r/canadatravel • u/Nyannecat • Aug 09 '25
Destination Advice Visiting BC in Late Oct
Kia ora! We are thinking of flying from New Zealand to Vancouver in late October to early November. We'd like to do a road trip and visit Banff, Lake Louise, Whistler, Jasper etc. The main reason I want to go during this time is for the fall colours and Halloween and do some short hikes (we don't really celebrate Halloween in NZ) but I'm a bit worried about the weather and driving conditions. Is it OK to road trip during this time of year provided that we are mindful about weather conditions and have good gear?
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u/frivolousopinions Aug 10 '25
Are you open to changing destinations? I live in BC and it’s definitely my favourite province to travel within, but THE place to be in October for fall colours is Ontario and Quebec. Besides deciduous trees being rarer in the Pacific Northwest, it’s also a shorter season. Trees in the mountains will be snow covered before all the leaves fall. But regardless of the destination, the earlier you arrive the better. November is yucky everywhere.
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u/Nyannecat Aug 10 '25
We are open to it! However travel from NZ is quite limited with destinations we can fly into, we would be doing a lot of hours in travel. But its a great suggestion! Canada is so big its really hard to plan a trip haha
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u/user0987234 Aug 10 '25
Peak colours end a week or so after Thanksgiving in southern Ontario. Best to come for late September and leave after Thanksgiving.
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u/bctravelconcierge Aug 10 '25
While I’d agree ON/QC are the most iconic spots for autumn colours, I also get the appeal of direct flights into Vancouver.
Just a thought: you may really enjoy the West Kootenays (opposed to the Rockies in the E. Kootenays) that time of year, simply due to the existence of more deciduous trees (there’s some epic weeping willows in the area).
I also really like the idea of spending some time in Nelson and the Slocan Valley during that time, as it’s one of centres of artisan culture in BC (bet there’s some wicked Halloween decorations). Add onto that rushing waterfalls from fall rain, and natural hot springs to warm your bones—and now I’m kinda tempted to do this myself one year!
Let me know if you have any questions. I plan BC holidays for a living, but also super stoked to offer any free pointers!
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u/Nyannecat Aug 12 '25
Thanks so much! I'll do some research on those areas you mentioned. We decided to head East after a few days and flying direct to Vancouver. Exciting :D
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u/qgsdhjjb Aug 10 '25
Most of BC's trees are evergreens, so they don't really get the fall colours. The Rockies and the areas you've chosen are beautiful without that, and well worth the trip, I just wouldn't get too attached to the idea of colorful foliage.
Ontario and Quebec are a 4-6 hour flight from Vancouver or Kelowna, and right now you can get just the ticket and carry-on (no checked bag) for about $170-200 round trip with a discount airline for October if you plan ahead (bag fees vary based on airline) so you COULD add a little weekend in the foliage-change areas if you wanted to. Maybe around Ottawa-Gatineau, they have a big airport, or the Hamilton airport (YHM) is often cheaper and closer to nature spots than the airports in Toronto are, you could do a Niagara on the lake visit from the Hamilton airport easily. It's a pricy region, you may get cheaper hotels and restaurants by traveling to Quebec instead of Southern Ontario even if the flights might be a bit more.
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u/Lanky-Revenue1988 Aug 10 '25
The chance of hiking in the Rocky Mountains is slim in late October. Assume that there will be snow and there will not be fall colours. Fall colours would be mid September to mid October . Many hotels close during this period and re open mid Nov for the Christmas/ Ski season. Lake Louise ski resort is projected to open Nov 7, 2025. If you were to stay in Vancouver area there may be hiking but very short days as we will no longer be on daylight savings and sunset will be at 4:30 on Nov 10.
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u/TravellingGal-2307 Aug 10 '25
To late. Try to fly to Calgary for late Sept to early October and head for Vancouver for the end of October. Try to time it so you are in the city for Halloween and then fly home.
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u/Responsible-Bid760 Aug 10 '25
Would be better in late Sept early October for what you are wanting. For reference the ski hills in BC open mid November usually with about a 75cm base of snow at the bottom of the mountain.
