Fall In Vancouver: Top Things To See And Do In Autumn

Fall in Vancouver can be magical—if you know where to look. But let’s face it: the rainy season can leave you wondering how to make the most of your visit.

As a local who’s spent over 20 years exploring the city in every type of weather, I’ve uncovered the best ways to enjoy Vancouver in autumn, rain or shine. Whether you’re up for breathtaking fall hikes, cozying up in charming cafes, or discovering hidden gems, this guide will help you embrace the season like a pro.

So, grab your rain jacket or umbrella—it’s time to explore Vancouver’s best fall activities. Let’s go!

Key Takeaways

1. Top Fall Events in Vancouver You Can’t Miss

Even with the rainy season, fall in Vancouver has plenty of exciting events to keep your calendar full. Here are a few highlights to consider:

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)

When: Late September to early October
What to Expect: One of North America’s top film festivals, showcasing local and international films, from thought-provoking documentaries to award-winning features.
Where: Multiple venues, including the VIFF Centre and local cinemas across Vancouver.
Why Go: A perfect way to spend a cozy day indoors while exploring diverse stories from around the world.
More Details: VIFF Website

Harvest Days at VanDusen Botanical Garden

When: Late September through early October
What to Expect: A seasonal celebration featuring a pumpkin patch, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and the autumn trail surrounded by brilliant fall foliage.
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC.
Why Go: A beautiful blend of nature, fun, and photo opportunities.
More Details: VanDusen Garden

UBC Apple Festival

When: Early to mid-October
What to Expect: Celebrate BC’s apple harvest with tastings, live music, food vendors, and family activities. Stock up on fresh apples, cider, and local treats.
Where: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC.
Why Go: It’s a family-friendly way to enjoy the season while indulging in the harvest’s bounty.
More Details: UBC Apple Festival

Fright Nights at the PNE

When: Mid-October through Halloween
What to Expect: Haunted houses, live performances, and thrilling rides create a spooky evening of fun.
Where: Playland at the PNE, 2901 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC.
Why Go: If you’re a fan of Halloween, this is the ultimate experience for scares and thrills.
More Details: Fright Nights

Diwali Fest

More Details: Diwali Fest
When: Late October through early November
What to Expect: Celebrate the Festival of Lights with cultural performances, workshops, and delicious Indian food.
Where: Various venues across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Why Go: A vibrant celebration of South Asian culture that’s welcoming to all.

2. Best Spots for Fall Foliage in Vancouver

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is one of the best places to be in fall because you can enjoy the colourful fall leaves, have cover from the rain with the heavy tree canopy, and get out for a brisk walk or bike ride along the seawall.

My favourite spots to check out the fall colours are the Stanley Park Totem Poles and the seawall near the Lions Gate Bridge, looking at the North Shore Mountains.

A vibrant garden with neatly arranged succulents, shrubs, and plants in shades of red, yellow, and green. This reflects the lush, landscaped beauty visitors can enjoy during Vancouver's fall season.

Queen Elizabeth Park

The views from Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver are a good reason to head there in the fall season, but what’s even better is the way the fall colours really come alive in the many gardens.

The Quarry Garden and the Arboretum are two of the can’t-miss spots for fall colours at the park.

The different varieties of maple trees are also a big draw during the fall season. Not only are there plenty of Japanese maple trees, but you’ll also find paper bark maple, Norway maple, and red maple.

Check out the Bloedel Conservatory while you’re at Queen Elizabeth Park to step into a tropical environment and forget about the crisp air outside.

I have so many fond memories of visiting the Conservatory with each of my parents and my best friend when they visited me. It’s definitely a place where you can keep going back.

I share many more of my favourite places to see fall colours in Vancouver during fall in my dedicated blog post if you want to go check it out!

3. Enjoy the Harvest Time Bounty

Wooden crates filled with colorful apples on display at a farmers' market on a rainy day. This highlights the cozy charm of exploring Vancouver’s local markets and seasonal produce in the fall. UBC Apple Festival

Close-up of clear bags filled with dried apple slices, stacked on a table at a local market. These seasonal treats emphasize the fall harvest vibes and unique offerings of Vancouver’s autumn markets.

🍎 The University of British Columbia (UBC) Apple Festival at the Botanical Garden

Website: UBC Apple Festival
Address: UBC Botanical Garden, 6804 SW Marine Dr

There is more to do than purchasing apples, though. Wander through the Botanical Garden and then enjoy the live music, food booths, and apple-tasting event (additional cost) – plan to spend around 2 hours at the festival. This event takes place every year in early to mid-October.

If you’re worried about parking, I suggest arriving early or taking public transit—the event is well-organized and family-friendly, making it easy to enjoy without stress.

