestation in BC.
3. Kootenay Lake Region – Nelson, BC
Whether you’re kayaking, paddleboarding or hanging out on the dock, autumn is a lovely time to be out on the lake. Just remember to take in those wonderful autumn colours while you’re there! Most of Nelson offers up idyllic views of the quintessential fall colours, but there’s nothing like experiencing it from the water.
4. VanDusen Botanical Gardens – Vancouver, BC
You’ve got to take a walk through VanDusen Botanical Gardens in the autumn. In addition to traditional fall leaves, each of the themed gardens showcases how the changing seasons can affect various other species of trees and plants.
5. Beacon Hill Park – Victoria, BC
Located in downtown Victoria, Beacon Hill Park offers 200 acres of quaint coastal beauty. It’s a fantastic place to walk around, breathe in the fresh air and take in the seasonal colour palette.
6. Stanley Park – Vancouver, BC
This one may be obvious, but skipping Stanley Park during the fall season would be an absolute travesty. There are a ton of great spots within the park to catch the reds, yellows and oranges, but the seawall makes for an especially spectacular setting.
7. Highways 24 and 26 – Cariboo Region, BC
Highway 24 in the South Cariboo, otherwise known as the Fishing Highway, stretches from Little Fort to Lone Butte and features some drop-dead-gorgeous fall foliage. Another option is Highway 26 between Quesnel and Barkerville in the north Cariboo region.
8. Queen Elizabeth Park – Vancouver, BC
Queen Elizabeth Park boasts 130 acres of gardens with both deciduous and evergreen trees. This is the time of year when the colours start changing and the green makes room for the reds, oranges and yellows of fall in Queen Elizabeth’s outdoor arboretum.
9. UBC Campus and Botanical Gardens – Vancouver, BC
UBC’s botanical garden boasts incredible colours year-round, but there’s nothing quite like it in the fall. Red, yellow and orange maple leaves float to the ground amongst the garden’s collection of exotic plants and trees. Skip over to the university’s Main Mall to see what other trees are sporting fall colours.
10. Lions Memorial Park – Merritt, BC
Lions Memorial Park is located in Merritt at 2nd Avenue and Voght Street, along the Nicola River. The park is known for floral displays in the summer months. In fall, the surrounding foliage bursts into a vibrant mix of colours creating a wonderful spot for photo ops, and for simply enjoying the changing seasons.
Ready to explore more? Visit hellobc.com for more fall fun