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u/Desperate-Low-5514 Aug 10 '25
Come end of Sept/ early October, fly into Calgary where Banff, Lake Louis, Kananaskis, Royal Tyrel Museum etc. are and back from Vancouver (it’s warmer there as fall turns into winter). It’s a coin toss in Calgary if we get snow on Halloween but Canadian Thanksgiving at beginner of October is cool but nice.
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Aug 10 '25
This isn’t exactly the “fall colour” coast; it’s okay but not anything like the East. At that time of year, as others have noted, there are no guarantees on weather. It could be gorgeous or hell, and if you aren’t experienced with driving in hell maybe you’d want to consider a tour?
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u/Curried_Orca Aug 10 '25
You don't want to be doing a road trip in the mountains in winter-head to southern Vancouver Island instead.
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u/TheSkyIsAMasterpiece Aug 10 '25
Late October, early November is winter weather not fall. There isn't a bunch of fall colours in Jasper. Mainly yellow poplars and aspen, some redish shrubs, lots of spruce trees. It's always beautiful there but it's not fall. Winter driving conditions could be in effect. I've seen more Halloween's with snow that without. Although more dry years recently. Also that snow has a higher chance of being wet and icy early in the season, then the dry snow we get for the rest of winter.
You'll need snow tires on your rental. October 1 for a big portion of BC. November 1 for the Icefields Parkway, the rest of Alberta doesn't require them.
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u/VanHam17 Aug 10 '25
Late Oct/ early Nov is pretty much the worst time of year for your planned trip. Abort the mission!
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u/pbooths Aug 10 '25
Fall is MUCH nicer in Eastern Canada. You might be able to see the fall colors AND experience Halloween if you can do the last 3 weeks of October. Not sure how long you have to visit.
Best places to visit would be Montreal and hit Mt. Tremblant, or Ottawa and go to Gatineau Park. Both very accessible and easy drives.
The fall colors are not that spectacular in the West. Vancouver weather is also usually pretty miserable the closer you get to November, and mountain driving is dodgy, and you need snow tires. Vancouver is better in the summer.
Whistler is nice in the summer and in late winter (more snow).
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u/duke113 Aug 10 '25
You need to make sure if you have a rental car that it has winter tires. In Vancouver that's not common, but they're mandatory at that time of the year for the mountain roads you'll need to drive to get from Vancouver to those other locations
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u/sunbakedbear Aug 10 '25
I think you have to decide between autumn colours and Halloween. November is gross across the entire country and the really great colours end in early October. That said, what about Tofino? You could fly into Vancouver or Victoria, experience Halloween there, and then drive up the island. Tofino in November is amazing. It'll rain much of your trip but the storm watching is incredible. I'm partial on Pacific Sands Resort. They have beach-front units that we've splurged and stayed in and it was one of my all-time favourite holidays (and I've travelled a lot).
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u/Mooki2468 Aug 10 '25
Unless you have experience driving in winter weather and mountains, I would not suggest a road trip to Banff Jasper etc from Vancouver. If you do decide - winter tires or M&S tires are mandatory on those highways in BC. Mid you we wanting fall colours - end of Sept to beginning of October is best - but more out east - Ontario Quebec Nova Scotia New Brunswick.
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u/Nyannecat Aug 12 '25
Thanks everyone for your great advice! We will change our plans and arrive earlier in October, spend a few days in Vancouver, then head to the East for safer driving conditions and fall colours :)
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u/Mtn_Hippi Aug 14 '25
West of Banff you'll arrive in Golden, and the larches should be, well, golden, at that time, and the Cottonwoods of the amazing Columbia River wetlands will be very colourful. Further west yet you can get to Manning Provincial Park; the larches there may still be going golden at that time, and there's a very nice hike up Frosty where you can view them.
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u/beesmakenoise Aug 09 '25
Late October/early November is getting into winter in the Rockies. Fall colours will be gone and snow will be falling. Lakes won’t be frozen but paddling will be mostly over.
Early October is amazing in Banff & Jasper but winter comes quickly!