A certified paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, Canada is home to some of the world’s most spectacular national parks. Between wildlife watching and exploring the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to world-class stargazing destinations, Canada offers everything intrepid explorers are looking for. But where are the best destinations to experience the wilderness in Canada?
Our experts uncovered the best national parks in Canada for outdoor activities, as well as some of the most underrated spots that will take your breath away. From paddleboarding, hiking, mountain biking and wildlife watching, discover your next outdoor adventure with our guide.
In this guide:
- The Best Destinations for Hiking
- The Best Destinations for Water Sports
- The Best Destinations for Stargazing
- The Best Destinations for Wildlife Watching
- The Best Destinations for Mountain Biking
The Best Destinations for Hiking
Where are the best hiking trails in Canada? Read on to discover our top destinations for hiking adventures.
Yoho National Park
The quieter neighbour to Banff National Park, Yoho National Park is one of our top destinations for hiking in Canada. Typically drawing fewer crowds than Banff, Yoho National Park is a great opportunity to experience the tranquility of the Canadian backcountry. Yoho is located in British Columbia on the western edge of the Great Divide, with Alberta and Banff National Park to the east. One of the nearest towns is scenic Golden, while Calgary is just a two-hour drive away into Alberta.
Inspiring more than 1,690 searches over the last year, interest in Yoho National Park has seen an uplift of 63%. With stunning mountain scenery and more than 400 km of hiking trails, the best time of year to visit is from July to September.
Highlights: Lake O’Hara, Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls.
Banff National Park
Home to stunning mountain views, glacial lakes, and trails, the gateway to Lake Louise is among the best hiking destinations in the world for all levels.
Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park and the jewel of the Canadian Rockies. As something of a bucket list destination, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is consistently popular with 12,820 holiday searches over the last 12 months, receiving an uplift of 49%.
Highlights: Plain of Six Glaciers Trail and Skyline Trail.
Underrated spot: Auyuittuq National Park
Located on Baffin Island’s Cumberland Peninsula in Nunavut, Canada, Auyuittuq National Park is a remote destination with dramatic arctic landscapes. Steeped in Inuit heritage, Auyuittuq National Park is known as “the land that never melts” in Inuktitut.
From awe-inspiring granite peaks to fjords and glaciers, adventurers can admire the unspoiled beauty of Auyuittuq National Park with some of the best hiking and mountaineering routes in Canada. Hiking routes can vary in difficulty, but there are guided tours available.
Highlights: With views of the majestic Overlord, Odin, Thor and Asgard peaks, the most popular trail is the Akshayuk Pass, which can be split into various routes.
The Best Destinations for Water Sports
Read on to explore the finest water sports destinations in Canada.
Moraine Lake
Located in Banff National Park, Moraine Lake is an iconic turquoise lake with picturesque views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Take in the spectacular scenery from the lakeside, with both casual and more challenging hiking trails nearby. One of the best locations for water sports, canoeing and paddleboarding, searches for Moraine Lake have increased by 88% in the last year with 6,670 searches.
Highlights: Admire the Valley of the Ten Peaks from a unique perspective by renting a kayak or bringing your own equipment.
Lake Louise
Home to one of the most recognisable and breathtaking backdrops in the world, Lake Louise in Banff National Park welcomes water-loving adventurers. With ample rafting, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding opportunities, the azure waters of Lake Louise earned the most searches of all of our locations with 18,980 over the last year, seeing an uplift of 22%.
Highlights: Look out for local wildlife as you kayak the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. The blue water is caused by the gradual erosion of the glaciers as sediment reflects the sunlight off the water, giving it its iconic hue.
Underrated spot: Shuswap Lake
Head west of the Rocky Mountains and discover Shuswap Lake, a serene destination known as the “meeting of the waters”. The centre point of a huge network of lakes, these gentle waters are the perfect place for relaxing kayaking and canoeing excursions.
Highlights: Shuswap Lake is a popular family destination for swimming, fishing and house boating, so why not consider it for your next family holiday to Canada?
The Best Destinations for Stargazing
If you often find yourself getting lost looking at the stars, discover our top stargazing hotspots in Canada below.
Kejimkujik National Park
Visit the ancient forests and wilderness on the coastline of Southwestern Nova Scotia at Kejimkujik National Park. The picturesque national park and National Historic Site is Nova Scotia’s only Dark Sky Preserve, offering crystal clear views of the night sky. With more and more travellers keen to capture the magic of dark sky experiences, Kejimkujik National Park has seen a search uplift of 14% in the last 12 months.
Highlights: Catch a glimpse of shooting stars, the planets and the Milky Way in clear view.
