Canada's only national fall colour tracker. We pull the reports from park websites and provincial tourism boards, then verify them every weekend with Parkbus guides who are on the ground and with outfitters across the country. 47 parks in 8 regions, updated every Thursday until the leaves are down.
It starts in the north in mid-September and works its way south and east until Thanksgiving. The best weekends sell out a year ahead, so it is worth planning early. But not every part of the country does it the same way, and the official reports won't tell you that. Here is where the show is, and how it looks right now.

The maple belt from Georgian Bay to Cape Breton: Algonquin, Muskoka, Lake Superior's coast, the Laurentians, Charlevoix, the Cabot Trail. Reds and oranges, late September to mid-October. This is the colour people mean.

The Rockies and the Prairies go gold, not red. Larches high up in Banff and Kananaskis for about ten days; aspens across the parkland, gone in a fortnight. Book it for the hike.

The BC coast is rainforest and stays green. The North turns in late August and is done by mid-September. Go to both, just not for this.
This week: 12 parks at peak, 13 building. The map has all 47.
Every dot is a park we track. Tap one for its number, or a region tag to jump to its table. The inset zooms the crowded corner. The North is on the map because people ask; it isn't tracked because by the time this page matters, its colour is on the ground.
Reports from Ontario Parks, Parks Canada put the corridor at 55% colour on Sept 24, and it is moving about a third of the way to peak every week. The window runs Sept 27 to Oct 7. After that the leaves come down fast. Parkbus runs into the park every Saturday and Sunday of it.
Northern Ontario, Sept 24. 55% colour and climbing.Verified Saturday and Sunday by Parkbus guides and drivers. Sources named in the table below.
At peak now. Larch Valley is the show, and it lasts about ten days. Go this weekend; by the report after next it will be over. Leaves down by Oct 7.
At peak now. Elk Island is the show, and it lasts about ten days. Go this weekend; by the report after next it will be over. Leaves down by Oct 5.
Still mostly green. Fundy does not need you yet; peak is Oct 11 to Oct 21. Save the drive. Leaves down by Oct 26.
Ranked by colour change, from the most recent report for each park. Go this weekend or next; these windows are short.




Next up. These are the ones to book now for the weekend after.
One curve per region: how much colour is on the trees. It climbs as the leaves turn, peaks, then drops as they come down. The brick band is the peak window. The grey band is when it's over.
Colour is one curve; leaves coming down is the other. Once more than 60% are on the ground, it's a hike in a bare forest, and we say so. These are the dates each region is done for people who came for the leaves.
Where Parkbus runs a bus to a park that is at or near peak, the trip is listed here. Seats come straight from the booking system.
85% colour · Peak · peak Sept 20 to Oct 2
66% colour · Peak · peak Sept 24 to Oct 6
50% colour · Building · peak Sept 27 to Oct 9
44% colour · Building · peak Sept 28 to Oct 10
39% colour · Building · peak Sept 29 to Oct 11
34% colour · Building · peak Sept 30 to Oct 12
Algonquin Outfitters for Algonquin and the Highway 60 corridor. Thames Valley Outfitters for Pinery, Point Pelee and the rest of southern Ontario. Book through Visit Canada Parks and save 15%.




