Hiking in fall is awesome! Cooler temperatures, fewer bugs, and changing leaves make me one happy hiker. And the best way to appreciate fall hiking is to head somewhere with VIEWS.
Lookouts can be hard to find in and around Ottawa because everything is so flat. But there ARE a few gems out there.
Below, I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite hikes for fall. There’s no way I could rank them in order of how much I liked them, because they’re all pretty fantastic. Although the trails at Rock Dunder might be the best…
Instead, I’ve listed them based on how far they are from Ottawa. We’re lucky to have a few really close by, but we’re even luckier to have a lot within road trip distance! Everything on this list can be reached in under three hours.
Happy (fall) hiking!
I love seeing the first signs of fall!
Mer Bleue
Distance from Ottawa: 15 kilometres
Length of the trail: 1.5 or 8.5 kilometres (depending on your route)
Why it’s great for fall hiking: I know I said that views are what make a fall hike spectacular. And Mer Bleue is completely flat, so what’s it doing on the list? Honestly, it’s just such a cool, unique spot that I couldn’t leave it OFF the list. It’s super close to Ottawa, and the colors that appear there during the fall are just spectacular. Dogs aren’t allowed on these trails because the ecosystem is fairly fragile, but this is a walk better done with a coffee in hand anyways. Lots of people get their engagement, wedding, maternity photos, etc. here because it’s so lovely in the fall!
The Mer Bleue Boardwalk showing off some beautiful fall colors.
Huron Trail
Distance from Ottawa: 22 kilometres
Length of the trail: 10.5 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: The Huron Trail winds through the Gatineau Forest, with some cool ponds along the way. Then, it ends at the beautiful Étienne-Brûlé Lookout. Right behind the lookout, there’s a great little spot with picnic tables, making for the perfect spot for a fall lunch. This one also makes the list because it can be hiked OR biked. It can also be driven to, but what’s the fun in that?
Can you imagine this lookout in the fall?
Wolf Trail
Distance from Ottawa: 25.5 kilometres
Length of the trail: 8.4 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: Wolf Trail has TWO great lookouts, and at a distance of roughly eight and a half kilometres, it makes for a good workout! Fall is the perfect time to challenge yourself just a bit- hiking is easier in cooler temperatures, and the views here will be worth it. Plus, dogs are allowed, so you can bring your four legged friend and not worry about them getting overheated!
View from the Tawadina lookout on Wolf Trail.
Manitou Mountain
Distance from Ottawa: 109 kilometres
Length of the trail: 9 kilometres, or 2 kilometres (depending on your route)
Why it’s great for fall hiking: The Eagles Nest Lookout is one of the best in the area. It’s truly stunning! Once there, you can see for miles (okay, kilometres). You can choose to take a longer hike, or start at the end of the trail closer to the lookout and hike in one kilometre, take in the views, and head back out. Dogs are welcome on these trails too. AND Calabogie is a really cute little town with some good restaurants, plus its own brewery.
The Eagles Nest Lookout.
Blueberry Mountain
Distance from Ottawa: 111 kilometres
Length of the trail: 5 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: Like the name suggests, the trail here takes you out to a high point with a great lookout. The trail itself is fairly uneventful, but dogs are allowed, and the trailhead was really fun when I went because there were chickens running around everywhere! Despite the trail being only 111 kilometres from Ottawa, it takes about an hour and a half to get there. The drive to hike ratio doesn’t quite balance out, so if you want to check this one out, I recommend making a day of it and stopping at one of the cute little towns along the way, like Almonte. Full disclosure, this hike is probably my least favorite on the list…
Beautiful view from the ridge on Blueberry Mountain.
The Rock Dunder Trails
Distance from Ottawa: 129 kilometres
Length of the trail: 5.25 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: The trails at the Rock Dunder Nature Reserve take you to one of the best lookouts that I’ve ever seen close to Ottawa. Actually, it’s the best. Sorry Gatineau Park.
Looking out over the water from the lookout at Rock Dunder.
Sheffield Conservation Area Loop
Distance from Ottawa: 172 kilometres
Length of the trail: 5.3 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: The Sheffield Conservation Area has water, and views! We went in the spring on a whim, as we were driving along Highway 7. And if you live in Ottawa, I’m SURE that you’ll find yourself on Highway 7 at least once in your life- why not take a hike along the way? Dogs are allowed, which is always a bonus, and the terrain has just enough elevation gain and distance to make it a workout!
View from the top of the ridge at Sheffield Conservation Area.
Cobble Hill
Distance from Ottawa: 232 kilometres (and one border crossing)
Length of the trail: 3.1 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: Cobble Hill offers stunning views that you can get to without putting in much mileage. Plus, this trail is basically in the middle of Lake Placid, so if you’re there for a visit in the fall, there’s no excuse to miss it. Views, shopping, eating, and drinking, all in one day? Sign me up! Dogs are allowed, and if you want to try “scrambling” for the first time, this trail has the perfect little scramble to test yourself with.
These views, in under a kilometre of hiking? Yes please.
Bonnie’s Pond Trail
Distance from Ottawa: 247 kilometres
Length of the trail: 2.8 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: This one made the list because the only thing better than fall hiking might be fall CAMPING! And Silent Lake Provincial Park offers both. Plus, there’s a great lookout on the Bonnie’s Pond Trail. And dogs are allowed! Since you’re already near Bancroft, think about checking out the lookout at Eagles Nest Park as well. This lookout gets you a great view over the town, and of the York River winding through it.
Lookout on the Bonnie’s Pond Trail.
Big Slide
Distance from Ottawa: 263 kilometres (and one border crossing)
Length of the trail: 11.8 kilometres
Why it’s great for fall hiking: Big Slide is one of the 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks. Many of these mountains have stunning views on the trails and from their summits. I haven’t climbed all of them yet, but I’ve climbed Big Slide, and I can see why it’s a favorite for so many. Big Slide offers amazing views from SO many spots along the trail, in addition to an exceptional view from the summit. Plus, if you follow the route that I took, you’ll summit the Three Brothers” along the way, and there are some great views to be had there too. That way, if you decide reaching the summit of Big Slide is too much, you’ll still have climbed a mountain anyways! Dogs are allowed but there ARE a few scrambles, so that’s something to keep in mind before deciding to bring a four legged friend.
Views from the summit of Big Slide. Totally worth the work to get there!
Did I miss your favorite fall hike? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for the list. The Big Slide looks great. Might encourage me to finally get a passport…
Nothing in the Laurentians or Eastern Townships of Quebec?
Did you have any specific trail suggestions? Would love to hear them 🙂
Gatineau has some good ones and definitely closer to Ottawa then most of this list?
This is a great list. There are also several other great hikes in Gatineau Park. My favorite would have to be either the Skyline Trail or Carbide Wilson ruins, but King Mountain is nice as well.Thanks to this post I will try out Mer Bleue this fall, which I’ve never done before.
Thanks for the suggestions! King Mountain and Wilson Carbide are definitely on our “to do” list 🙂
Great list!
Lots more for me to check out!!