2019 Fall Rhapsody: A Superabundance of Autumn Colours in Canada’s National Capital Region, Ottawa and Gatineau, that no City in the World can (Ever) Match

October 19, 2019

By NURIN AND MALIK MERCHANT

2019 Fall Colours Ottawa and Gatineau, Canada

O’Brien beach parking area, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera Olympus E-M10.

Our 2 — or may be 3 — part series of photos of fall colours in Canada’s National Capital have been captured within a radius of 25 kms or less from the Parliament building in downtown Ottawa or the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau! Is there any city in the world that can provide such an abundance of autumn foliage in the heart of the city or, at the most, 15-18 minutes of driving distance away? From the hundreds of photos, we took here is a selection of a few, and we urge residents and visitors in the region NOT TO MISS this opportunity. This post was written on October 19, 2019 and Gatineau Park’s “Fall Rhapsody” is on until Sunday, October 27. Should you fail to visit the Park for the autumn colours in 2019, please make sure you visit it next year!

After a superb Day Trip to the Fabulous Algonquin Park recently, we wanted to rush back to experience more of the Park’s natural beauty, wilderness, its trails, lakes, fall colours, the magnificent Visitor and Art Centres, and much much more that the Park has to offer. One cannot, however, make regular day trips to “distant” places. Algonquin’s East Gate entrance is at least 3.5 hours from Ottawa.

Fall colours, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada, Autumn 2019

A memory from our visit to Algonquin Park! Photo: © Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos. Camera: Sony Alpha A7/III.

We started missing the park the moment we departed its East Gate! On our way back, we wondered how the fall colours would turn out over the coming days, as the past few years have been a little bit of hit and miss, especially at Gatineau Park. We felt that the foliage at the city’s other attractions, such as Rideau Hall (the Governor General’s Residence), Hog’s Back and Jacques Cartier Parks had been much better. 2019, though, is a different ball-game. We can state that the colours everywhere in the city are magical and the best we have experienced in years! It’s a joy to be out there.

We begin with Gatineau Park, immediately following this 4 photo sample of scenes from Rideau Hall, Strathcona Park, Hog’s Back, Vincent Massey Park, and Strathcona Park. The photos were taken with Olympus OM-D E-M10 using the standard camera equipped 25mm f0.82 lens, except where stated otherwise.

Hog’s Back (l) and Vincent Massey Park in Ottawa. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

Fall Colours Strathcona Park and Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Canada

Rideau Hall (l) and Strathcona Park in Ottawa. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

Rideau Hall. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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GATINEAU PARK, QUEBEC, NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION OF CANADA, OTTAWA/GATINEAU

At Fortune Lake, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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Fortune Lake, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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Fortune Lake, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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Autumn colours on trail at Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park. Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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View of the Ottawa Valley from lookout on trail at Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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View of the Ottawa Valley from lookout area on trail at Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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View of the Ottawa Valley from Huron Lookout, Gatineau Park. Photo: © Malik and Nurin Merchant / Simergphotos.

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