Two curves, four thresholds, three kinds of source. Every number on this page can be traced back to one of them, and the rules below are the whole method. Nothing is estimated without a source.
Each region gets a midpoint t₀ (the date colour crosses 50%) and a steepness k in days. Each park sits a few days either side of its region. The reports move the midpoint; the shape stays.
colour < 3030 ≤ colour < 65colour ≥ 65fall < 45fall ≥ 45| Region | t₀ | k | Peak window | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rockies | Sept 18 | 4.5 | Sept 21 to Oct 3 | 3 |
| The Prairies | Sept 17 | 4.0 | Sept 20 to Oct 2 | 3 |
| Northern Ontario | Sept 23 | 5.0 | Sept 27 to Oct 7 | 2 |
| Algonquin & Southern Ontario | Sept 25 | 4.5 | Sept 28 to Oct 10 | 3 |
| Quebec | Sept 26 | 4.5 | Sept 29 to Oct 11 | 3 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Sept 27 | 5.0 | Oct 1 to Oct 11 | 2 |
| The Maritimes | Oct 7 | 5.5 | Oct 11 to Oct 21 | 3 |
| BC Coast | Oct 13 | 5.5 | Oct 17 to Oct 27 | 2 |
The structured numbers, colour change and leaf fall, from the agencies that publish them. Each is linked from the tables below.
Buses run into 15 of these parks every Saturday and Sunday of the season. A guide's report from the trailhead overrides the official number when the two disagree, because the guide is standing in it.
Where no agency publishes a report, a named outfitter, lodge or park partner sends one. Each is credited in the tables below.
Colour change, leaf fall, the dominant colour, the expected peak window, and where the number came from. Where a bus runs, it says so.
Larches mid to late September; valley aspens to mid-October.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff National Park (Larch Valley & Lake Louise)2 h from Calgary | Peak | 83% | 14% | Red and orange | Sept 20 to Oct 2 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Kananaskis Country (Peter Lougheed)1.5 h from Calgary | Peak | 79% | 12% | Red and orange | Sept 21 to Oct 3 | Alberta Parks | No bus yet |
| Jasper National Park4 h from Edmonton | Peak | 75% | 10% | Red and orange | Sept 22 to Oct 4 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Waterton Lakes National Park3 h from Calgary | Peak | 66% | 7% | Orange and yellow | Sept 24 to Oct 6 | Parkbus drivers | Parkbus goes here |
| Yoho National Park2.5 h from Calgary | Peak | 79% | 12% | Red and orange | Sept 21 to Oct 3 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Kootenay National Park3 h from Calgary | Peak | 71% | 8% | Orange and yellow | Sept 23 to Oct 5 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
Mid-September to early October. Fast: two weeks, then down.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk Island National Park45 min from Edmonton | Peak | 85% | 11% | Red and orange | Sept 20 to Oct 2 | Parkbus drivers | Parkbus goes here |
| Prince Albert National Park2.5 h from Saskatoon | Peak | 90% | 17% | Red and orange | Sept 18 to Sept 30 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Riding Mountain National Park3 h from Winnipeg | Peak | 82% | 9% | Red and orange | Sept 21 to Oct 3 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Whiteshell Provincial Park2 h from Winnipeg | Peak | 73% | 6% | Orange and yellow | Sept 23 to Oct 5 | Travel Manitoba | No bus yet |
| Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park4 h from Calgary | Peak | 68% | 5% | Orange and yellow | Sept 24 to Oct 6 | Tourism Saskatchewan | No bus yet |
Late September on Lake Superior; early to mid-October at Killarney.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior Provincial Park2 h from Sault Ste. Marie | Peak | 69% | 10% | Orange and yellow | Sept 24 to Oct 4 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet |
| Sleeping Giant Provincial Park1.5 h from Thunder Bay | Building | 65% | 9% | Orange and yellow | Sept 25 to Oct 5 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet |
| Killarney Provincial Park4.5 h from Toronto | Early | 27% | 2% | Yellow | Oct 3 to Oct 13 | Ontario Parks | Parkbus goes here |
| Pukaskwa National Park4 h from Thunder Bay | Building | 65% | 9% | Orange and yellow | Sept 25 to Oct 5 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Neys Provincial Park3 h from Thunder Bay | Building | 60% | 7% | Orange and yellow | Sept 26 to Oct 6 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet |
Algonquin Oct 1 to Thanksgiving; the rest of southern Ontario Oct 5 to 25.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Provincial Park3 h from Toronto | Building | 44% | 3% | Yellow | Sept 28 to Oct 10 | Ontario Parks | Parkbus goes here Algonquin Outfitters · 15% off |
