News release

Autumn Leaf Watch, Weekly Report

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is the fourth 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

Fall is advancing across the Evangeline Trail where most leaf watchers report a 25-50 per cent change in autumn colour. Several note a dramatic increase from last week, with the exception of Arcadia where only 10 per cent of the Uktubok Trail has changed.

  • Site 1, Arcadia: Marsh grasses tinged with gold and clumps of rust-coloured ferns make a delightful autumn walk along Uktubok's boardwalk at Arcadia. Reds, oranges and golds in the few maples along the trail provide a bright contrast to this gentle fall landscape.

  • Site 7, Bridgetown: The maples are painting autumn colour onto the mountainsides of Valleyview Provincial Park, near Bridgetown, a site now increased to 30 per cent autumn colour. On the valley floor, reds and yellows in the maples are bright against the green fields and conifers.

  • Near Site 9, White Rock Ravine: There has been a noticeable change along the Deep Hollow Road in White Rock Ravine where 30 per cent of the maples now blaze a bright yellow. The occasional red maple erupts as a spotlight of brilliant red.

  • Site 11, The Look-off: Fall is making its mark at the Look-off, near Canning, where the colour change is now 25-50 cent. The white ash creates a trail of gold along the valley in this beautiful patchwork view of fields and farms.

Drive into Kentville and spot the freeze-framed Pumpkin People.
On Saturday, Oct. 9, you can also enjoy Kentville's Harvest Festival.


REGION 2: Glooscap and Sunrise Trail

Autumn is in many stages along the Glooscap and Sunrise Trail. While some sites report colours near their peak, others have less than a 10 per cent change. The hardwoods situated high on the hillsides are now swathed in yellows and oranges with the odd flash of red. At lower elevations, the colours are softer and less advanced.

  • Site 16, Shubenacadie: Autumn has sewn a patchwork of yellows, oranges, reds and browns across the rolling forests and farmland of Shubenacadie where 25-50 per cent of leaves have turned. Catch the exciting display of hawks and falcons at the Falconry Demonstration at Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park, Saturday, Oct. 9, at 1 pm. (Rain date - Oct. 10)

  • Site 23, Wentworth: With 50-75 per cent of leaves now changed, the hills of the Wentworth Valley shine with bright yellows in the birch and aspen and oranges and reds in the maples and pin-cherry. A mosaic of reds spreads through the blueberry fields.

  • Near Site 24, Earltown: Peak colour sweeps across the slopes of Nuttby Mountain at Earltown. Most of the sugar maples are now a rich brownish-red, a switch from the usual bright yellows of past years. Red maples shine as spotlights of crimson. A derelict farmhouse amid this beauty makes a haunting photograph.

  • Site 25, Balmoral Mills: Reflections of red and yellow gleam in the mirror-still pond above Balmoral Mills while the high mill-waters cascade over the dam below. Stroll along the walking trail among coloured leaves where 10-25 per cent have turned. Take a wagon ride, munch on an oatcake and listen to old-time fiddling as the mill celebrates its 125th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mill grinding demonstrations continue until Oct. 15.

  • Site 28, Marshy Hope: The colours are intensifying as autumn approaches its peak at Marshy Hope. With 50-75 per cent of leaves turned, the bright yellow, orange and red on the valley slopes contrast with the soft undertones of green.

Last chance to step into autumn at Five Islands Provincial Park and Cape Chignecto Provincial Park before they close for the year on Oct. 11. Enjoy a picnic or hike along the trails for spectacular views of cliffs and coves amid the bright yellow of the birch, reds of the sumac, ash and maple and copper of the oak.


REGION 3: Cape Breton Island

No matter where you venture in Cape Breton this Thanksgiving weekend, whether you come for a hike, a drive or the Celtic music, you'll be rewarded by the Island's autumn colour now at least 25-50 per cent changed.

  • Site 31, Mabou Salt Marsh: Take a moment along the Ceilidh Trail (Highway 19) to experience autumn's peak in Mabou Salt Marsh where 100 per cent of the marsh grasses are aglow in rusty-orange! Contrast that with the hardwoods around the perimeter as they've only begun to change.

  • Site 32, Margaree Valley: The beautiful Margaree Valley is hovering around a 40 per cent change, a marked increase from last week. Soft greens have given way to oranges, reds, and yellows, transforming the rolling hills to autumn.

  • Site 34, French Mountain: The higher elevations of French Mountain are burnished in rusty orange; the oak and beech ridges stand out against the green. Orange in the ash and oak, and red in the hawthorn berries, embellish this site which reports 25-50 per cent fall colour.

  • Site 44, Dundee West: Red maple, mountain-ash and pin-cherry burn red into this panoramic view of West Bay while the birch and aspen glow with soft yellow. Take a walk up the hillside and enjoy this spectacular site where 25 per cent of the leaves have changed.

  • Site 45, Marble Mountain: Colour change is no longer subtle at Marble Mountain ... it's now at 50 per cent. Look for brilliance in the hardwood crowns where they sport an array of autumn's bright palette.

