10 Best Hiking Trails in Canada

The East Coast Trail is a 265-km-long coastal route in Newfoundland, running south from Cape St. Francis to Cappahayden. You'll travel past the rugged Atlantic coastline, where leviathan whales, caribou and seabird colonies are within sight.

The trail also takes you past lighthouses, waterfalls, fjords, icebergs, and historic landmarks. A must-see is the abandoned town of La Manche, which has a 50-meter suspension bridge. You can also spot hundreds of wild animals at the Witless Bay Seabird Sanctuary, Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Nature Conservancy Reserve, and Avalon Wilderness Area.

Bruce Trail’s main route covers nearly 900 km, along with over 440 km of side trails through southern Ontario. Known as the longest footpath in Canada, it starts from the Niagara Escarpment and ends at the tip of Georgian Bay. Hiking can take anything from 1 hour to over 1 week, depending on your chosen route.

Along the way, you’ll pass by mixed-wood forests, waterfalls, lakeside cliffs and vineyards. It’s best to come prepared, especially if you’re planning to take on the trail’s entire length. The Bruce Trail Conservancy website provides detailed descriptions and maps for free.

Fundy National Park’s most iconic landmark is the Bay of Fundy, which you can visit by taking on one of its many trails. The Fundy Footpath is a challenging 42-km-long trail that starts at the suspension bridge at Big Salmon River. You get to enjoy impressive vistas from atop 100-meter-tall sea cliffs, as well as great views of forests and remote beaches.

An alternate trail is the Fundy Circuit, which spans 48 km of several different linked hiking routes. It takes between 3 to 5 days, passing through river valleys, past lakes, Acadian forests, and the scenic shoreline of Fundy National Park.

The West Coast Trail traverses through 75 km of coastal and forest paths, making it one of the more challenging trails on Vancouver Island. You need to have good stamina and experience in backcountry hiking, as it takes around 3 to 7 days to complete the journey.

The West Coast Trail includes muddy pools, wooden surfaces, boulders, and rocky shorelines. While a large section of the route is on sandy beaches, you’ll also need to use cable cars and climb over 100 ladders. The best time to visit is from May to September, when you might be able to spot killer whales and sea lions out in the ocean, along with starfish, barnacles, and blue mussels in tide pools.

Parc National de Mont-Tremblant is a provincial park around 19 km northeast of the expansive Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort in Quebec. Covering over 1,510 sq km, it has hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams, along with over 80 km of scenic trails. Many routes lead you to the highest summit of the Laurentian Mountains. Along the way, you might be able to spot wildlife like moose, white-tailed deer, and woodpeckers.

The network also has 10 group huts that accommodate between 2 and 18 people. If you want to try winter hiking, there’s a trail that starts from the Discovery Center and goes to Lac Lauzon. This 6-km roundtrip route passes the camping areas on the east shore of Lac Monroe.

Skyline Trail attracts experienced hikers looking for a challenging yet scenic journey in Alberta. Located in Jasper National Park, the trailhead is at Maligne Lake with over half of this 44-km-long route meandering above the treeline.

While it’s one of the most popular trails in the Canadian Rockies, it’s a good idea to come prepared. There’s a chance of snowfall throughout the year, so consider the weather conditions and high altitudes when planning your trip. You can only hike the Skyline Trail in summer, usually from July to early October.

There are more than 15 Whistler Mountain Trails, all of which offer rewarding views of alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and mountain ranges. Whistler is within a 2-hour drive north of Vancouver, with most of its trails located near Garibaldi Lake.

One of the area’s most popular routes is the High Note Trail, a 9.5-km route that starts at the top of Whistler Mountain and passes through Garibaldi Provincial Park’s wildflower meadows. A short hike from Whistler Mountain’s parking lot takes you to a platform overlooking Brandywine Falls, which drops around 70 meters into a cavern.

Grizzly Lake Trail offers a moderate 11.4-km-long journey through Tombstone Territorial Park. The trailhead is just after the Grizzly Creek Reservoir, crossing talus slopes and beautiful alpine meadows along the way. After a rather short but steep hike, you’ll be rewarded with views of Mount Monolith and Grizzly Lake. Descend to the large meadow and you’ll reach a campground close to the lake.

The best time to explore the trail is between June and September – you can stay the night by applying for a backpacking permit. You can register online or at the Tombstone Park Interpretive Center, located beside the campground.

Sunshine Coast Trail is one of Canada’s longest backcountry hiking routes. The 180-km trail connects Sarah Point with Saltery Bay, offering amazing views of mountains, shorelines, creeks and lakes.

Along the way, there are over a dozen huts and 20-odd campgrounds for you to stay the night and rest your feet. It’s a good idea to get an SCT Passport at Tourism Powell River to collect stamps for each hut – you'll receive a certificate of completion and enter a lucky draw to win prizes from local supporting businesses.

Akshayuk Pass is one of the most popular hiking routes in Auyuittuq National Park. Located on Canada’s Baffin Island, the trail spans 97 km in length, which takes around 10 days to complete. You’ll pass through a glacial valley in the Baffin Mountains, as well as icebergs, marshlands and icefields.

Auyuittuq National Park is also home to various Arctic wildlife – you might spot snow geese and Arctic foxes during your journey through Akshayuk Pass. When passing through the park’s fjords, narwhal and ringed seals can be seen from the water's surface.