Canada’s 5 Prettiest Fall Camping Destinations
Updated: Nov. 13, 2024
Towering forests of red and yellow, crisp autumn air, cozy campfires, and, of course, not a mosquito in sight. These five fall camping destinations in Canada will make you wonder why you ever pitched a tent in the summer.
Fall Camping Destinations: Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Standing beneath a cathedral of trees with orange and red maple leaves, it’s hard to imagine a better place to experience fall in Canada. It’s no wonder thousands of tourists travel to Algonquin as a prime fall camping destination, as soon as the temperature drops and the bugs have packed it in for the year. The majestic colours of sugar and red maple trees are best seen in mid-September to mid-October. Aspens, tamaracks and red oak trees, on the other hand, hit their peak in mid-to-late-October. You’ll also have a chance to see big bull moose, antlers now full-grown, ready for mating season. In the evenings, channel your animal spirit and howl with the wolves. Algonquin Provincial Park is the mother of fall camping destinations.
Fall Camping Destinations: Jasper National Park, Alberta
With rugged mountains, glaciers, forests and wild rivers, Jasper is just about as Canadian as it gets, making it a perfect fall camping destination. Fill up your thermos with hot chocolate and take your pick of hiking trails–there are more than 1,200 kilometres of them–showcasing a brilliant display of fall colours. At night, bundle up in your sleeping bag next to the crackling fire as you get reacquainted with the night sky. Jasper is home to the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve, an area free of artificial light pollution, making it easy to spot countless stars and constellations with the naked eye.
Fall Camping Destinations: Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
Whether you’re coming for the cool ocean air or a unique showcase of fall colours, the Cape Breton Highlands will not disappoint. Bundle up and explore the Cabot Trail where the only sound you’ll hear will be the leaves crunching under your boots. Cold-blooded campers can even try pitching a tent by the sea. If you like back-country camping, go for ‘Fishing Cove.’ Want a large kitchen shelter and flush toilets? Try ‘MacIntosh Brook.’ There’s lots to choose from in these Maritime fall camping destinations.
Fall Camping Destinations: Banff National Park, Alberta
When you think of beautiful places to travel in Canada, Banff often comes to mind, but perhaps not as a fall camping destination. Banff, to many people, means two things: skiing and snowboarding. That’s just a shame because it’s one of the most beautiful fall locations you could ever hope to discover. If you start to feel the autumn chill creeping into your bones, thaw yourself out in Banff’s soothing hot springs, backdropped by alpine scenery, before retiring for the night at Tunnel Mountain Village II Campground. Still feeling cold? Forget the tent. You should probably take your trailer to the Lake Louise Trailer Campground.
Fall Camping Destinations: Okanagan Falls Provincial Park, British Columbia
You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to appreciate the Okanagan, often called Canada’s Napa Valley, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. Fill a tetra pak with wine to enjoy while watching the sparkly Okanagan River reflect the beautiful colours of autumn. Wine not your thing? Grab some fresh fruit from one of many orchards instead. That way, you’ll have a healthy snack to bring on a hike along one of Okanagan’s lakes. And don’t forget to bring your binoculars: The park is a favourite of bird and bat-watchers alike.
