Hikes With Fall Colours
There are several advantages to hiking in September, including cooler temperatures, less-crowded trails, no flies, and seeing the beauty of the fall colours. And you don’t have to go far from Vancouver to experience some of the bright orange, yellow, and red colours of trees as they shed their leaves.
A few safety tips for hiking during the fall season. The sunsets much earlier and around 7pm in late-September in the Vancouver area. Sunset gets earlier and earlier into October, so make sure to start your hike early and be off the trail well before sunset. Pack a headlamp, the 10 essentials, and tell someone where you are hiking and when you’ll be back.
Here are some hiking trail suggestions:
Elk Mountain
The steep climb up Elk Mountain in Chilliwack is rewarded with an incredible view of the Fraser Valley. During September, the fall colours can be stunning after you pass the forested section and continue towards Thurston through the meadows. No need to hike to Mount Thurston though, the best views are along the ridge as you look south across the Cascades.
To get to Elk Mountain, drive east on Highway #1 and take Exit #123. Drive south on Prest Road then turn left onto Bailey Road. Veer to the right and head up Elk Valley road as it eventually turns to gravel. After driving about 2km along the gravel road, park at a clearing on the left side of the road.
Whyte Lake
The hike to Whyte Lake in West Vancouver is a scenic trail year-round but during the fall, the trees around the lake have a tinge of orange to them. If you’re feeling brave, take a swim in the lake but be warned that it’s very cold!
To get to Whyte Lake, take the Caufield exit in West Vancouver, then turn left and go straight through a 4-way intersection, following Westport Road. Just after passing under the highway, turn right into the gravel parking lot. Note that pay parking is in effect.
Lindeman Lake
One of the most scenic lakes near Chilliwack, Lindeman Lake also boasts scenic views during the fall season when the trees offer highlights of red, orange, and yellow.
The trailhead to Lindeman Lake is located near the Chilliwack Lake. Drive eastbound on Highway #1 to Chilliwack and take exit #119 and head south on Vedder Road. Continue through town and cross the Vedder River, then turn left on Chilliwack Lake Road.
Manning Park
A popular area to explore the fall colours is in Manning Provincial Park along Highway #3. There are plenty of trails to explore, including around the Lightning Lakes area and some of the alpine areas of the Skyline Trails where the vegetation has turned to bring colours for the final remaining days before the winter snowfall arrives.
A popular hike in Manning to do towards the end of September is Frosty Mountain as there are several Larch Trees along the trail that turn golden in the early fall. However, make sure you check the weather forecast before attempting Mount Frosty as the elevation is very high and it’s one of the areas that often sees an early snowfall and winter weather, even as early as late September.
Manning Park can be reached by driving east from Vancouver on Highway #1 and merging onto Highway #3 at Hope. Driving time from Vancouver is approximately 2-hours.
Burnaby Mountain
If you’re still close to the city, Burnaby Mountain has several trails but it’s the area near the old Horizons Restaurant called Burnaby Mountain Park where you can see the incredible changing colours as the leaves fall from the trees. The leaves on the trees along the paths in the area become bright orange and red before falling off and blanketing the grass areas.
To access the area, it can be as simple as driving up the mountain, parking in the lot, and walking around the Burnaby Mountain Park area. If you want to get a workout in the process, starting from the Barnett Highway area, you can hike up the Velodrome Trail, which consists of more than 500 steps and ends near Horizons Restaurant. A longer hike can also be done from the Burnaby Mountain Trails along North Road, which takes you up a steep hill and over to the Horizons area.
Where do you like to go hiking in the fall?
2 responses to “Hikes With Fall Colours”
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I would like to join in Frosty mountain for hike
Great article about fall hiking in September!