When do the leaves change in Alberta — Canadian Rockies?
Golden aspen parkland gives way to larch-lit alpine basins in the Canadian Rockies, with Banff and Jasper drawing crowds for peak color each September.
Peak: September 23–September 27
Color builds from September 7 · mostly bare by October 14
Alberta — Canadian Rockies is sampled at 163 weather points, with no published peak dates to correct it against yet. Alberta — Canadian Rockies is running 9 days earlier than its own average this year. Alberta — Canadian Rockies does not turn all at once, and the gap from the earliest corner to the latest runs about 5 days. How the forecast works
Known for
Things to do in fall in Alberta — Canadian Rockies
12 iconic stops, including scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.
Peak September 13
The most sought-after larch hike in the Rockies climbs from Moraine Lake through subalpine meadows where entire larch forests turn gold for…
Vermilion Lakes
ViewpointPeak September 13
A quiet lakeside drive minutes from Banff townsite, where three shallow lakes mirror Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain.
Calaway Park Halloweekends
Fall festivalColor nearby peaks September 20
Calgary's outdoor amusement park turns into Hallotown for Halloweekends, a not-too-scary family Halloween with costumes and candy among the…
Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks September 27
A family farm on Lily Lake Road near Bon Accord, about 25 km north of Edmonton, growing more than 25 acres of pumpkins.
Calgary Farmyard
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks September 22
A fun farm in Rocky View County just northeast of Calgary, long known as the Calgary Corn Maze & Fun Farm.
Edmonton Corn Maze
Corn mazeColor nearby peaks September 28
A corn maze west of Edmonton in Spruce Grove, with pumpkins ready for picking from early September.
Kraay Family Farm Pumpkin Days
Pumpkin patchColor nearby peaks September 24
A Lacombe farm between Calgary and Edmonton that runs a corn maze, sunflower maze, jumping pillows, mini golf and gemstone mining alongside…
Haunted Calgary
Haunted attractionColor nearby peaks September 21
A haunted attraction in Calgary that changes its theme every year, usually open the weekend closest to Halloween and on Halloween night…
Understand the season in Alberta — Canadian Rockies
Short explainers on why and when the color arrives here.
Frequently asked
- When do leaves peak in Alberta — Canadian Rockies in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 23–September 27 (best estimate September 25). Color starts around September 7 and trees are mostly bare by October 14.
- How reliable is the Alberta — Canadian Rockies forecast?
- The forecast blends recent-year weather normals with photoperiod and elevation; it tightens as the season approaches. Against published peak dates the model lands within a few days for most regions, but it can be a week or more out. Mountains and coastlines are the hardest. Higher elevations turn roughly one day earlier per 300 m.
- When is Alberta — Canadian Rockies's autumn season?
- Alberta — Canadian Rockies is in the northern hemisphere, so its color season is autumn (September to November). The turn takes roughly 37 days end to end, centered on September 25, and the last 10 of those are thinning canopy rather than color.
- What are the best things to do in fall in Alberta — Canadian Rockies?
- The iconic stops: Larch Valley & Moraine Lake, Vermilion Lakes, Calaway Park Halloweekends, Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm, Calgary Farmyard, Edmonton Corn Maze. Every one is mapped on this page with its peak-color timing.
Nearby & similar
Season by season
2026 (forecast)
Peak September 23–September 27
September 7 → October 14