Autumn is a special season for wandering through nature – soft autumn sunlight, majestic blue mountains, marshes and lakes lined with trees flecked in golden leaves, and romantic trails through warm brown woods. When the nature surrounding you is so beautiful, how could anyone resist taking a picture?

Landscapes, professional portraits, or even a handful of autumn sunset selfies for your Instagram, no matter the style of photo, you’re going to  ‘fall’ in love with these ultimate backdrops for snapshots in the Fraser Valley. 

Cover Photo @litratobyjd

@westcoast_landscapes

Ellwood Park

Ellwood Park, and the connected Fishtrap Creek Park, is a popular spot for outdoor family photos, with many beautiful spots to sit for portraits. Settle down on an idyllic weathered dock and gaze at the wildlife by the creek, lean on a gazebo nestled in a field of fall leaves, or perch by the tree trunks surrounding the park and strike a pose.

The grounds include a playground, walking paths and baseball fields, so you can gather the family for a photo and spend the day exploring the park together.

How to find it:  Located at 31580 Maclure Road in Abbotsford.

@amberly_38

Vedder River Rotary Trail

Walk down a scenic gold and brown tree-lined trail to discover sunlight glinting off the serene Vedder River. Sounds like a photo, doesn’t it?

A favourite spot for fishing enthusiasts and families picnicking, as the air becomes crisp and the weather cools down, Vedder River has lots of undeniably beautiful spots for taking pics with light reflecting from the river and nature as your backdrop.

How to find it:  Exit 119 (Yale Road /Vedder Road) in Chilliwack, and drive 5.4 km on Vedder Rd to Petawawa Road. Turn right and in 200 metres you’ll see the  park entrance.

@tourismharrison 

Spirit Trail

A fantastic beginner-friendly hike, Spirit Trail is perfect for easy-going nature-seekers or those with little ones in tow. Kids will love spotting the decorative masks placed throughout the walk by a local artist. With these friendly faces greeting you throughout your walk, it’s a solid combo of beautiful art and scenery. Then, when the autumn mist sneaks through the surrounding cedars, you reach pinnacle seasonal atmosphere!

While you can complete the trail in a swift 20 minutes, there’s always the connecting 5k Bridal Trail in case the weather is particularly stellar.

How to find it: Take exit 135 from BC Highway 1 East. Continue onto BC Highway 9 North. Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Agassiz-Rosedale Hwy/Evergreen Dr/BC-9 N (signs for BC-7 W/Harrison Hot Springs Rd/Vancouver). Turn right onto Agassiz-Rosedale Hwy/Hot Springs Rd/BC-9 N. Take a right onto McPherson Rd., and then turn left onto McCombs Dr. The trail head will be on the right.

@canadianfilmphotographer

Thacker Regional Park

Thacker is an 11-hectare park with plenty of space for finding your perfect shot. The marsh area of the park makes for incredible wildlife photo opportunities, so be sure to have a birdwatching app downloaded! 

You’ll even find spawning and rearing channels for local salmon nearby- keep your shutter ready if they decide to jump!

How to find it: Take Exit 170 from BC Highway 3 East, and keep left following signs for Hope Town Centre/Cache Creek/Kamloops. Take a left onto 6 Avenue, right onto Kawkawa Lake Road, left onto Union Bar Road, and then left onto Thacker Mountain Road, which will take you to the trail head.

@westcoast_landscapes 

Rolley Lake

Located within Rolley Lake Provincial Park less than an hour away from Vancouver, the drive there alone is will showcase the peak autumnal vibes to come. This serene stroll through the evergreens to Rolley Lake is an easy 4.7 km loop trail with no serious incline, suitable for all ages and many levels of ability.  The lake itself is great for canoeing/kayaking and capturing peaceful shots of the surrounding shores

For those spending the day, the park has a campground and playground.

How to find it: Rolley Lake Park is 23 km (13.8 miles) northwest of Mission, BC. Take BC Highway 7 to Maple Ridge and turn north at 287th Street. Turn right onto Dewdney Trunk road and then turn left onto Bell Street and drive north to the park.

Williams Park Loop

An idyllic setting for a slow amble through trees covered in orange, gold, and red leaves, and an even better setting for cozy fall forest photos! Williams Park Loop is rife with wildlife and beautiful hidden spots for those with a good eye, and a good camera. With a multitude of places for taking stunning autumn photos, you might easily find yourself here for hours once you get snapping. Spend the day exploring the trails, meandering by the creek and swimming holes, or setting up the perfect shot by a bridge. The options are endless.   

How to find it: Located at 68 Ave & 238 Street in Langley Township.