8 romantic fall dates around Ottawa to enjoy with your boo for $30 or less
The perfect fall date doesn't have to cost a lot. 🧡🎃
Ruins near Ottawa. Right: A couple looks at jack-o'-lanterns at a site near Ottawa.
Fall in Ottawa is basically made for romance — think golden leaves, crisp weather, and cozy vibes everywhere you look.
The best part is, you don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy it. From scenic strolls through fiery forests to budget-friendly activities that feel straight out of a fall rom-com, there are tons of ways to experience the season with your boo for $30 or less.
The region is home to some magical and affordable outings, from fall hikes and small town-hopping to pumpkin picking, spooks and more. Here are eight romantic fall date ideas in and around Ottawa to enjoy with your favourite person.
Visit a rare turquoise lake
Price: Free admission
Address: Visitor Centre - 33 Chem. Scott, Chelsea, QC
Why You Need To Go: The largest green space in the National Capital region, Gatineau Park, is the perfect place for fall dates spent walking through forests and admiring the changing leaves.
The park is divided into several sectors, one of which is accessible from downtown Ottawa–Gatineau.
One notable spot for a fall date is Pink Lake, a beautiful turquoise-green lake (contrary to the name) that becomes framed by brilliant shades of orange, red and gold in autumn. The lake's hue is caused by the growth of microscopic algae, and its unique colour makes it a rare beauty in the park.
Pink Lake can be reached by a short hike from the parking lot, which loops around the lake and takes approximately an hour to complete.
The trail is located about 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa. You can also take advantage of the National Capital Commission's free shuttle service to get there.
Visit a fall farm
Price: $29.99 per person
When: Until November 1, 2025
Address: 7893 Bleeks Rd., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: What's cuter than visiting a fall farm?
Just outside of the downtown area, Saunders Farm is the perfect spot for a fall date. The 100-acre farm is home to world-famous mazes, farm-fresh food and tons of cute photo ops that you and your boo will love.
Right now, the farm is hosting its annual Pumpkinfest, where you can hop on a hayride, enjoy haunted attractions, pick pumpkins and snack on some tasty fall treats.
Visit during the day for pumpkiny fun, or come after dark for FrightFest, where you'll find spine-tingling haunts, eerie attractions, and plenty of thrills and chills.
Wander past thousands of glowing jack-o'-lanterns
Price: $23 per adult
When: October 3 - November 1, 2025
Address: Upper Canada Village - 13740 County Rd. 2, Morrisburg, ON
Why You Need To Go: Open select nights throughout October, Pumpkinferno is a nighttime walk-through experience where over 9,000 hand-crafted pumpkins come to life in a spectacular display.
The pumpkins you'll see here aren't your average jack-o'-lanterns. They’re hand-carved artificial pumpkins, each moulded from the shape of a real one, and turned into incredibly realistic works of art.
While Pumpkinferno is an annual event, organizers introduce brand-new displays alongside returning fan favourites each year, so there's always something new to see.
There are tons of cute photo ops to explore, as well as sound and light shows and even a life-sized toy train that offers nightly rides.
The event is located in Upper Canada Village, just under an hour from Ottawa.
Go apple picking
Price: $17.50+ per bag
Address: 10175 Clark Rd., Mountain, ON
Why You Need To Go: Nothing says "fall date" better than apple picking.
About 40 minutes from downtown Ottawa, you can visit Mountain Orchards, a family-run spot featuring almost a dozen apple varieties, including Golden Delicious and Eden apples.
Admission to the orchard is free — all you have to pay for is your bag for apple picking. Choose from a 5, 10, 11, or 20-pound bag and simply pay for what you pick.
Besides apple picking, the orchard offers wagon rides, a corn maze, forest trails and picnic areas — all the makings of a perfect fall outing.
After you've had your fill of fun, head to the bakery for tasty butter tarts and pie kits, so you can turn your apples into a tasty treat.
Visit a cute small town
Price: Free
Address: Wakefield, QC
Why You Need To Go: Just under 30 minutes from Ottawa, this charming small town is perfect for a day trip.
Wakefield, Quebec, is a riverside village that's straight out of a Hallmark movie, with quaint streets and an enchanting setting that comes alive in the fall.
The village offers rich heritage, historic sites, cafes, boutiques, art galleries, bakeries and restaurants, and has a beautiful location right on the Gatineau River.
The town's main commercial strip, Riverside, is where you'll find many shops, restaurants, galleries and historic churches, as well as pleasant views of the river.
The famous Wakefield covered bridge is a must-see during your visit. The bridge crosses the scenic river and is especially beautiful in the fall, when it's surrounded by red and gold leaves.
Covered bridges are also known as "kissing bridges," so it's the perfect spot to visit with a loved one.
Enjoy a glowing nighttime trail at Parc Omega
Price: $29 per adult
When: Until November 1, 2025
Address: 399 Route 323 N., Montebello, QC
Why You Need To Go: Located about 1 hour from Ottawa, Parc Omega is a year-round nature park where you can see a variety of Canadian wildlife.
For a fun date idea, you can visit the park's nightly walking trail, Oniro, a new attraction combining projections, sound and light effects in the heart of nature.
The trail, which asks "what do animals dream of?" explores the links between living creatures, and invites visitors to rediscover nature in a new way through magic, emotions and harmony.
The nighttime forest walk is about 1 kilometre and lasts around 60 minutes. The experience includes 17 tableaux that visitors can view, with the first trips beginning at sunset.
The experience takes place on Fridays and Saturdays until November 1, and tickets can be purchased online.
Hike to hidden ruins
Price: Free
Address: 639 Chem. du Lac-Meech, Chelsea, QC
Why You Need To Go: Located about 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa, the Carbide Willson Ruins in Gatineau Park are an especially scenic spot to visit in the fall.
Tucked deep in a forest and framed by autumn leaves, a short hike leads you to a crumbling stone building, rushing waterfalls, and a trail that feels like stepping into a hidden world.
The ruins can be found nestled in the forest on the shore of Meech Lake in Quebec, and are the last remaining traces of a fertilizer plant constructed by inventor Thomas Leopold Willson, a pioneer of the North American electrochemical industry.
The ruins are a popular place to visit year-round, but fall is an especially great time to hike here. As the leaves change colour, the mill and ruins become framed in a stunning canopy of red, orange and gold.
The ruins are accessible on foot or by mountain bike. To get to the ruins, take Trail 36 from the P11 parking lot (O'Brien Beach). The trek is about 3.25 kilometres round-trip.
Find fall colours in the NCC Greenbelt
Price: Free
Address: National Capital Greenbelt, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Autumn is the perfect season to explore Greenbelt's trails as they transform with brilliant shades of red and gold. There are plenty of places on the Greenbelt for admiring the fall foliage, whether you want to go for a short walk or a long hike.
One top spot for fall colours is the Jack Pine Trail in the Stony Swamp sector of the Greenbelt. The trail includes a variety of habitats that are especially beautiful in fall, with tons of Jack pines and colourful maple trees.
The trail is also a central point to a larger network of trails, giving hikers several options in the area.
The trail crosses beaver ponds where you can observe ducks and frogs, with scenic boardwalk trails that run over the water.
To get to the trail, start at the P9 parking lot (which offers year-round free parking) and follow the markers for Trail 26.
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.