Here’s where you can see the fall colours in Ottawa-Gatineau

Hog's Back Park in Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 3. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

The fall colours are beginning to peak in the national capital region.

The National Capital Commission says it is “peak season” in Gatineau Park and across the Greenbelt, while the colour meter is at “mid-season” in downtown Ottawa.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at where you can explore the fall colours this weekend.

Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park is the showstopper for fall colours in the national capital region, with beautiful leaves on display along hiking and walking trails.

Popular spots to see the fall colours include Pink Lake, Mackenzie King Estate, King Mountain, Champlain Lookout and Camp Fortune.

The NCC recommends five places to see the leaves in Gatineau Park.

• Cross Loop Road in Meech Creek Valley
• Trail 72 to the Carman Lake lookout
• Philippe Lake and Lusk Cave Trails
• Waterfall and Lauriault trails
• Scenic parkways and trails via the NCC shuttle bus

Gatineau Park shuttle bus

The National Capital Commission offers a free shuttle service from downtown Ottawa and Gatineau into Gatineau Park.

The shuttle runs six days a week, with no service on Wednesdays.

The first bus runs from Ottawa-Gatineau to Gatineau Park at 9:10 a.m. and the last departure from downtown Ottawa is 3:10 p.m. The final bus departs Gatineau at 4:45 p.m.

For more information about the NCC shuttle service and stop locations, visit https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-shuttle.

NCC Greenbelt

Check out the fall colours across Ottawa in the Greenbelt, including at Mer Bleue, Green’s Creek, Pine Grove, Shirleys Bay and Stony Swamp.

The NCC recommends four places to explore in the Greenbelt.

• Old Quarry Trail (Trail 23)
• Jack Pine Trail (Trail 26)
• Trail 31
• Greenbelt Pathway West from Black Rapids

Downtown Ottawa

The fall colours are on display at several locations in downtown Ottawa.

Take a walk through Major’s Hill Park and up to Kìwekì Point to view the changing leaves amid the backdrop of the Ottawa River and Parliament Hill.

The NCC recommends five routes ideal for admiring the fall colours.

• Commissioners Park, Dow’s Lake and surrounding area
• Remic Rapids and Bate Island
• The Rockeries and the Ottawa River
• Hog’s Back Park and Falls

Eastern Ontario

Calabogie Peaks

The fall colours are on display at Calabogie Peaks in Calabogie, Ont.

Located 102 km from downtown Ottawa, Calabogie Peaks invites you to ride the chairlift for breathtaking views of the fall canopy and explore the Skywalk trail at the summit.

The lifts run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends until Oct. 13.

Algonquin Park

Explore the fall colours in Algonquin Park.

According to the Algonquin Park website, the fall colours are in the “Peak Maple Canopy Colour” range.

For more information on where to explore the fall colours in Algonquin Park, visit https://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php.

Westport

The Spy Rock Lookout is a great place to see the fall colours, according to Destination Ontario.

“The showstopping view includes Upper Rideau Lake and the village of Westport,” said the Destination Ontario website.

Westport is located 55 kilometres north of Kingston.