Where to see the fall colours in Greater Victoria

The fall season is well underway and the city’s colour palette has changed with it, with vivid pops of red, yellow, orange, and brown dotting the treetops. While you can catch these changes in all CRD neighbourhoods right now, there are some key spots around town where you can fully immerse yourself in nature’s eye-catching show.

‍ PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park): This hiking haven is home to unique and endangered ecosystems, where the coastal Douglas fir forest makes way for the Garry oak meadow at the top of the mountain. Enjoy the mixture of evergreen trees and leaves that change to bright yellow and orange in the fall.

Summit Park : This hilltop park next to the Smith Reservoir offers a nearly panoramic view of Greater Victoria. As the leaves change throughout the city, a walk through the trails to the top of Summit Park will bring you to the ideal lookout spot.

Esquimalt Gorge Park: Check out this beautiful area, home to the oldest Japanese Garden in North America. Bring the family for a walk or picnic, and enjoy as the fall breeze blows eaves onto the ground.

Swan Lake/ Christmas Hill: From the wetlands at the lake to the top of Christmas Hill, this spot was recently named a world Key Biodiversity Area. With a range of plants and animals calling this area home, you can explore the picturesque shifts between seasons throughout the park.

UVic and Camosun campuses: The nearby campuses boast trees that burst with colour during the fall season. Go for a stroll through UVic’s quad or Camosun’s Lansdowne campus to enjoy the changing leaves.

Photo: UVic / Linkedin

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Butchart Gardens: A favourite spot for tourists and locals alike. The legendary gardens offer a range of foliage that makes every season a visual wonder. Enjoy autumn yellows, oranges, and reds among the greenery.

Butchart Gardens photo – Bennett Guinn

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Oswald Park: This little park in Oaklands turns into a colourful oasis during the fall, with many trees and a community garden to gaze upon.

Oswald Park. Photo courtesy of Capital Daily reader Kim Graham.

Lombard Drive: This Metchosin road is a photographer's dream in autumn. With rows of brightly coloured trees that line each side of the road, the picturesque scenery is worth the drive.

Japanese Gardens at Royal Roads: Always a beautiful place to stop, the Japanese Gardens at Royal Roads University are available for public access. The tea garden has been a staple of Royal Roads since 1910 and gets even more beautiful in the crisp air. With a range of wildlife and foliage—including bright red Japanese maples—this is an accessible place to watch the leaves change.

Japanese Gardens. Photo courtesy of Capital Daily reader Sue Bishop.

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Goldstream Park: For residents looking for a beautiful hike, Goldstream Park is a local favourite in the fall. The scenic orange and yellow-covered route will lead you to the incredible waterfalls and rivers in the area—you might be able to catch a glimpse of the fall salmon runs while you’re there.

Goldstream Park in the fall. Photo: Edward/wikimedia

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Galloping Goose trail : The Galloping Goose is a highly-visited trail in the fall and all year round, with options to cycle, walk, run, hike, and even horseback ride. Make this place your next starting point for a striking outdoor adventure—you can hop on the trail at several points throughout the CRD.

Galloping Goose near Sooke. Photo: Shutterstock

Veterans Memorial Parkway: This major road puts the “park” in “parkway,” with trees lining either side and several adjoining parks along the way. Capital Daily reader Jan Pelton wrote in to praise the strip’s “full canopies of yellow and gold,” which you can enjoy whether you’re driving or walking.