Where to find fall views, activities across Ottawa-Gatineau this month
Posted Oct 11, 2024 03:47:08 PM.
Last Updated Oct 11, 2024 03:47:15 PM.
From scenic trails surrounded by fall leaves to pumpkin patches and Halloween festivities, the Ottawa-Gatineau region is filled with a variety of sites and activities throughout the month of October.
Below is a list of places and things to do highlighting the most-loved activities and autumn attractions in the National Capital Region.
Saunders Farm
Enjoy fall colours, a pumpkin patch, mazes, playgrounds and a wagon ride at PumpkinFest, every weekend between 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., through to Oct. 31. For those seeking a thrill, check out Frightfest running weekends from until Halloween, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Log Farm
Fall fun at the farm includes pumpkins, a corn maze, hay play, wagon rides, and a petting zoo. Fall on the Farm runs Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 27. The outdoor experience continues with a Halloween Costume Party from Oct. 24-27.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Located at 670 Cedarview Rd
Pumpkins After Dark
Known as “Ottawa’s Halloween Tradition,” the outdoor event features a pathway of lit pumpkins, Halloween sculptures and displays, with sounds and special effects. The family-friendly event includes classic Halloween characters, dinosaurs and dragons, and movie and pop culture icons. Running from Oct. 10-31 at Wesley Clover Parks.
ByWard Harvest Market
On Saturday Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ByWard Market will feature an artisans market, corn roast, magic shows (11 a.m. and 12 p.m.), horse carriage rides (2-4 p.m.) and live music (1-3 p.m.). Details can be found on Instagram @bywardmarket.
Nature Nocturne
Dance the night away, as DJs drop the beats on numerous dance floors throughout the castle. The theme — Rebirth — where partygoers can mix and mingle with the undead on a night of supernatural wonder on Nov. 1 at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Four floors of museum exhibitions will be open to attendees. Tickets must be purchased in advanced.
Day of the Dead Festival
From Nov. 1-3, visit the ByWard market to celebrate Mexican culture through art, gastronomy, music and dance. Each year, the Day of the Dead Festival honours the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
The event includes art displays, music, dance, Mexican cuisine and family-friendly activities. Located at 55 ByWard Market Sq.
Best trails to enjoy the fall leaves in Gatineau
Pink Lake Trail: One of the region’s best fall hikes, visitors can enjoy views of the vibrant fall leaves, walking along a trail that overlooks Pink lake. The trail — classified as intermediate —is a 2.3-kilometre loop around turquoise waters and is approximately a two-hour walk.
Luskville Falls Trail: Located on the western edge of Gatineau Park in the town of Pontiac, the 4.2-kilometre trail features two lookouts with breathtaking views of the Ottawa Valley. Classified as difficult, the trail leads to a 1940s fire tower, and the falls are especially scenic surrounded by fall colours.
King Mountain Trail: Gatineau Park’s King Mountain Trail is a 1.9-kilometre loop that leads to the top of the Eardley Escarpment, 240 metres above the Ottawa Valley. The Escarpment spans over 30 kilometres, dividing and Canadian Shield and the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Visitors can enjoy views of the valley and fall colours on this trail that features ten lookouts.
Trail updates and closures in Gatineau Park
The National Capital Commission (NCC) has outlined trail closures this fall, due to the Aug. 9 rainstorm that damaged trails and roads in Gatineau Park.
Closures are related to work being done to repair affected areas.
Gatineau Park trail closures, according to the NCC:
- Trail closures include Trails #1 (from Penguin picnic area to #30), #3, #4, #36 (from Meech Lake Road to Fortune Lake Parkway), #51 (west of Philippe Lake Parkway), #52 (from #57 to #50), #55 and Dunlop Trail. The Dunlop parking lot is also closed.
- The Penguin Picnic Area parking lot will be closed from October 15 to November 15, 2024, to repair damages to Trail 1. The picnic area will remain open. (Closure Advisory).
- Trail 62 (Wolf Trail) and Trail 38 will be partially closed from October 11 to 21, 2024, as part of Gatineau Park’s Responsible Trail Management project. During the partial closure, you will not be able to complete the loop on Trail 62 (Wolf Trail).
- On October 21st, there will be a full closure of Trail 62 (Wolf Trail) and Trail 38, until the winter season is launched in Gatineau Park.
- Parking lot 13a will also be closing from October 21st, until the middle of November. The public can use parking lot 13b.
Getting to and from Gatineau Park in October
NCC is offering a free shuttle service to Gatineau Park six days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday) until Oct. 27.
The shuttle service transports trail-goers to popular destinations near the parkways.
The shuttle runs from downtown Ottawa-Gatineau and from the Chelsea Visitor Centre on weekends.
On weekdays, transportation is available from the Visitor Centre to Pink Lake only — entering and exiting the parkways three times a day via the Visitor Centre.
Additionally, the NCC has partnered with Transcollines to offer free rides on weekends and holiday Mondays to Meech Creek Valley and Philippe Lake, until Oct. 27.
“It is a great way to explore lesser-known and quieter areas of Gatineau Park,” wrote the NCC.
