12 Outdoor Adventures to Celebrate Fall
I love autumn: crisp, colourful leaves, uncrowded hiking trails, quiet campgrounds and pumpkin everything. Outdoor adventures require a bit more planning and preparation to stay safe and comfortable in the shoulder season, but it’s still possible to get outside and relish in the impeccable autumn vibes—here are a few casual ways to get outdoors and welcome fall.
Hike at Golden Hour
With the sun setting earlier, golden hour—the time when the sun has just begun to set, but hasn’t fully descended, making the light appear warmer and softer—might fall between 6pm and 8pm for you. This has been called “magic hour” by photographers, and for good reason: the world looks a little more radiant, serene and gentle tinged in red and golden hues. It’s the ideal time for a stroll through the colourful leaves and changing environment in a local park or on a hiking trail.
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
If you truly want to embrace the autumn aesthetic and fall ambiance, you’ve got to visit a pumpkin patch. Bring your young ones, family or friends to a local farm where you can pick your own pumpkin, possibly ride a tractor and definitely get ideas for Halloween jack-o-lantern carving designs. It might seem like a cheesy outdoor experience—and it is—but it’s also a great chance to roam around on a crisp, clear fall afternoon, learn about different gourds and taste some fall-inspired treats, like hot apple cidre and fresh pumpkin pie.
Have a Fall Picnic
Gather your next meal into a basket and head into nature for a picnic. If want to enjoy breakfast outdoors, cozy up in a fleece sweater or blanket and sip your coffee, eat a croissant or other flaky pastry, or bring a homemade breakfast sandwich. For lunch, grab deli sandwiches; for dinner, a charcuterie board is a great option. Bring a selection of meats, cheeses, pickles, jams, fruits, vegetables, crackers and bread. Lay out the spread on a picnic table, blanket or tablecloth. Pair it with delicious autumn-inspired drinks, like hot cinnamon tea, mulled wine or pumpkin spice lattes.
Celebrate Thanksgiving Outside
In Canada, Thanksgiving is held annually on the second Monday in October. Why not celebrate this annual harvest festival by feasting outdoors? Gather friends, family and food for a large, welcoming meal in your backyard, local park or a day use area. Cozy up with blankets and turn on the fire pit or spark a wood-burning fire, if allowed. Whenever you’re with friends, hanging out in the cool autumn air is sure to get your stomach rumbling for a traditional turkey—with all the fixings. Rather than cooking it over the campfire, bring leftovers or prepared dishes to enjoy outside with loved ones.
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Typically located on farms outside large cities, corn mazes are a unique way for farmers to attract tourists in the autumn. The point of a corn maze is to encourage self-guided exploration and fun with family and friends. These can vary in size from mega mystery labyrinths to mini mazes for the little ones. Some corn mazes even have terrifyingly scary Halloween themes. With tall stalks, twists and dead-ends, it can be easy to get lost in a corn maze—but most family-friendly designs will have an easy way out, too.
Jump in a Leaf Pile
Chores in autumn often include raking the leaves that cover the backyard… so why not make it a bit more fun? Children and adults alike can blow off some steam and shriek with delight by gathering leaves into a massive pile and scattering them with a well-aimed hop in the middle. Just make sure you have enough piled up to cushion your fall!
Create a Fall Inspired Photo Op
Autumn is a great time for family photos. Gather your loved ones and hire a photographer for professional Christmas cards or take a tripod and make it a solo photoshoot in the Great Outdoors. Find a burbling brook, a rustling forest bursting with fall colours or a dirt trail with a background of orange leaves and set up for an autumn-inspired scene. Wrap up in cozy scarfs, mittens and toques, taking extra care to keep children and senior family members warm and comfortable (hot chocolate helps; as does playing in the leaves!). Take advantage of the gorgeous natural lighting and just have fun!
Go on a Hayride
Horse-drawn carriages and hay-filled tractors make a fun, family-friendly outdoor activity for kids of all ages. Hop in a wagon or cart pulled by a machine or farm animal and enjoy a tour of the autumn ambience. This is traditionally a celebratory activity to mark the harvest. You might cheers some hot chocolate while you ride through the scarecrow-filled field and back to the barn on a bumpy, but blissful, scenic hayride.
Paddle on a Calm Lake
When summer is over, the crowds disperse, the too-hot weather cools off and the lakes are empty. Paddle out on a local watering hole for a calming afternoon adventure. If you’re lucky, you might be floating in the reflection of bright red maple trees, vibrant red oaks and golden larches. We love paddling our inflatable kayak, but you can also take out a hard shell kayak, canoe or SUP for an enjoyable, peaceful paddle this fall.
Cycle Through the Crisp Air
There’s something magical about cycling beneath jagged peaks, alongside rushing rivers and in the shade of colourful foliage. Fall is the best season for bicycling as you’ll be treated to scenic views, cooler weather, fewer pesky bugs in your face and less trail users to contend with on multi-use routes. Tug on your base layers, clip on your helmet and hit the winding road on your bike on a beautiful fall day.
Try Forest Bathing
Spend the morning, afternoon or evening before the sun sets quietly relaxing in nature for a few hours. Listen to the wind whispering through the red and golden leaves. Feel the light rays of sunshine stroke your cheeks. Taste a drink of fresh cool water or warm spiced tea. Look for fungi and seasonal berries as you sit or stroll through the forest. Forest bathing can help bring attention to the present moment, boost your immune system and reduce your stress and anxiety. For a few hours, remove yourself from the digital world and let the outdoor world embrace you in autumn’s spender.
Go Foraging in Nature
I’ve always been a bit afraid to forage on my own, worried about picking something poisonous (or simply yucky). With the right guide, foraging in fall can be a successful and fun adventure. Autumn is peak season for mushroom foraging in Ontario, digging dandelion root in Alberta and finding ripe Juniper berries in British Columbia. Go with a mycologist or local expert before you venture out on your own, and invest in a well-done, trusted foraging guidebook (with colour images) for your area.
BONUS: Relax at an Outdoor Spa
After the chaos of summer, take some time for self-care at an outdoor spa, such as the Scandinave Spa in Whistler, Mont-Tremblant or Blue Mountain. Each location is in a gorgeous outdoor setting, designed to be calming and connected to nature. There are hammocks, thermal tubs, wood-fired saunas, eucalyptus-infused steam rooms, cold plunge pools and outdoor fire pits to help you relax and unwind. Plus, you aren’t allowed to speak or bring any digital devices inside—offering the disconnection from tech and connection to yourself and nature that we’re often craving.
To make the most out of autumn, print out our challenge list or save the image on your phone and cross off one activity every week!
