Stanley Park seawall with fall colours. Photo credit: Tourism Vancouver / Nelson Mouellic
Fall in Vancouver is all about changing colours, celebrating the harvest, and squeezing in some snow-free outdoor adventures before winter arrives. Here are our picks for Vancouver outdoor activities you’ll want to add to your fall bucket list.
Soak Up the Fall Colours
Autumn is a spectacular time in Vancouver as the weather cools down and the leaves change colour. The bold pockets of red, orange, and yellow leaves stand out against the blanket of evergreen trees. Pack a picnic and your camera, then head out to one of the best places to see fall colours around Vancouver.
The Sylvia Hotel changing into fall colours. Photo credit: Tourism Vancouver / Nelson Mouellic
Visit Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is an easy outdoorsy getaway from Vancouver at any time of year. Fall is a great time to visit to see resident grizzly bears Grinder and Coola before they start their winter hibernation. Since they are fattening up for winter, they are at their chubbiest (and cutest!) right now. Grouse Mountain is running a Back to School special from August 30th until September 30th: Kids tickets are only $5 with the price of an adult Mountain Admission Ticket.
Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Coast Mountain Photography
Take a Hike
Fall is a beautiful time to go hiking: breathe in the crisp air, listen to the crunch of leaves underfoot, and enjoy the canopy of red, orange, and yellow overhead. Vancouver has so many trails to choose from, but for the best autumn colours, choose a trail from our list of the most gorgeous fall hikes near Vancouver. Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you need to stay inside. Check out our list of the best hikes for rainy days.
Fall colours along the Four Lakes Trail in Squamish. Photo credit: Taryn Eyton happiestoutdoors.ca
Watch the Sunset
Fall’s shorter days mean that the sunset is getting earlier and earlier. Take advantage of a dry day by packing a picnic dinner and heading to one of Vancouver’s favourite sunset spots to eat while the sun goes down.
Picnic on Third Beach in Stanley Park. Photo: Tourism Vancouver / Hubert Kang
Pick a Pumpkin
Does anything say “fall” more than a big orange pumpkin? And what could be more fun than picking out your own at one of Vancouver’s pumpkin patches? Use our pumpkin patch listings to find a farm near you.
The pumpkin patch at Taves Family Farms. Photo credit: TavesFamilyFarms.ca
Go Bird Watching
As winter approaches, dozens of bird species migrate south to warmer climates. Vancouver is on the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south migration route for birds flying between Alaska and Patagonia, which makes it a great birding location in the fall. Check out our guide to the best birding spots around the city.
Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. Photo: BC Bird Trail
Stream Outdoors Films from the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Each autumn the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival puts on its fall film series. This year they are showcasing eight award-winning films from the 2021 festival in an exclusive online streaming event between September 1 and September 30. Tickets are just $15 and are valid for all eight films for the entire month.
Photo: Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Go Biking
Each autumn, Vancouver’s tree-lined streets explode into yellows, golds, and reds. Why not enjoy it by bike? There are plenty of great fall photo ops as you cruise along quiet bike paths. If the weather gets too chilly, stop for a pumpkin spice latte break. Use our guide to the best fall bike routes to discover eight places to see the colours change from the seat of your bike.
Biking near Kits Beach. Photo credit: Tourism Vancouver / Hubert Kang
Take Fall Photos
Autumn is a great time for a photo-shoot with a fun seasonal backdrop. Pose in piles of leaves, in front of trees changing colour, in a garden, or in a pumpkin patch. Check out our list of Vancouver’s most Instagrammable fall locations to plan your day.
Photo: Hubert Kang/Destination Vancouver
Explore a Corn Maze
Finding your way through a corn maze is a fun fall activity for all ages. Several Vancouver-area farms have corn mazes you can explore including mini-mazes for kids, scary haunted mazes for brave adults, and mystery mazes full of clues. Use our corn maze listings to plan an a-maize-ing trip.
Photo Credit: Laity Pumpkin Patch
Learn to Forage for Mushrooms
Fall rains bring lots of life to the forest in the form of delicious mushrooms. Sign up for a mushroom foraging tour with Swallow Tail Culinary Adventures to learn all about the fungus among us in Vancouver. You’ll learn to safely identify several species of wild mushrooms including porcini, chanterelle, honey, and oyster. Choose from a two-hour rainforest walk or an interactive online class.
Photo: Swallow Tail Tours
