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Autumn – the season when there can be a nip in the air, but easily countered by wearing a wool sweater, donning a scarf, and sipping on a hot drink! This is the ‘cozy’ time of year when Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show of fall colours and we head out into the country to watch the ever-changing shades of yellow, orange, red and burgundy. The following are six of our favourite places to view the miracle of the changing leaves.
At the top of Owl’s Head, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the changing colours. To get to the peak, you can hike up the Panorama Trail from which you’ll see Lake Memphremagog below, looking more magnificent than ever, fringed in fall colours. You can also get to the summit by ski lift. (It starts up again at the end of September and operates throughout the fall colour season.) Either way, the summit viewpoint reveals a breathtaking sweep of lakes and mountains – across the Eastern Townships and beyond to Vermont, on the other side of the border. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Sailing around scenic Lake Memphremagog gives you another perspective on the changing leaves. The views from the water – crossing from east to west, north to south – lets you admire a kaleidoscope of nature’s making. Set sail from the Fitch Bay Marina where you can rent the craft of your choice.
Crédit photo : Jan Luxcey
Mont Orford is one of the most accessible mountains from which to view the fall colors. You can trek to the peak on foot, or alternatively, ride the ski lift. The Circuit Altitude is a walkway with five lookout points, terminating in a platform near the summit, where you can see the City of Magog, Lake Memphremagog, and Orford Lake far below, nestled amid a patchwork of colors. The autumn season is celebrated during Magog/Orford’s annual ‘Flambée des couleurs’ festival. In addition to Mont Orford, events take place at several venues around the region.
Crédit photo : Mont-Orford – Ian Roberge (4000 hikes)
For a touch of adventure along with your leaf peeping, there’s no better experience than kayaking on the Missisquoi River! You can set out from Station O’kataventure in Mansonville (if you don’t own a kayak, the company can rent you one), and paddle along the waterway, drinking in the dazzling array of colors.
This site – the Cherry River Marsh – is one of the must-see venues during the Magog/Orford Flambée des Couleurs festival. A 5.4-km walkway and side trails lead you across the wetlands from which you can admire not only the changing colors, but, if you’re lucky, spot some of the creatures that inhabit the Marsh – more than 100 species of birds and over a dozen types of reptiles and amphibians.
Lake Massawippi is often as calm as a millpond and like a mirror, it reflects the surrounding forest, clad in its autumn colours. Puttering along in a pontoon, you feel as if you’re part of a painting, immersed in the shimmering scene that surrounds you. For an unforgettable experience with your family or friends, rent a pontoon from Location des Quatre Lacs
Crédit photo : Municipalité de North Hatley
The fall colors are typically at their best by mid-October, but any of the weeks leading up to that time allows you to draw sustenance from nature and recharge your batteries! We’d love to get feedback from you, please post your impressions and photos on your social media networks. Looking forward to hearing from you!
