Fall on the Saanich Peninsula is gentler than in much of Canada. Our forests are mostly evergreen, so you will not find whole hillsides turning orange. What we do have are pockets of gold and red tucked along trails, inlets and gardens, and those pockets make wonderful backdrops for family photos.

Below are the spots I suggest when families ask for fall colour. For each one, I looked for a park, garden or trail guide that mentions autumn colour or the trees that create it, so you know what to expect before you go. I have kept it close to home on purpose, so a fall session never has to mean a long drive with tired kids in the back seat.

Tod Inlet in Gowlland Tod Provincial Park

The Tod Inlet trail starts off Wallace Drive near Brentwood Bay and winds through forest down to a calm, sheltered inlet. Seaside Magazine singles out autumn as a lovely time to visit, with fall colours and fewer people on the trail.

I like this spot for families who want colour and water in one session. The deciduous leaves add warmth to the deep green of the forest, and the inlet gives you a quiet, reflective finish. My Gowlland Tod Provincial Park guide covers the trail and what to wear.

The Lochside Trail through farm country

In a cycling write-up of an October ride, Veloweb describes the Lochside Trail’s bigleaf maples and riding through a tunnel of gold. The official trail guide also notes tall poplar windbreaks in the Martindale Valley of Central Saanich, and lists pumpkins among the crops grown beside the trail.

This is a great choice for an easy, flat walk with strollers or grandparents. We stay on the trail and its public edges, since the fields are working farms. Read more in my Lochside Trail field photos guide.

John Dean Provincial Park

John Dean Provincial Park, on ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ (Mount Newton) where North and Central Saanich meet, is mostly evergreen forest, but its tree list includes bigleaf maple and red alder among the firs, cedars and arbutus. Bigleaf maples are the big, golden show-offs of our local fall, and a few of them glowing against dark conifers can be beautiful.

Because the colour here comes in patches rather than everywhere, it suits families who love a deep forest feel with a touch of autumn. I share more about this park in my John Dean Provincial Park guide.

Just south: PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) and The Gardens at HCP

Just past the Peninsula in Saanich, Capital Daily notes that leaves at PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) change to bright yellow and orange in the fall, among its Douglas-fir forest and Garry oak meadow. It is a good option if you live in Cordova Bay, Royal Oak or Gordon Head. See my Mount Douglas Park guide for trail details.

The Gardens at HCP on Quayle Road is the most reliably colourful spot on this list. Daily Hive describes its maples as especially colourful in autumn, with ginkgos and ornamental trees standing out too, and HCP itself talks about the changing colours of the leaves in fall. HCP’s booking information mentions photography sessions, so contact the gardens about arranging one. My Horticulture Centre of the Pacific guide has more.

A note on Butchart Gardens in the fall

The Butchart Gardens describes a parade of red, russet and golden maples from October through November, including its Japanese maples. It is a wonderful place to visit as a family. However, its published policy does not permit professional family or maternity shoots, so it is not an option for a session. I explain the details and nearby alternatives in my Butchart Gardens photoshoot post.

Timing, outfits and tips for fall sessions

Colour timing shifts each year with the weather, so I watch the trees and keep in touch with families as dates get closer. October is usually when things start to turn, and a windy storm can strip the leaves quickly, so a flexible date helps. Fall days are short, so we plan around the earlier golden hour, which is often easier for little ones’ bedtimes.

Fall light is one of the reasons I love this season. The sun sits lower in the sky, so even mid-afternoon can have a warm, slanting glow, and an overcast day makes yellow and orange leaves look richer rather than washed out. Fallen leaves are part of the fun too. Kids love tossing them in the air or crunching through a pile, and those moments of play often become the photos families treasure most.

For outfits, rich fall tones look beautiful against gold leaves: cream, rust, mustard, olive, burgundy, camel and denim. Knits, scarves and boots look cosy and keep everyone warm. My guide to what to wear, season by season has more ideas.

• Pick two or three fall tones for the family and repeat them in different textures
• Bring a thermos of hot chocolate or warm herbal tea for chilly kids
• Pack boots or waterproof shoes, since trails get muddy after rain
• Choose a flexible date window so we can chase peak colour
• If the weather turns, a cosy in-home session is a lovely fall alternative