Small Towns in Alberta to Visit This Fall

Alberta’s cities sure do look good in the fall. But so do all the smaller towns around the province!

Get out for a day or weekend this fall and road-trip to some of Alberta’s small towns to find more fall scenery, but also great festivals, events, and food/drink. Some of Alberta’s smaller towns are among some of the best fall scenery, so it’s best to make time for some outdoor exploration, some photo ops, and natural sightseeing.

But get yourself a true sense of each of these locations and their fall spirit through the local culture. This could mean tasting all the local restaurants, sipping at the breweries and distilleries, shopping the last of the outdoor farmers’ markets, and attending events that can help get you excited about Halloween.

Smoky Lake

Smoky Lake is all about the pumpkins in the fall, but there is a lot more to do in the town over the coming month and half or so which make it a great fall destination. There is of course the Great White North Pumpkin Fair & Weigh-off, but also a lot of outdoor recreation that makes room for photography and birdwatching, and great places where you can get in some local shopping.

Great White North Pumpkin Fair is an annual tradition in town and will see many events for the day like the classic weigh-off, a farmers’ market, a show and shine, contests, a midway, and more. Combine this with a stop at the Smoky Lake Corn Maze, which has extended hours the day of the fair, but who are also open through October.
Smoky Lake Farmers’ Market (every Saturday until December) offers farm fresh foods and preserves, handmade décor and clothing, and a selection of handy household items.
Start your Iron Horse Trail adventures from Pumpkin Park. Head east from the staging area and you can explore 20km of gorgeous fall colours all the way to the Bellis North Natural Area. This may be a strenuous-sounding hike, but you are allowed OHVs like ATVs and dirt bikes, or horses.
Visit Metis Crossing for the last of their summer programming. You may also kick off the Metis Crossing fall programming by getting tickets to the Centre’s Harvest Dinner.

Smoky Lake Great White North Pumpkin Weigh-off & Fair

Drumheller

Drumheller is often thought of as a summer destination in Alberta, given its extra-hot weather, and the outdoor attractions. But visit Drumheller in the fall for a cooler experience, awesome fall scenery, and the smaller attractions around town. Bring a bike, if you can, as Drumheller is an excellent cycling city with many fall scenes to uncover.

Take on The Sunny Spot’s Corn Maze and take part in the fall festivities like a Spooky edition of the maze, photo ops, and pumpkin picking.
Visit the natural sights around Drumheller: this is a great time to see the Hoodoos (it’s usually SO hot in the summer) or to follow the trails near the Red Deer River.
Don’t miss the fall events at Barney’s Adventure Park including a Fall Festival, a Pumpkin Festival, and a Dinos After Dark Scare Trail experience for Halloween.
Visit the ghost town of Rowley. It is a 15-minute drive from Drumheller and brings you on the scenic highway route which cuts right through the badlands north of town. You can also camp in Rowley!

Bernadette Gallagher

Taber

Taber may be well known for their corn and late-summer Cornfest. But visit Taber in the fall to get some incredible views and picnic opportunities around the Oldman River, to enjoy a number of other festivals and events, or to try the local cuisine.

Attend either the Molnar’s Pumpkin Festival, or Taber Pheasant Festival, or both!
The Vauxhall Farmers’ Market is a great way to prepare for a picnic.
A free Halloween Haunted House will pop up in Taber on October 31st, accompanied by a family party!
Fill up on pizza! Taber is home to local greats like A-1, Luigi’s, and Nonna’s.

Alberta Conservation Association

Peace River

The fall scenery you can take in around Peace River (the town and actual river) can be reason enough alone to visit in late September/early October. The wooded areas around the mighty Peace River make the landscape warm and colourful and can be explore by a few hiking trails in town.

McLennan Oktoberfest is a great way to cheers to some social time, some great drinks, and tasty Bavarian foods. McLennan is about 50-minutes south of Peace River.
Take a self-guided tour of the new art around Peace River. Local artists recently began a Peace River mural initiative, and more public installations are showing up each year.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the birds. Peace River is in an excellent location for catching glimpses and photos of migratory birds you don’t normally see. Figure Eight Lake PRA, northwest of Peace River, has a year-round day-use area with short trails, many birds to watch and listen for, and beautiful fall colours around the lake.
Get a real taste for Peace River with some riverside local dining: the Board ‘n’ Barrel is a great place for cocktails and dinner, while the Tapas Room makes some tasty snacks and appetizers.

Sylvan Lake

Make time for a day trip or weekend getaway this fall to the lake. Sylvan Lake, a short distance west of Red Deer, has a full slate of fall activities to look forward to, including a few ways to get in some photography. The mature trees all around the lake are incredibly beautiful this time of year and make a picturesque backdrop to exploring the local trails, events, dining, and shopping.

A Fall hike through Jarvis Bay Provincial Park or along the CP trail is the best way to experience Sylvan’s wonderful fall colours.
Picnic lakeside after shopping around the Sylvan Lake Farmers’ Market open every Friday until September 30th (the same night as the Cruise Nights and Show and Shine!).
Explore the local art on display everywhere in Sylvan Lake with a self-guided art walk. You’ll uncover some wonderful murals!
Join in the family fun activities on-site, listen to some great music, and end the evening with a fabulous firework display from the pier in beautiful Sylvan Lake on Thanksgiving weekend.
Get yourself, your friends, or your family ready for Halloween at the lake! The Lake’s Pumpkin House will open October 1st, and there will be a ‘spooky’ outdoor movie you can attend on October 28th.

