5 autumn Trips in British colombia to Add to Your Bucket List

If autumn is your season (like mine), British Columbia, Canada is pure magic. The mornings get misty, the forests glow in amber and gold, and every drive feels like a postcard. It’s the perfect time to slow down, pack a few sweaters, and plan a cosy escape, whether it’s a cabin weekend, a road trip, or a quick getaway surrounded by nature.

Here are five places we keep coming back to every fall, each with its own kind of magic for families, friends, or anyone who just loves this season.

1. Pemberton - Valley Views & Golden Trails

Just past Whistler, Pemberton feels like a quiet secret tucked between mountains. The drive alone, winding through forest and past snow-dusted peaks, is enough reason to go. In autumn, the valley turns golden, and the trails near One Mile Lake or Nairn Falls are perfect for family walks.
You can spend mornings exploring the trails and afternoons warming up in one of the small cafés in town. For a peaceful stay, look for a farm-style Airbnb surrounded by fields, it’s where you’ll truly feel the calm of fall.

Family Tip: Bring bikes! The valley trails are easy, scenic, and perfect for kids.

2. Hope - Salmon Runs & Misty Mornings

Hope is one of those places that gets better when the air turns cold. Mist curls over the river, the trees glow orange, and salmon begin their return upstream. Thacker Regional Park and Silver Creek offer peaceful family walks, and Othello Tunnels (partially open for the 2025 season, with the northern section and three of the five tunnels accessible to the public) is always a hit with kids.
Grab lunch in town, watch the river, and let the pace of life slow down, it’s that kind of place.
Family Tip: Visit in late October to catch the salmon runs. Kids love spotting them in the shallows!

3. Cowichan Valley, Bridges, Vineyards & Cozy Cabins

Just north of Victoria, the Cowichan Valley is one of the best spots for a fall getaway on Vancouver Island. It’s where forest trails meet vineyards and cosy farm-to-table dining. The Kinsol Trestle (I could say is my favourite place to visit) one of the tallest wooden bridges in the world, is absolutely stunning surrounded by fall colours.
We love staying in small cabins or riverside Airbnbs near Shawnigan Lake. Days often start slow, with coffee and fog over the trees, and end with board games and local wine once the kids are asleep.

Family Tip: Stop at Unsworth Vineyards for lunch, they have a beautiful garden setting and great local food.

4. The Gulf Islands, Quiet Trails & Ocean Air

In fall, the Gulf Islands (like Galiano, Salt Spring, or Pender) slow down beautifully. The summer crowds are gone, the trails are quiet, and the beaches are often completely yours.
It’s the perfect time to explore Galiano’s Bodega Ridge, hike to Mount Norman on Pender, or visit Salt Spring’s cosy cafés and markets. The ferry rides themselves feel like part of the adventure, mist over the water, a warm drink in hand, and nowhere to rush.

Family Tip: Bring warm layers for the ferry, and binoculars! You might spot seals or eagles along the way.

5. The Kootenays, Larch Trees & Alpine Lakes

Few places in British Colombia capture fall like the Kootenays. The mountain towns, Fernie, Nelson, Kaslo, are wrapped in colour, and the larch trees turn bright gold against turquoise lakes.
You can spend your days hiking around Emerald Lake or Kokanee Glacier Park, then cosy up in a cabin with a view. It’s the kind of trip that makes you fall in love with road travel again, long drives, mountain passes, and quiet towns where time seems to stand still.

Family Tip: If you go in late September or early October, you’ll catch peak larch season, it’s breathtaking.

Whether you’re chasing fall colours, looking for family-friendly trails, or just craving a cosy weekend surrounded by nature, British Colombia in autumn never disappoints. From misty mornings to mountain views, each of these destinations reminds us that slowing down can be its own kind of adventure.

So grab a map, pack the rain gear, and make space for golden memories this season, that is what @tripswithmykids do!