You can take a free shuttle bus from the main parking lots to the entrance of the festival (on the UBC Botanical Garden grounds), so you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to carry your apple haul to your vehicle.

This festival is my top pick for things to do in Vancouver in the fall! I look forward to it every year, especially when I can go with my mom or a friend.

Tip: they have more than “just” apples – they have bags of pears, bottles of apple cider, dried apples, and even apple trees!

Harvest Days at VanDusen Gardens

Harvest Days is one of the big draws to VanDusen Botanical Garden each fall season in late September into early October. During the event, you can enjoy wandering through the maze, enjoying food from vendors, and walking along the autumn trail.

The sugar maples and ginkgo trees are especially beautiful in the fall season and definitely photo-worthy! I especially like the fountains and the food garden, but this place is so huge and has so much variety that I often focus on one or two areas per visit.

An old wooden wagon filled with pumpkins and gourds, decorated with autumn leaves and hay bales. This celebrates Vancouver's cozy fall aesthetic and the seasonal charm of pumpkin displays.

Apple Picking and Pumpkin Patches

There’s nothing like going out to a farm to pick apples from the tree or selecting your favourite pumpkin to get you into the fall spirit. Luckily, there are several options in the Fraser Valley to check out.

My favourite place for pumpkin patches is Bumbleberry Farms.

My favourite place to go for apple picking is Willow View Farms.

4. Best Fall Hikes in Metro Vancouver

A white lighthouse with a red top surrounded by trees and rugged rocks, with graffiti on a nearby structure. This highlights scenic coastal walks like Lighthouse Park during Vancouver’s crisp fall days.

Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver

Difficulty: Easy
Length: 6 km round trip
Highlights: This scenic, forested park offers easy walking trails with stunning coastal views of the ocean and the iconic lighthouse. The trees turn golden in the fall, adding an extra layer of beauty to the coastal views.
I suggest taking a snack with you and walking down the main trail to the rocks you see pictured above. They are the best spot for views of Stanley Park and Vancouver.

Quarry Rock, Deep Cove

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Length: 3.8 km round trip
Highlights: A favourite among locals, this trail offers incredible views of Indian Arm from the top of Quarry Rock. The surrounding forest takes on rich autumn hues, making it a must-do during the fall months.
After your hike, head to Deep Cove Village for a coffee and walk to view the beautiful fall foliage.

Whyte Lake, West Vancouver

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 5 km round trip
Highlights: This peaceful hike leads to a serene, secluded lake. During the fall, the trail is quieter, and the changing leaves reflect off the lake’s surface, making for a tranquil autumn escape under the canopy of trees.

Baden Powell Trail (Lynn Canyon Section)

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 6 km round trip
Highlights: This part of the Baden Powell Trail, starting from Lynn Canyon, passes over the free suspension bridge and winds through dense, colourful forest. You’ll enjoy stunning fall foliage as you cross bridges and follow the creeks.

5. Fall Photography

A tranquil waterfront scene with people walking along the shore, framed by colorful autumn leaves and a distant view of the Lion’s Gate Bridge. This captures the essence of enjoying nature and scenic views during fall in Vancouver.

Cate’s Park, North Vancouver

With the evening light and fall colours, dusk is a great time to go out for a walk and check out opportunities for fall. photography. Cate’s Park in North Vancouver is one of my favourite spots for fall photography as you can view the Second Narrow’s Bridge, beautiful sunsets, and enjoy leaf peeping in a quiet (never busy) setting.

A peaceful pathway bordered by a stone wall and Japanese-style gate, with branches of red autumn leaves overhead. This adds a cultural and serene element to the list of fall activities in Vancouver.

Nitobe Memorial Garden

This small but tranquil and insta-worthy Japanese garden within the UBC Campus really shines in autumn when the Japanese maple trees and other plants change into the most beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange.

Visit Nitobe Memorial Garden and then head over to the UBC Botanical Garden for even more fall photography opportunities for the perfect fall day.

6. Wildlife Viewing Options in Fall

Fall is also a great time for wildlife viewing. The salmon run in local rivers, such as the Capilano River, which attracts bald eagles and other wildlife.

If you’re up for a road trip, I recommend heading up to Squamish to check out the eagles during peak viewing season in fall and winter.

Whale watching is still possible in early fall, with humpback whales and orcas often spotted migrating along the coast.

Whether you choose to brave the rain and are looking for things to do indoors to warm up and dry off afterward, or you choose to stay inside and look at the rainfall from the comfort of a cozy indoor space…this list is for you!

