These are the best things to do in Ottawa this fall
6 Minute Read
Are you excited for the arrival of fall? You’re in for a treat—Ottawa offers an abundance of autumn activities! Enjoy a visit to a farm to pick pumpkins, explore winding corn mazes, or follow a trail illuminated by glowing pumpkins. Whether you’re looking for a festive family outing, eager to embrace the spooky season, or craving delightful seasonal treats, Ottawa has a diverse array of autumn experiences waiting for you.
Discover the best things to do in Ottawa this fall and make the most of this enchanting time of year.
Go apple picking
Apple picking is a timeless autumn tradition that offers a beautiful chance to embrace the outdoors, savour the refreshing fall air, and create lasting memories with friends and family. While at a local orchard, don’t miss out on purchasing fresh apple cider and homemade baked goods.
Take a scenic drive just outside of the city and visit one of these top spots for apple picking:
Mountain Orchards
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Where: 10175 Clark Rd., Mountain, ON
Mountain Orchards, located in Kemptville, features over twenty varieties of apples for you to pick, along with a selection of pears. For those looking to enhance their family fun, the orchard offers wagon rides, a straw jump, a corn maze, and a pumpkin patch—everything needed for a memorable fall experience. And be sure to indulge in their delicious, freshly made apple cider doughnuts.
Cannamore Orchard
Where: 1480 County Rd. 32, Crysler, ON
Cannamore Orchard is a beloved destination for apple picking. This family-friendly farm offers various activities, including the popular cow-train ride, expansive mazes, and pedal cars. No visit to the orchard is complete without indulging in their renowned apple cider doughnuts. For a thrilling twist, return in the evening when the orchard transforms into a haunting experience across acres of terror.
Visit a pumpkin patch
No autumn season is complete without a visit to the local pumpkin patch, a quintessential destination that captures the essence of the fall festivities. These charming farms serve as seasonal playgrounds for visitors of all ages, offering many activities, from whimsical wagon rides to intricate corn mazes and seasonal treats.
Fallowfield Tree Farm
Where: 6100 Fallowfield Rd., Stittsville, ON
At Fallowfield Tree Farm, you can handpick your pumpkins directly from the patch, selecting the perfect one for your autumn decorations. Beyond pumpkin picking, the farm offers the entire family a delightful array of seasonal activities. Enjoy a scenic hayride through the stunning fall foliage, navigate a challenging corn maze that will test your skills, and visit the charming petting zoo to interact with friendly animals. It’s a fantastic way to capture the season’s spirit and create lasting memories with loved ones.
Miller's Farm And Market
Where: 6158 Rideau Valley Dr. N., Manotick, ON
The large eight-acre pumpkin patch at Miller’s Farm and Market offers pumpkins in all shapes and colours. You may recognize them from their famously Instagramed pumpkin house. In addition to pumpkin picking, visitors can explore a fantastic farmers’ market, enjoy wagon rides, and navigate the corn maze for an additional cost. Don’t miss the delightful selection of seasonal flowers to enhance your front porch.
Proulx Farm
Where: 1865 O’Toole Rd., Cumberland, ON
Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Proulx Farm’s annual Pumpkin Fest is the ultimate destination for fall fun! Visitors can enjoy scenic wagon rides, interact with animals at the petting zoo, navigate through corn mazes, and have a blast in play structures—all while picking their perfect pumpkin.
Citrouilleville
Where: 560 69e Ave., Saint-Zotique, QC
Have you ever wanted to visit a pumpkin village or wondered what one would look like? You can live out your pumpkin dreams at Citrouilleville. They have made an entire full-scale pumpkin village. The pumpkin wonderland, of course, is complete with a pumpkin patch, midway games, corn mazes, food trucks, an inflatable playground, a theatre, and so much more.
Explore glowing pumpkin trails
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate this spooky season than by visiting some of the best glowing pumpkin trails around Ottawa? From family-friendly events to hauntingly beautiful displays, these trails are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
Pumpkinferno
Where: 13740 County Rd. 2, Morrisburg, ON
Located just an hour away from Ottawa, Upper Canada Village hosts an enchanting event called Pumpkinferno during October. The historic village transforms into a magical world with over 7,000 hand-carved lit pumpkins on display. The displays range from whimsical to spooky, each taking your breath away.
Pumpkins After Dark
Pumpkins After Dark, held at Wesley Clover Parks, offers an enchanting nighttime walkthrough featuring over ten thousand unique pumpkin creations. As you explore, you may spot some of your favourite characters and pop culture icons among the displays. The event also includes pumpkin carving demonstrations that inspire you to try your hand at home.
Celebrate spooky season
For those who adore the Halloween season, Ottawa has some incredible spooky activities, such as haunted hayrides to ghost tours, that you’ll want to experience for yourself. Here are some top recommendations:
Fright Fest at Saunders Farm
Where: 7893 Bleeks Rd., Munster, ON
Haunting people for 32 years is Ottawa’s scariest haunted attraction, Saunders Farm’s Fright Fest. The Scariest place in town offers a variety of terrors, such as its Haunted Hayride and Barn of Terror, The Cemetery Scare Zone, and The Coven, a witch-infested haunt. A scary pig or two might lurk and follow you to your next haunting.
Haunted Walk of Ottawa
Where: 46 ½ Sparks St., Ottawa, ON
Take a guided lantern tour through some of Ottawa’s most haunted spots while learning about the city’s dark history and ghostly legends.
Get lost in a corn maze
Navigating a corn maze can be an exhilarating adventure, especially when shared with friends and family. Whether you’re racing to find the exit or simply soaking in the maze’s ambiance, it’s an experience filled with fun and excitement.
Ouimet Farms
Where: 63 Main St. W., Vankleek Hill, ON
Ouimet Farms creates a new maze each year following a unique and impressive design. Their seven-acre maze has three different difficulties.
The Log Farm
Where: 670 Cedarview Rd., Nepean, ON
The Log Farm’s three-acre maze is perfect for doing with the family, and you’re allowed to try it as many times as you wish during your visit. While at the farm, you can also enjoy a hayride and see all the cute animals.
See the fall leaves
One of the most magical experiences during autumn is witnessing the breathtaking fall foliage. The vibrant colours and stunning landscapes created by changing leaves are a sight to behold. From fiery reds to bright oranges and golden yellows, there’s no shortage of beauty when it comes to fall foliage.
Gatineau Park
Where: 33 Scott Ch., Chelsea, QC
Celebrate Fall Rhapsody by taking a scenic hike through the stunning Gatineau Park, where you’ll be surrounded by vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold as the leaves change. As you traverse the winding trails, take a moment to breathe in the crisp autumn air and listen to the crunch of leaves beneath your feet.
Eagle's Nest Lookout
Bob Corson | iStock
Experience the breathtaking beauty of autumn from the Eagle’s Nest Lookout. Located in Calabogie, Eagles Nest is a popular tourist spot known for its stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Your CAA Membership can help you save along the way
Starting at just $30 a year, CAA Members will discover discounts on everything from dining out and fueling up to savings on car rentals and travel insurance, among many other benefits. You can view the list of 126,000 partner locations worldwide and join online.
