Fall is still lovely here and I’m enjoying the cold, crisp air after all the humidity this summer. But the true perk of the season is the stunning fall foliage.

On a beautiful fall day, we headed to the Ottawa River—cooler temperatures by the water usually bring the best fall features, including interesting clouds and vibrant tree colours.

We started on Bate Island, halfway between Ottawa and Gatineau, on the Ottawa River. While the trees weren’t as colourful as I had expected (still green in October!), the sky was amazing and there were several rock sculptures standing on the shallow water, similar to the ones in Remic Rapids a bit further. We also spotted a flock of geese, kayak enthusiasts (the water must have been super cold!) and about a hundred squirrels chasing each other and being generally too quick for me to even attempt to snap a pic.

Our second stop was Lemieux Island, off Mecanicsville. From there, we had a good view on Nichols Island, Young Island, Bell Island and Fury Island—small islands that are off-limits but are no doubt bird sanctuaries.

Finally, we stopped in Gatineau, Quebec, by the famous Museum of Civilization. This spot offers one of the best direct views on Parliament Hill and Ottawa, across the river, and for once it wasn’t crowded—we had the place to ourselves.

You can see all the Fall pictures on the Ottawa (Fall) set on Flickr.