Hinton

Don’t overlook Hinton because of the National Park beside town; take some time and explore the natural beauty outside of Jasper, as there is a lot! You can explore the natural beauty around Hinton this fall through quite a bit of adventure, too, like boating, ziplining, hiking, or mountain biking. And if adventure isn’t why you’re coming out to the foothills in the fall, you can simply relax beside the Athabasca River with a picnic or take in the sights from the car.

Visit the Old Entrance B&B Cabins for scenic fall trail rides or a weekend getaway in the foothills.
The nearby William A. Switzer Provincial Park has numerous ways to explore the outdoors, including a large canoe/kayak circuit, hiking and biking trails, fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
As a town on the edge of the Rockies, you can expect tons of adventure in Hinton. This includes air adventures, too! Take a memorable zipline flight with Alternative Adventures Zipline, who remain open for fall by reservation/appointment.
Bring your bike! Hinton is home to a popular mountain bike park, if you’re into the more extreme side of cycling. You can also bike trails in the PP, like the Joachim Valley Trail which passes an old cemetery, and leads you to old airplane wreckage; or the Froehler Coaster Loop off of Highway 40.
The Athabasca River runs alongside the Trans Canada, on the north side of Hinton. And just west of Hinton, the river opens up into a wide stretch. There are many beautiful lookout points on the drive up Brule Road from town, and places to stop and relax for a picnic in the hamlet of Brule. The lookout points along Brule Road give you an incredibly view of fall colours and the river as it stretches east and west.

Jasper

Any Rocky Mountain area is a safe bet for creating a memorable fall vacation, but Jasper adds to their fall fun with their annual Dark Sky Festival each October. Jasper is one of a handful of dark sky preserves in Alberta; so, you can plan a trip for the festival, or visit on your own time and still get an awe-inspiring experience. Jasper is also a stunning fall scene this time of year, so any outdoor adventures you may plan will be pretty in the day, too.

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Get tickets to a Dark Sky event like the rides up the Skytram, the dinner and drink events, or the JPL’s Symphony Under the Sky.
Bring your kids to a Telescope or Planetarium experience and learn all about the scenes above you.
Watch for the dozens of species of birds, and the larger wildlife. Jasper is home to majestic large mammals like bears, moose, deer, and others.
If you do stargaze on your own, head to Pyramid or Patricia Lakes, which are located outside of the main townsite.
Get out on the trails before it gets really cold here! The Valley of the Five Lakes is a great place to go as it gives you multiple distance options.

Turner Valley

Turner Valley sits on the edge southern Alberta’s foothills, so you can expect many beautiful fall photo ops even just on the drive into town. Once you’re in Turney Valley, make time to explore all the creative local goods like spirits and craft beer, and plenty of dining options. The foothill areas around town offer some beautiful scenery for breaking a sweat on the trails, too, with the nearby Sheep River PP open year-round.

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The Spirit Hills Flower Winery, about 20 minutes outside of Turner Valley, offers weekend Tours through fall. Not only will you be able to taste and learn about the wines, but it will all be in a beautiful rustic fall setting in the foothills.
If wine isn’t your thing, Turner Valley is also home to other companies who can quench your thirst: Fahr for the brews, or Eau Claire for the spirits.
You can get some of the best of Turner Valley’s fall colours with a peaceful walk or bike ride along the Friendship Trail. The trail connects the town to Black Diamond, full of its own local dining and shopping to check out.
Bring your camera, as you can get the best of Turner Valley in the fall with simple walks or bike rides around the forested areas. This foothill town offers numerous chances for beautiful fall photography via the Friendship Trail or Sheep River Provincial Park (if you’d like to venture further west). Along with the colourful foliage, your walk can also lead to mountain views.

Okotoks

For those in Calgary, Okotoks is a quick drive south and can make for an easy escape, without really escaping. For those from other areas, you will want to see Okotoks in the fall for the river valley colours, the attractions on the outskirts of town, and the local art which decorates almost every corner.

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Take a walk around the rock. Okotoks is home to a large glacial erratic, and you can follow short trails all around the massive piece of natural history and learn all about what this area useto look like.
Take a self-guided art and history tour around Okotoks and uncover murals, preserved buildings and heritage sites, sculptures, and even a public piano, which is a piece of art itself.
Aspen Crossing, a short drive east of Okotoks, has a Train of Terror excursion lined up this October to help you get in the spooky mood for Halloween. The Train of Terror is adults-only and runs weekends in October.

Bragg Creek

There is no shortage of outdoor fall recreation in and around Bragg Creek. But before you stop at all the wonderful trails, natural sights (like the insane fall colours!), or adventure basecamps, take a walk through town. You’ll be able to stock up on local foods from the shops or can take some picnic food to go from the local cafes and restaurants.

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Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures offer a variety of daytrips on horseback.
Plan a mountain camping getaway with your tent or RV at the Fisher Creek PRA, open year-round.
Grab a warm drink at the Cinnamon Spoon before heading out on the trails of Bragg Creek Provincial Park: pick between three at varying distances of 1.6km, 6.1km, or 8km. Be wildlife aware on these foothill trails!
Drive out west 20 minutes from Bragg Creek to see the Elbow Falls an area with amenities like parking, picnic sites, and washrooms. You can also fish the Elbow here! The Elbow Falls Day Use area is open year-round, while the other two are open until November 30th.