Best Things To Do In Vancouver, BC In Fall

In Latest on the blog/Vancouver9 min read

While summer in Vancouver gets all the attention, there’s a lot to love about fall in Vancouver too. Why? We get some gorgeous colours on the trees, the hiking trails on the North Shore become less crowded, and the city itself feels a little more peaceful. And while the weather isn’t as reliable, there are still plenty of warm, sunny days left to enjoy. 

This guide shares everything we’ve discovered about making the most of this short season. If you’re wondering where to see the best fall colours or what to do when it rains, you’re in the right place. 

But before we get into the best things to do in Vancouver in the fall, let’s talk about what the weather is really like this time of year. It’s the first question everyone asks 😉

What’s The Weather Really Like In Vancouver In The Fall?

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Although the air definitely starts to feel cooler around mid-September, Vancouver still gets plenty of sunny days. October brings the Pacific rain system and with it, more moody and rainy days. But it’s not constant, it’s more like the weather can’t quite make up its mind. It’s really mid-November when the weather changes significantly. It can rain for many days in a row, most of the leaves have given up and fallen, and on some days you can really feel nature starting its transition into winter. 

We once had Andy’s cousin visit at the end of November and it rained pretty much every day for the whole month she was here 😭. She lives in Stockholm and was laughing at how wet weather just keeps following her around. She did get some sunshine though once or twice, so at least she could see the mountains. 

If you’re thinking of visiting Vancouver in the fall, September and October are definitely the best months. After that, you’d need to accept that it will rain and embrace it.

The Best Hotel To Stay At In Vancouver During The Fall

If you want to experience the feeling of fall in Vancouver, then you must consider the Sylvia Hotel, one of Vancouver’s few heritage buildings. The exterior walls from the ground up all the way to the eighth floor are draped in Boston Ivy (also called Virginia Creeper). In the fall, the vines display the most gorgeous crimson colours and the hotel looks like something you’d see in a romantic movie. Sylvia Hotel is right by the ocean in English Bay and close to the entrance to Stanley Park. This area is one of the best places to stay in Vancouver if you’re visiting and what estate agents here describe as a prime location.

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Places To Go And Things To Do In Vancouver In The Fall (September, October and November)

Here are 8 of the best things to do in Vancouver BC in fall:

Look For Fall Colours In And Around Vancouver

There are many spots to appreciate the leaves changing colours in Vancouver. Most streets are lined with leafy trees and we have no shortage of urban parks either. It’s the last week of September as I write this and I can already see some golds, oranges and yellows on the trees. But it’s typically early to mid-October when the leaves really start to show off. One of our favourite things to do when that happens is to simply walk around Vancouver with our cameras and look for beautiful fall scenes. Here are the spots we love and think are worth your time:

Mountain View Cemetery  

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This is by far the most impressive fall display in Vancouver. The trees turn bright red and the canopy is so thick that it feels like you’re walking through a tree tunnel. If you visit with someone who doesn’t usually get excited about leaves changing colour, there’s a high chance this place will change their discernment. Naturally, it’s a place of memorial, so be respectful.

Devonian Harbour Park 

There are many beautiful leafy trees in this park, but the best bit is the section between the ‘Search’ and ‘Aerodynamic Forms in Space’ sculptures. It’s a tunnel of red leaf maples, growing on either side of the path and it looks really pretty. The best colours appear at the end of October, but sometimes the first week of November is okay too. 

The Seawall

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 You really can’t go wrong with a walk along the Seawall, no matter the season. It’s one of the best things we have in Vancouver. For fall colours though, these sections are especially worth your time:

• The stretch in Coal Harbour between Stanley Park and Canada Place
• In Yaletown, between Marinaside and David Lam Park
• English Bay to the entrance to Second Beach (don’t forget to stop at the Sylvia Hotel to admire the exterior covered in ivy)
• The route from Coal Harbour to Brockton Point

Robson Square

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You’ll find Robson Square right in the heart of downtown amid Vancouver’s glass towers. The space has multiple levels and a surprising amount of greenery in the overall design. In late October, the trees turn bright orange and red, creating a striking contrast with the concrete and glass.

Burnaby Mountain

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Burnaby Mountain is higher than the rest of Vancouver, so fall starts a little earlier here than in the city. The highest point is at 370 metres, but don’t panic, you can drive all the way up to the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, or take the R5 bus from downtown. There’s free parking (a rarity in Vancouver) and one of the best viewpoints, with sweeping views over Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. For maximum fall vibes, we recommend walking the trail marked in red on the map below (click to see the original). There’s a bit of up and down, but nothing crazy. It’s an out-and-back trail, so you can turn around at any point once you feel accomplished. It’s our favourite trail on the Burnaby Mountain.