Celebrate this glorious season with music! Join a host of musicians, singers, dancers and storytellers as Celtic Colours International Festival fills Cape Breton's autumn air with song.

While in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, hike the Corney Brook trail to the waterfalls, an eight-kilometre return trip. The Skyline, a seven-kilometre loop, offers views of the headland cliff and a spot to watch for whales and birds.


REGION 4: Marine Drive and Halifax-Dartmouth

Most leaf watchers throughout the Marine Drive and Halifax-Dartmouth are reporting colour change between 10 and 25 per cent. Stillwater is the most advanced and is expected to be near peak by Thanksgiving weekend. Look for gentler fall colours in the salt marshes at Chezzetcook and Clam Harbour.

  • Site 48, Lundy Barrens: Looking eastward towards Larry's River, the rhodora, wild raisin and blueberry give patches of colour to the peaceful Lundy Barrens while the maple and mountain-ash splash orange and red against the deep green conifers.

  • Site 49, Stillwater: Red and orange of the maples enrich the hillsides that line the St. Mary's River at Stillwater. With 50- 75 per cent in autumn colour, expect the colour to peak in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.

  • Site 52, Sheet Harbour: Enjoy a stroll along the boardwalk at the MacPhee House Museum and Falls where 25 per cent of the maples are now shades of red and orange. The higher waters of the West River make for picture-perfect water falls.

  • Site 54, Clam Harbour: Marsh grasses glow a golden ochre while the marram grass is a silver fringe along the beach edge at Clam Harbour Provincial Park. Look for the ripened cranberries reddened by the recent cool nights.

  • Site 60, Halifax: Browning cattails encircle the Frog Pond at Flemming Park where black ducks and mallards lazily feed. It's a great place to bring the kids and enjoy a Thanksgiving walk where autumn colour is now at 25 per cent.

  • Site 59, Mount Uniacke: Autumn continues its magic at Mount Uniacke Estate, which is now 25 per cent in fall colour. Walk the trails with botanist Alex Wilson on Saturday, Oct. 9, and learn the secrets of fall flora. Meet at the provincial picnic park at 9:30 a.m. to hike the Wetlands Trail. For the afternoon's Red Spruce Trail, gather at 1:30 p.m. beside Uniacke House.

Kids, this is a perfect time to tell your parents to go fly a kite! You can too! All ages compete for prizes at the Seaside Kite Festival at Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park, Sunday, Oct. 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.


REGION 5: Lighthouse Route

Autumn has taken a big leap forward along the Lighthouse Route with many sites reporting colour change of 25-50 per cent, and some as much as 75 per cent. Reflections of reds, oranges and yellows in the lakes, rivers and coves make this a wonderful time to grab your camera.

  • Near Site 61, Peggy's Cove: The boulder-strewn landscape of Peggy's Cove has a reddish-purple hue now that 50-75 per cent of the coastal shrubs are in fall foliage. Silver grasses, deep russet ferns, maroon-red roses and ruby rose hips create bright highlights among the blue-green juniper.

  • Site 62, New Ross: Autumn colour has bounded forward since last week with 60 per cent of hardwoods now turned. Maples around Ross Farm are festooned in orange-yellow and the ash that fringe the fields are a deep burgundy. Help the farm prepare for winter by learning how to make sauerkraut or apple cider this Thanksgiving weekend. Weave a rod basket on Saturday, Oct. 9, or watch how flax is processed on Monday, Oct. 11.

  • Site 65, Wentzel's Lake: Autumn is a time for reflection -- and the still waters of Wentzel's Lake provide a host of them. Patches of orange-yellow in the maples, now 25-50 per cent turned, are more extensive at the northern end of the lake, giving us food for thought about the processes of autumn at work.

  • Site 69, Milton: The Mersey River is at full flow and the reflections at Milton are incredible. Claret and burgundy in the ash and scarlet and orange in the maples shimmer on the surface of the river. With 50 per cent of the leaves turned, a leaf watcher said there is "a chorus of colours in the forest."

  • Site 72, Sandy Point: A lighthouse on a white sand bar with a sunset behind ... deep red spreading through the maples ... a sprinkling of orange and yellow on the hills across the harbour. Capture the feel of autumn at Lower Sandy Point where 25-50 per cent of leaves are in fall foliage.

  • Site 71, Sable River/Jordan Falls: Peak colour in the hardwoods casts lovely reflections on Wall's Lake, Highway 3, between Sable River and Lockeport. Reds and oranges in the maples and yellows in the birch blaze against the green conifers. Scarlet leaves on the small red maple saplings and the bronze in the ferns and grasses extend the beauty around the lake.


Autumn Leaf Watch highlights are on the web at http://explore.gov.ns.ca/leaf and on the North American toll-free Leaf Line at 1-877-353-5323 (LEAF).

For additional information, call Autumn Leaf Watch at 902-424- 3727.