Text by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Team
Canada’s Maple Route stretches 800 kilometers, offering picturesque scenery that is truly enchanting. (Image source / chennai2canada)
The Highway 401 from Ottawa to Toronto is known as the legendary “Maple Route,” where endless waves of vibrant red and orange foliage create a stunning spectacle. The road is lined with hues of ochre, red, orange, purple, and yellow—all eager to announce the arrival of autumn. But even this tree-lined beauty is just the prelude. As you drive past Kingston and head toward Toronto, the warm afternoon sun gilds the maple trees, transforming the hills into a riot of yellow, green, orange, red, and purple—the true climax of the Maple Route. Between exits 523 and 522, the breathtaking sight of two-kilometer-long stretches of maple forests on either side truly showcases the grandeur of the “Kingdom of Maple.”
Stroll leisurely through the poetic red leaves, savoring the tranquility of autumn. (Image provided by the Moleskine Editorial Team)
Quebec Cityébec City
Visit the Parc Linéaire des Bois-de-Boulogne and Montmorency Park. Located at a high latitude, Quebec City is one of the first areas where maple leaves turn red, usually starting in late September, with the leaves turning yellow and falling by mid-October due to the cold. The city center is compact and easily explored on foot. The best view is from the Château Frontenac, looking up from the Lower Town to the Upper Town. The orange-yellow leaves set off the castle’s classic charm, or you can take a stroll along the Parc Linéaire des Bois-de-Boulogne in front of the castle to enjoy the maple scenery.
Quebec is home to the world’s largest freshwater supply area, with over 500,000 lakes, offering stunning lake views. (Image provided by Wanjun Travel Agency)
Montreal
Take the metro to reach the Plateau district and Saint Helen’s Island. The former is great for exploring on foot, with charming, elegant houses serving as a perfect backdrop to the maple leaves. The latter is a small island on the Saint Lawrence River, ideal for walking or cycling. Montreal experiences more drastic temperature changes between morning and evening, so its maple leaves tend to last longer than those in Quebec City, with the foliage season lasting roughly from late September to mid-October.
Montreal offers beautiful maple leaves to admire from late September to mid-October. (Image provided by the Moleskine Editorial Team)
Ottawa
Ottawa has maple leaves to enjoy for most of October, but the most beautiful time is early in the month. By mid-month, the orange-red leaves may start to look scorched, curling up on the ground. If you wait too long, the maple trees will begin to dry out. Visit the Rideau Canal and Rideau Hall to see the maple leaves. Along the Rideau Canal, you can walk or bike to enjoy the foliage. If you’re biking, consider heading toward Rideau Hall—the gardens and woods within the official residence offer a rare natural maple forest in the city. Further out, Rockcliffe Park is a popular spot for Canadians to take wedding photos.
Ottawa (Ottawa) is Canada’s capital and the country’s fourth-largest city. The beautiful city, adorned with gorgeous maple red, is truly delightful. (Image provided by the Moleskine Editorial Team)
- 1
- 2
- 3