Wildlife Encounters in Autumn: Where to See Canada’s Most Spectacular Species
Autumn in Canada is more than crisp air and golden leaves; it’s also a season of movement. Salmon return to their rivers, bears gather at streams to feed before hibernation, and northern skies sharpen to reveal dazzling aurora. For travellers, it’s an ideal time to witness wildlife in its natural rhythm, with landscapes painted in fall colours and fewer crowds on the trails.
Across the country, experiences invite you to step into this seasonal story. Whether it’s watching polar bears roam the tundra, soaking in hot springs after spotting elk and bison, or drifting quietly past grizzlies in the Great Bear Rainforest, there’s a remarkable autumn adventure that will bring you closer to Canada’s wild side.
Yukon Wonders: Wildlife, Hot Springs & the Aurora
In the Yukon, autumn is a bridge between fiery fall days and the crisp clarity of winter nights. Just outside Whitehorse, the Yukon Wildlife Preserve offers an extraordinary chance to see species that define the North—musk-ox with shaggy coats, nimble Dall’s sheep, stately moose, and a herd of wood bison.
— Read more about the Yukon Wildlife Preserve in Northern Wild from volume 7 of Northern Soul Magazine.
After exploring, travellers can slip into the warmth of Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, a rejuvenating pause in the cool mountain air. When night falls, the skies often ignite. At the AuroraCentre, you can sit by a crackling fire and watch the Northern Lights dance across the horizon — an unforgettable northern moment.
This journey isn’t only about watching wildlife; it’s about experiencing the rhythms of the season in one of Canada’s most elemental landscapes.
Explore the Yukon Wildlife, Hot Springs & Aurora Getaway
Churchill, Manitoba: A Majestic Polar Bear Encounter
Each autumn, as the sea ice begins to form along Hudson Bay, polar bears gather near the town of Churchill. It’s a remarkable natural migration and one of the best chances anywhere in the world to see these magnificent animals in the wild.
Travelling aboard a Tundra Buggy®, you can spot bears padding across the frosted tundra, sometimes mothers with cubs, sometimes solitary males waiting for the ice to thicken. The trip also introduces you to the cultural fabric of Churchill: dogsledding with Métis guides, Inuit storytelling at the Itsanitaq Museum, and conservation insights at Polar Bears International House.
Churchill offers more than just a glimpse of polar bears. It’s a chance to step into the subarctic, where people and wildlife live side by side in one of the most extraordinary environments on Earth.
Join the Arctic Quest: Majestic Polar Bear Encounter
Bella Coola, BC: Grizzly Bear Safari in the Great Bear Rainforest
Where mountains drop into fjords and rivers teem with salmon, grizzly bears gather. The Great Bear Rainforest, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world, is a place of ancient cedars, tumbling rivers, and astonishing wildlife diversity.
From the comforts of Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, you’ll set out on river drift tours, floating quietly while grizzlies wade in to fish for salmon. Walking tours with naturalist guides reveal the hidden details of the ecosystem — claw marks on trees, fresh bear beds, eagle nests overhead.
Autumn here is the season of abundance. Bears are at their most visible, eagles circle in the skies, and the rainforest hums with life preparing for winter. It’s an experience both raw and serene, where every sighting feels like a privilege.
Experience the Grizzly Bear Safari
Vancouver Island’s Wild West Coast: An Oceanfront Lodge Escape
On Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast, autumn brings shifting tides, storm-watching skies, and a flurry of wildlife activity. At an oceanfront lodge in Bamfield, days unfold in tune with the sea and forest.
Boat tours skim along rocky shorelines where black bears forage for shellfish and seabirds dive into kelp beds. Whales, sea lions, and sea otters often appear in these nutrient-rich waters. On land, guided walks lead through ancient rainforest, where salmon runs link ocean to forest in a web of life.
This region is also home to Kiix̣in, the ancestral village of the Huu-ay-aht Nation, offering powerful insight into Indigenous history and coastal culture. It’s a reminder that autumn here is not just about wildlife, but about the deep connections between land, sea, and people.
Discover Vancouver Island’s Wild West Coast
Choosing Your Autumn Adventure
Whether you dream of seeing grizzlies swipe salmon from rushing rivers, polar bears wandering the tundra, or northern lights flickering above herds of caribou, autumn in Canada is alive with possibility.