| Arrowhead Provincial Park2.5 h from Toronto | Building | 34% | 2% | Yellow | Sept 30 to Oct 12 | Ontario Parks | Parkbus goes here Algonquin Outfitters · 15% off |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park3.5 h from Toronto | Early | 10% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 7 to Oct 19 | Parks Canada | Parkbus goes here Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Lion's Head Provincial Park3 h from Toronto | Early | 12% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 6 to Oct 18 | Parkbus guides | Parkbus goes here Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Forks of the Credit Provincial Park1 h from Toronto | Early | 5% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 10 to Oct 22 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Mono Cliffs Provincial Park1.2 h from Toronto | Early | 6% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 9 to Oct 21 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Bon Echo Provincial Park3 h from Toronto | Early | 21% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 3 to Oct 15 | Ontario Parks | No bus yet Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Restoule Provincial Park4 h from Toronto | Building | 50% | 4% | Orange and yellow | Sept 27 to Oct 9 | Ontario Parks | Parkbus goes here Algonquin Outfitters · 15% off |
| Killbear Provincial Park3 h from Toronto | Early | 25% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 2 to Oct 14 | Ontario Parks | Parkbus goes here Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Rouge National Urban Park45 min from Toronto | Early | 3% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 13 to Oct 25 | Parks Canada | Parkbus goes here Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Elora Gorge1.5 h from Toronto | Early | 4% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 11 to Oct 23 | Parkbus guides | Parkbus goes here Thames Valley Outfitters · 15% off |
| Limberlost Forest & Wildlife Reserve2.5 h from Toronto | Building | 39% | 3% | Yellow | Sept 29 to Oct 11 | Parkbus guides | Parkbus goes here Algonquin Outfitters · 15% off |
Late Sept to early Oct in the Laurentians and Charlevoix; a week later near Montreal and Gatineau.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gatineau Park30 min from Ottawa | Early | 12% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 6 to Oct 18 | NCC | No bus yet |
| Parc national du Mont-Tremblant2 h from Montreal | Building | 39% | 3% | Yellow | Sept 29 to Oct 11 | SEPAQ | No bus yet |
| Parc national du Mont-Orford1.5 h from Montreal | Early | 14% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 5 to Oct 17 | SEPAQ | No bus yet |
| Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier45 min from Quebec City | Building | 50% | 4% | Orange and yellow | Sept 27 to Oct 9 | SEPAQ | No bus yet |
| La Mauricie National Park2 h from Montreal | Early | 29% | 2% | Yellow | Oct 1 to Oct 13 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Parc national des Grands-Jardins (Charlevoix)1.5 h from Quebec City | Building | 61% | 6% | Orange and yellow | Sept 25 to Oct 7 | SEPAQ | No bus yet |
| Forillon National Park8 h from Quebec City | Early | 25% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 2 to Oct 14 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
Late September to early October.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gros Morne National Park45 min from Deer Lake | Building | 40% | 4% | Yellow | Sept 30 to Oct 10 | Tourism NL | No bus yet |
| Terra Nova National Park2.5 h from St. John's | Early | 27% | 2% | Yellow | Oct 3 to Oct 13 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
Late Sept in northern NB; Thanksgiving to Oct 25 in Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and PEI.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundy National Park1 h from Moncton | Early | 12% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 9 to Oct 19 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Mount Carleton Provincial Park3 h from Fredericton | Building | 33% | 4% | Yellow | Oct 2 to Oct 12 | Tourism NB | No bus yet |
| Cape Breton Highlands National Park4.5 h from Halifax | Early | 6% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 13 to Oct 23 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
| Kejimkujik National Park2 h from Halifax | Early | 4% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 16 to Oct 26 | Parkbus drivers | Parkbus goes here |
| Prince Edward Island National Park30 min from Charlottetown | Early | 4% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 15 to Oct 25 | Parks Canada | No bus yet |
Mountain passes late Sept to mid-Oct; the coast mid-Oct to early November.
| Park | Status | Colour | Leaf fall | Dominant | Peak window | Source | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garibaldi Provincial Park1.5 h from Vancouver | Early | 22% | 2% | Green, first yellows | Oct 5 to Oct 15 | BC Parks | Parkbus goes here |
| Golden Ears Provincial Park1 h from Vancouver | Early | 3% | 0% | Green, first yellows | Oct 17 to Oct 27 | BC Parks | No bus yet |
| E.C. Manning Provincial Park3 h from Vancouver | Building | 37% | 4% | Yellow | Oct 1 to Oct 11 | BC Parks | No bus yet |
| Coquihalla Canyon (Othello Tunnels)2 h from Vancouver | Early | 12% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 9 to Oct 19 | Parkbus drivers | Parkbus goes here |
| Mount Seymour Provincial Park45 min from Vancouver | Early | 6% | 1% | Green, first yellows | Oct 13 to Oct 23 | BC Parks | No bus yet |
This page, in your inbox, with the trips that still have seats. Six weeks, then we stop.