News release

Autumn Leaf Watch, Weekly Report

Tourism and Culture (Aug. 1999 - Dec. 2003)

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is the first of seven weekly Nova Scotia Autumn Leaf Watch reports planned for this fall. Compiled by the Department of Tourism and Culture, the report includes summary paragraphs at the top of each trail section that can be lifted and used for a shorter report.


REGION 1: Evangeline Trail

Autumn is just beginning along the Evangeline Trail with up to 10 per cent of leaves in fall colours in some areas. This can be seen as hints of red and yellow in the hardwoods and tinges of yellow and brown in the ferns.

  • Site 5, Digby: The first touches of autumn in Digby can be seen as pockets of red in the maples and yellow in the birch.

  • Site 6, Bear River: Autumn is slowly advancing along the Bear River, where up to 10 per cent of leaves have turned colour. Sugar maples, red maples and pin-cherry trees are tinged with red and the bracken is turning yellow and brown.

  • Site 9, White Rock Road Ravine: A scattering of orange among the sugar and red maples is the first evidence of autumn along White Rock Road Ravine (on Deep Hollow Road between Highway 1 in Greenwich and White Rock Intersection); up to 10 per cent of leaves have turned.

  • Site 10, Halls Harbour: As you stroll along the trail at scenic Halls Harbour, enjoy the bright pockets of red and yellow among the maples and the splashes of bright red mountain-ash berries.

  • Site 11, The Look-off: From the look-off, north of Canning, the panoramic view of valley farms and patchwork fields now contains a hint of autumn as up to 10 per cent of leaves have turned soft shades of brown.

While looking for the first signs of autumn in the Annapolis Valley, stop at the annual Bridgetown Ciderfest and celebrate the apple harvest on Sept. 16-19.

Be sure to catch the Hants County Exhibition, Canada's oldest agricultural fair, held at Windsor, Sept. 17-19, and Sept. 24-26.


REGION 2: Glooscap and Sunrise trails

Although there are few signs of autumn along the Glooscap and Sunrise Trail, the subtle shades of green in the hardwoods give notice of the colours to come. Bright patches, especially among some red maples and yellow birch, provide early fall enjoyment.

  • Site 13, Courthouse Hill, Gore (near Rawdon): The blueberry fields of Courthouse Hill in Gore are tinged with red, now that up to 10 per cent of leaves have turned. A dulling of the green in the surrounding hardwoods suggests that a colour change is imminent.

  • Site 18, Five Islands: Enjoy the panorama of tidal flats, cliffs and islands while picnicing, hiking the trails or camping amid the spreading glow of yellows leaves at Five Islands Provincial Park where 10-25 per cent of the hardwoods, primarily the yellow birch, have now changed.

  • Site 23, Wentworth: Looking across the Wentworth Valley, you'll notice yellow pockets of birch and ash. Individual sugar maples have turned a deep red. Multiple shades of green among the hardwoods are forerunners of the fall drama.

  • Site 27, Greenhill: From the look-off at Greenhill Provincial Park, you can see a slight reddening of the Cobequid Hills as individual red maples turn colour amid the deep green of the surrounding forest.

  • Site 28, Marshy Hope: The green slopes of Marshy Hope are softened with hints of yellow. With a scattering of red among the maples, the hardwoods have the mottled appearance of early autumn.

Interested in geology? Attend the Sir William Dawson Conference at the Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro on Sept. 18-19 with post-conference field trips to local sites.


REGION 3: Cape Breton Island

Autumn is just starting to make its debut in the hardwoods of Cape Breton Island -- hints of red and yellow amid an assortment of greens. Lovely yellow hues can be seen in the grasses of the salt marshes.

  • Site 31, Mabou Salt Marsh: The Mabou Salt Marsh is aglow with yellow now that almost 50 per cent of the marsh grasses have changed. Rich brown cat-tails and yellow goldenrod make for a warm contrast against the deep green of the surrounding hardwoods.

  • Site 32, Margaree Valley: A tinge of red-orange on the rolling hills of the Margaree Valley indicate that autumn is on its way.

  • Site 38, Kellys Mountain: A rich brown hue sweeps the slopes of Kellys Mountain as the birches and maples begin to change. A scattering of red in the pin-cherries and yellow in birch contributes to the colour.

  • Site 45, Marble Mountain: On the rolling hills of Marble Mountain there are hints of gold in the white birch, reds in the red maple and pin-cherry, and soft yellow-greens in the beech.

  • Site 46, Salt Mountain: There's just a tinge of red and yellow colouring the slopes of Salt Mountain. A wide variety of pale greens herald the coming changes.

Enjoy the colour of the Cabot Trail on a Free Wheeling Adventure, Oct. 11-15. For more information, call Phillip Guest at 1-800-672-0775.

Celebrate autumn in the style of the early 1900s at the annual Harvest Home at Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site on Sept. 18.


REGION 4: Marine Drive and Halifax-Dartmouth

Most Leaf Watchers report a subtle shift to autumn colour along Marine Drive. Look for the first signs of fall in the yellowing and bronzing of ferns and grasses, with the occasional dash of red in the maples and sumac.

  • Site 47, Boylston: A few scattered patches of red and yellow leaves hint of the drama to come at Boylston Provincial Park's look-off, a rewarding view at anytime of the year.

  • Site 54, Clam Harbour: The ferns and beach grasses of Clam Harbour Provincial Park are just beginning their transition to autumn. Splashes of red can be seen in the sumac and witherod leaves. Enjoy a swim in the ocean, the water is still warm for this time of the year.

  • Site 57, Chezzetcook: Bronzing salt marsh grasses make a pleasing foreground to the postcard-perfect view of the old Acadian village of Chezzetcook.

  • Site 60, Halifax: You'll find hints of autumn in the wetland areas of Flemming Park. Look for browning cat-tail leaves and tinges of red in the maples.

Enjoy a taste of fall this coming week along Marine Drive. Try the Apple Cider Weekend, Sept. 18-19, at Sherbrooke Village, and wild blueberry dishes at the Fisherman's Life Museum on Sept. 22.


REGION 5: Lighthouse Route

The Lighthouse Route is just beginning its journey into fall. Subtle changes can be seen along the shoreline as salt marsh grasses begin to yellow. Inland leaf watchers are noting a colour change of up to 10 per cent in the leaves.

  • Site 69, Milton: Bring a picnic and savour the beginning of autumn beside the picturesque Mersey River in Milton -- a photographer's delight, particularly at this time of the year.

  • Site 61, Prospect: Yellow seaside goldenrod and bronzed ferns provide the first patches of autumn colour along a seashore trail that rewards the walker with spectacular coastal vistas. The trail begins at the end of Indian Point Road in the village of Prospect.

  • Site 62, New Ross: Experience fall this weekend at historic Ross Farm where pumpkins are harvested and grain threshed. Take a stroll to the pond to see another of Ross Farm's fall harbingers

  • one lone maple aglow with its orange and red leaves.

  • Site 68, Kejimkujik: A hint of rust can be detected in the forest across the river at this wheelchair-accessible site next to Kejimkujik National Park's visitor centre. The royal ferns that line the river's edge are now a gentle brown.

  • Site 70, Port Joli: Autumn colour brightens the salt marsh at the Port Joli Bird Sanctuary as the ferns and salt marsh grasses begin their shift to yellow, a wonderful place to watch the fall bird migration.

Celebrate some south shore history during Founder's Day Weekend in Hubbards, Sept. 17-18.