Jasper National Park
Thanks to its remote location and limited light pollution, Jasper National Park is another must-visit Dark Sky Preserve destination in Canada – and the second largest in the world.
It’s also the largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve, as there is a town within its boundaries. This makes it easy to find accommodation, whether it’s a lakeside lodge or a convenient hotel. A popular destination for astro-tourism, Jasper National Park has seen 5,720 searches over the last year, with an uplift of 11%.
Highlights: Visit Jasper National Park between September and April to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Jasper Dark Sky Festival in October is another great opportunity for celestial sightings.
Underrated spot: Grasslands National Park
With only 100 searches in the last 12 months, Grasslands National Park is a hidden gem for stargazing in Canada. One of the darkest Dark Sky Reserves in the country, Grasslands National Park spans over 729 square kilometres of spectacular remote landscape.
Highlights: Located in Saskatchewan, Grassland National Park is a great place to see dinosaur fossils as well as ancient stars.
The Best Destinations for Wildlife Watching
From wild bears to local marine life, Canada holidays are incomplete without a few natural wildlife experiences. Explore some of our favourite locations below.
Churchill
Famous for its unique wildlife-watching opportunities, Churchill in Manitoba is one of the best destinations for once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters in Canada. Just south of the Arctic Circle, Churchill has earned the nickname the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”. Take the chance to see polar bears, beluga whales, wolves and arctic foxes in the wild.
Searches for Churchill have increased by an impressive 175% with 1,370 searches in the last 12 months, showing a rise in travellers booking holidays to see Canada’s wildlife.
Highlights: Churchill is abundant with wildlife all year round. If you’re keen to see polar bears, the local peak season is between October and November. Meanwhile, beluga season is from July to August.
Vancouver Island
With a total of 13,100 searches in the last year, Vancouver Island remains one of the premier destinations for wildlife watching in Canada. From escorted Canadian tours to whale-watching cruises, visitors can see wild black bears, humpback whales, bald eagles, sea otters and more.
Highlights: Head to Pacific Rim National Park to see marine wildlife and black bears. You can also often see seals by the quayside at Victoria Harbour.
Underrated spot: Pukaskwa National Park
Cocooned by Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake, Pukaskwa National Park is Ontario’s largest national park and a great spot for wildlife viewing. Add this spot to your Canada Rockies holiday and you might get lucky and see bears, moose, wolves, beavers and otters while hiking and exploring.
Seeing wildlife in their natural habitat is exciting, but it’s also important to keep a safe distance from any wildlife. If you see any bears and wolves, make sure to report information about sightings to the park staff.
Highlights: Key trails include the White River Suspension Bridge, the Southern Headland Trail and the Boardwalk Beach Trail.
The Best Destinations for Mountain Biking
Canada is a hotspot for nature lovers and thrill-seekers alike. Read on to uncover some of the finest mountain biking experiences in the world.
Fundy National Park
Set in the dreamy forests of New Brunswick, Fundy National Park is a hub of outdoor adventure trails on the Bay of Fundy. Located near the Caledonia Highlands, the park welcomes cyclists of all experience levels to enjoy flat, forested and pump-track dirt trails.
With over 65 km of trails, Fundy National Park has encouraged 220 searches over the last year with an average uplift of 26%, proving the enduring popularity of mountain biking experiences in Canada.
Highlights: Admire waterfalls, valleys and local wildlife as you explore the spectacular forests and coastal landscape.
Whistler Mountain Bike Park
Whistler, British Columbia, is known for its world-class skiing resorts – but did you also know that Whistler Bike Park is one of the best mountain biking destinations in North America? Seeing a search uplift of 24% with 1,350 searches in the last 12 months, Whistler Mountain Bike Park is famous for mountain biking holidays.
Highlights: The mountain bike park is part of the wider Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, giving you access to some of the finest alpine trails in the world. With a wide range of tracks, trails and jumps to explore, it’s the perfect location for die-hard riders.
Underrated Spot: Wentworth Valley
Experience Nova Scotia’s only lift-accessible downhill mountain biking park at Wentworth Valley. Often considered one of Canada’s best-kept biking secrets, Wentworth Valley offers cyclists a wide network of colour-coded trails to explore.
Highlights: Wentworth Mountain Bike Park offers two distinct trail zones. This includes the Climb Zone for cycling uphill, and the Lift Zone, giving riders access to cross-country and downhill trails at the top of the mountain via a chairlift.
Canada Holidays Planned Your Way
Make holiday planning a breeze with Canadian holidays booked your way. Discover diverse natural landscapes, exciting city experiences and coastal cruises. Or for double the fun, our multi-centre holiday deals let you see the best of two or more destinations, so you can hand-select your dream holiday. Explore Canadian multi-centre holidays and more with American Holidays.
