Fall Foliage in Saskatchewan

Autumn might be the best time of year for outdoor photography in Saskatchewan. Along lakes, rivers, valleys and coulees, the fall colours are amazing, the weather is (occasionally) good, and the mosquitos are becoming dormant. I love exploring the Qu’Appelle Valley by car and foot in September and October.  The valley fights to retain the colour for a few more weeks before being covered by monochromatic snow.

If you are interested in fall hiking or photography, here are some key tips I keep in mind to ensure I see some worthwhile scenes.

Get Out of the Car

The best fall views are often found venturing by foot off the main road. Walking into the bush will surround you with 360-degree colour. Make sure to wear long pants and sleeves, otherwise the bush will create scratches that will itch for days.

In Saskatchewan, the north side of a coulee or valley will have the most bushes and trees. The south side receives more sun exposure, evaporating the moisture content that the trees and bushes need. Keep that in mind as you’re planning your trip.

If you can find a leaf covered trail along the way, the trail will create a natural flow for the viewer’s eyes.

Make Sure It Fits Before It Sits

I drove my 30 year old truck down this road and was able to ignore the screeching of tree branches against the truck paint. If you have a nicer vehicle than mine, getting that perfect fall shot might cost you a paint job.

A night of rain would have quickly made this trail impassable. It would have been very difficult describing my location and getting a tow truck through the trail if I had gotten stuck. If you are exploring rough terrain by yourself and have some cell phone coverage, send a map pin to a loved one before walking deep into the bush. They will know your approximate location in case of injury or a dead cell phone battery.

Consider Getting a Drone

Drone cameras are perfect for capturing the scope of fall foliage. The following amazing shot was taken by Kevin Dunn, the 2018 Saskatchewanderer, and shows the two of us kayaking in very cold weather along the Qu’Appelle River.

Operating a drone above water required a special set of skills and lots of on-land practice. Get that practice in, because when the drone descends towards the water, you have three options:

• Let the drone hit the water and sink.
• Land it on the boat and let it shred your upholstery.
• Catch the drone and its 4 rapidly spinning knives with your hand.

All but the high-end drones have batteries that last only a few minutes. It’s important to decide what you want to take pictures of and how you want them  framed before you send the drone up. Your battery life may not allow you to cruise the area and explore. And you’ll need to save battery power for the descent.

If you’re considering a drone, I also suggest starting with a used one. You will crash it while you’re learning – why wreck an expensive one?

What Other Locations Are Great?

Prince Albert National Park

• Poplar and birch trees add great colour to the park’s well established hiking trails.

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

• The park’s elevation creates a unique microenvironment with a diverse range of trees, including poplar and maple.

Moose Mountain Provincial Park

• Moose Mountain Provincial Park has a terrain as rugged as Cypress Hills and a wide range of tree species.

Duck Mountain Provincial Park

• This park mixes tamarack trees with poplar and birch.

Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo

• This convenient location combines colourful leaves with an opportunity to visit a zoo and gardens.

Staying at Home is Also An Option

Follow some of Saskatchewan’s great Facebook pages and let others capture our province’s fall beauty for you. Some of my favourite pages include:

Explore Saskatchewan | Groups | Facebook

Saskatchewan Scenery Showcase | Groups | Facebook

Travel in Saskatchewan | Groups | Facebook

Saskatchewan Scenery | Groups | Facebook

-Allan Millham is a Marketing Manager at Directwest