7. Take Up a New Hobby

Ride that “back-to-school” energy into the rainy autumn season by learning something new or taking up a new hobby.

Painting all the fall foliage you’ve been taking photos of can be a fun indoor activity to enjoy from the comfort of your home or by taking up a painting class.

Why not take up knitting or crocheting before the winter season so that you have some cozy gloves or a scarf to keep you warm when the cold weather hits?

8. The Best Cozy Cafés

JJ Bean in the Park and Tilford Shopping Plaza in North Vancouver is a great option for coffee and hot drinks since it has a cozy fire and lots of seating and is next to the Park and Tilford Gardens, where you can wander around and enjoy the changing fall colours in a peaceful setting .

Shipyards Coffee in Lonsdale Quay is a cozy café that has delicious locally roasted coffee and baked goods to enjoy while you look out at the fall foliage. Or take your tasty treats to go and walk along the Shipyards boardwalk for beautiful views of Downtown Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet.

Looking for more things to do this fall? Why not head up the Sea to Sky Highway to check out the Sea to Sky Gondola? It’s so beautiful, and the hiking trails are perfect for autumn!

Have you stopped at Porteau Cove Provincial Park? It’s a beautiful and peaceful stop on the Sea to Sky Highway.

Speaking of hikes, how about hitting up Mamquam Falls in Squamish?

Or, keep going and head up to Whistler for a day trip!

9. Weather and What to Wear

Unpredictable Weather: Fall in Vancouver is known for its unpredictable weather. You can experience sunshine, rain, and even early snow in the mountains, sometimes all on the same day. It’s wise to always carry a lightweight, waterproof jacket and dress in layers so you can adjust to the changing conditions.

We get a lot of rain in the fall months in Vancouver, so you’ll need these to be prepared:

Rain jackets –I have a collection of 4 in different styles and weights, which I can wear during the many changes in temperatures (and levels of rain) during the fall months.

Waterproof or water-resistant shoes with good grip

Light layers. I recommend always bringing a light sweater/cardigan and rain jacket, even if it looks only partly cloudy outside.

10. Getting Around in the Fall Season

Public Transit: Vancouver’s public transit system, including buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus, is convenient and environmentally friendly.

It’s a great way to get around the city without worrying about parking, especially during busy events like the Vancouver International Film Festival or the Christmas Market.
Biking: Fall is a fantastic time for cycling in Vancouver, thanks to cooler temperatures and stunning autumn colours. The city’s extensive network of bike lanes and paths, like the Seawall, offer scenic routes perfect for a leisurely ride. Just be sure to bring rain gear if you plan to bike, as sudden showers are common.

For more ideas on places to check out, grab my free Hidden Gems Guide (coming soon – sign up now, and I’ll send it over when it’s ready) and stay tuned for my upcoming 7-day Sea to Sky Highway itinerary to make the most of your trip.

Health and Safety

Stay Dry and Warm: With the increased rain and cooler temperatures, it’s easy to catch a chill. Always carry a small umbrella or wear a hat to keep dry, and make sure to dry off and warm up indoors with a hot drink after being outside in the rain.
Safety in Nature: If you’re heading out for a hike or other outdoor activities, be aware that trails can become slippery due to rain and fallen leaves. Stick to well-marked paths, and let someone know your plans if you’re going alone.

Tips for Enjoying Fall in Vancouver

Be Weather-Ready: Vancouver’s fall weather can change quickly. Pack a lightweight, waterproof jacket, and wear shoes with good grip for wet or slippery conditions.
Time It Right: Plan outdoor activities for the morning when the rain is less likely, and save indoor activities for later in the day.
Use Transit: Parking can be tricky during events or at popular spots. Public transit or cycling are great ways to get around.
Support Local: Visit small cafes, markets, and shops—they add a special touch to your fall adventures and help the local community thrive.
Capture the Colours: Don’t forget your camera or smartphone! Vancouver’s fall foliage is stunning, especially in parks and gardens.
Embrace the Rain: Rain is part of the charm—think cozy cafes, indoor attractions, and misty views that make fall in Vancouver so unique.

Want more suggestions for what to do in autumn? Check out this post on Fall Things to do in Whistler:
Ultimate List of Things to Do in Fall in Whistler

And don’t forget to check out this post on the Best Places to See Fall Colours in Vancouver.

🌲 ➡️ Join our community at BC Travel: Scenic Outdoor & Cultural Attractions to keep the conversation going, ask questions, and share your love for exploring British Columbia’s top outdoor and cultural experiences!🌲

Looking for more fun things to do in the fall? Take a trip to Whistler in October. Head to Whistler for fall!

10 Best Rainy Season Activities for Fall in Vancouver