Have A Long Walk In The Forest

You won’t find much colour in Vancouver’s forest parks. These are temperate rainforests, so the colour palette in the fall is fifty shades of green. Some parks are wilder than others, but all are beautiful. We’re particularly partial to these walks when it’s cloudy and wet and the mountains are hiding behind clouds. The trees and soil smell wonderfully earthy, and if you visit in the morning, you might find fog from the night before still clinging to the ground. It’s moody, mossy and you can often spot some really funky mushrooms. Also, look out for big banana slugs which can grow up to 25 cm.

Our favourite rambles:

• Lynn Canyon Park, with many great trails and a suspension bridge that’s free to cross (though parking, naturally, is not ;p)
• Quarry Rock – see our Quarry Rock hiking guide for more advice (don’t forget to buy some Honey doughnuts as a reward) 
• Inner trails in Stanley Park (even though Stanley Park looks flat, it’s not. There’s a cliff at Prospect Point so not every trail is a doddle)
• Pacific Spirit Park – pick and choose, as there are over 70 kilometres of hiking trails
• Lighthouse Park – beautiful forest trails and coastal views
• Capilano Regional Park, especially the Capilano Canyon Loop

Take A Hike On The North Shore

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Hiking in Vancouver in the fall is pretty great. The trails have amazing views and best of all, far fewer people than in the summertime. Occasionally, you might even have the trail to yourself, which makes for an especially good day in the mountains.

We really like Pump Peak in the fall as you can see some beautiful fall colours higher up on the trail. But other classic routes like Tunnel Bluffs and Dog Mountain are always a good choice too.

If you’re visiting Vancouver, a word of friendly advice. Even though these trails are conveniently close to the city and lead to views right back down to it, you’re in fact venturing into real mountains. It’s entirely possible to get lost and find yourself in real trouble. This isn’t meant to put you off. Vancouver’s mountains are spectacular and worth the effort. You just need to be prepared with sturdy shoes, layers, water, an offline map and tell someone where you’re going.    

Bike Along The Stanley Park Seawall

One of the best ways to spend time outside in Vancouver during fall is to rent a bike in Coal Harbour and hop right on the Stanley Park Seawall. It’s such an excellent destination for biking. The entire loop is completely flat and the views are fantastic with huge trees, the ocean and distant mountains.

Whenever we have visitors from out of town, this is our non-negotiable must-do activity. Partly because we enjoy it ourselves no matter how many times we go, and partly because it offers the perfect excuse to stop for coffee and pastries afterwards as a reward for all the pedalling 😉

Stroll Through Neighbourhoods And Look for Halloween Decorations

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One of the unexpected delights of fall in Vancouver is simply wandering through the neighbourhoods and discovering just how seriously some people take their Halloween decorations. There’re always a few individuals who make it their personal challenge to outdo everyone on the street. Neighbourhoods like Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano and the West End are always great for a stroll, but if you live in Vancouver, the best place to start is your own neighbourhood.

A special shout-out to the owner at the corner of Bute/Nelson in the West End for their legendary contribution to both Halloween (and Christmas) in Vancouver.

Watch a Film at Vancouver International Film Festival

If you love movies, it’s the perfect time of the year to watch something new. Each year, the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) runs for about 2 weeks in early fall, screening over a hundred independent films from just about every corner of the planet. You can often hear directly from the directors, composers and writers, as they often stay after the screenings to share stories and answer questions.

Visit A Cozy Cafe And Eat A Limited Edition Croissant

I’ll admit it right away, I’m not a big fan of pumpkin spice lattes. Andy, on the other hand, drinks them in buckets, so we definitely visit more coffee shops at this time of year than is strictly necessary. Still, I can’t complain about a morning spent in a cozy café, just staring out the window or pretending to read a book. In Vancouver, we’re blessed with many excellent spots for coffee and we have our favourites. But in the fall, our loyalties shift to those that participate in the Vancouver Croissant Crawl. That’s when bakeries and coffee shops across the city compete to see who can create the most inventive, limited-edition croissants. The fun is in discovering what wild flavours pop up each year, like yuzu meringue or cheesy corn custard. 

Visit a Local Salmon Stream 

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From mid-September to November, BC’s wild rivers and streams come alive with salmon on their incredible journey upstream to spawn. This is not a small event. The local ecosystem and wildlife such as bears and eagles depend on these fish showing up on time.  In Vancouver, you can learn about their life cycle and observe them up close at the Capilano River Hatchery. October to November is the perfect time to see the Chinook Adults up close as they return to the exact spot they were released, just as they do in the wild rivers of Canada. They also have displays showing salmon at different life stages and models that show healthy salmon. It’s really cool and eye-opening.

The hatchery is in the middle of a beautiful forest in the Capilano River Regional Park. There’re some nice trails for hikes to see the forest, and as a bonus, it’s right next to the Cleveland Dam, another spot worth seeing.

Enjoy These Fall Fun Things to do in Vancouver, BC

If fall in Vancouver wasn’t on your radar already, we hope it is now! 🙂 If you’re looking for more things to do, head to our Vancouver travel guide for more advice,

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