Discover Richmond’s Best Fall Leaf Viewing Spots

Pumpkin orange, taxicab yellow, candy apple red: the countless colours of fall framed by bright blue skies make this a favourite season for many Richmond locals and visitors. It’s the perfect time to head outside, enjoy the crisp fresh air and snap some vibrant photos for all your social media feeds.

But where are the best spots to go if you’re looking for some vibrant autumnal imagery? Read on for some of our favorite local fall foliage destinations. Then gear-up, polish your camera lens and head out for a relaxing day communing with the trees in Richmond.

Minoru Park

Reopened in 2023 after a major renovation, the lake portion of this city centre greenspace still feels like a hidden gem. And if you’ve haven’t visited since its closure, fall is a great time to return and reconnect. On our recent excursion, we strolled the restored and widened pathways––including the wooden bridges across the water––and sat on one of the new benches to drink in the tranquil autumnal views.

We spotted huge willows and delicate maples as well as some late-blooming snapdragons and iris flowers. We also watched a pair of busy nuthatches searching for insects in a mossy old oak tree. Then we walked to the park’s charming, wood-built Minoru Chapel, originally constructed in 1891. It’s framed by tall trees and also fronted by a lovely little garden—there were still some fragrant yellow roses blooming on our visit.

GRANVILLE AVENUE

Walking south through Minoru Park, we passed dozens of towering oak trees––their fallen acorns turning the pathways into cobbled lanes––as we headed towards Granville Avenue. Many of Richmond’s major thoroughfares are lined with mature trees that burst into brilliant hues at this time of year. Granville, especially along the stretch running west of City Hall, is one of our favourites.

A multitude of mature trees flank this street, including along its central meridian. And as the season unfolds, their colours transform into a changing canopy that can often resemble a drive-through tunnel of stained glass. We spent plenty of time wandering around this area, making sure we explored the side streets where we discovered lots of colourful foliage and some huge chestnut trees dropping their shiny, mahogany-brown fruit.

Steveston Village

With its bright-painted heritage storefronts, Steveston is an attractive spot for images at any time of year. But as the golden light of autumn unfurls across the village, it becomes even more photogenic. Leaf-wise, check out the trees surrounding the Steveston Tram shed––including a couple of beautiful Japanese maples that transition to bright red at this time of year. And don’t forget to take the nearby shoreline stroll to Britannia Shipyards; the route is studded with trees and the historic site itself is an excellent spot for evocative fall photos.

Save time for shoreline Garry Point Park as well. Famous for its cherry blossom trees, the park’s entrance area is also home to some leafy oaks. Be sure to check out the superb birding opportunities here, and keep your eyes peeled for other interesting flora––we spotted some late-blooming wildflowers on our walk. Need more? The park also connects to the West Dyke Trail if you’re keen to extend your excursion on a lovely fall day.

Terra Nova Rural Park

A breeze-licked 6km West Dyke Trail walk or bike ride from Garry Point Park brings you to one of Richmond’s other fantastic green space gems. Bordered by shoreline on two sides, 63-acre Terra Nova offers a huge array of fall photo opportunities.

Spend an hour or so exploring the well-marked trails here, especially on the boardwalk section that fringes the slough––a reed-framed ribbon of water that’s often filled with ducks. But save most of your leaf-peeping time for the Terra Nova Natural Area, a separate 35-acre space that’s been carefully preserved as a wild habitat. Hit the trail that snakes around its perimeter and keep your camera trained on the trees for colourful leaves and lots of birdlife (owls included).

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Garden City Community Park

Autumnal Richmond is full of well-known parks where there are often as many out-of-town visitors as there are locals. But there are also lots of smaller outdoor areas that are still waiting to be discovered. And one of our favourites is a perfect place to peruse some unusual trees. The 24-acre Garden City Community Park is centered on a large lagoon that’s well utilized by visiting birds.

But near the park’s Garden City Road entrance, there’s also a carefully planned arboretum with dozens of different tree varieties from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It’s a ‘living museum’ of mature flora and a great way to encounter uncommon varieties––and see how they transform during the fall season. We spotted some familiar arbutus and Douglas firs on our visit as well as exotic varieties including star magnolia and Persian walnut. Curious? Check out the arboretum tree list before you arrive.

Last Updated on October 30, 2024 by Tourism Richmond