Canada’s best hikes in nature

From Bruce Peninsula National Park to the Bay of Fundy, Canada’s landscapes are among the world’s most striking and pristine. And there is no better way to experience their beauty than on foot. Here is our selection of the country’s most alluring hikes.

Canada has towering mountains, glacial lakes, pristine forests, and more coastline than the US, Russia, and China combined. And the nation’s vast and diverse network of walking trails is the perfect complement to its spectacular natural scenery.

However, with so many hikes on offer, it can be difficult to know which to choose - particularly if you have limited travel time. To narrow it down, we have picked four very different but equally captivating trails. All of these can be completed in a day.

However, we recommend an overnight stay to rest your weary bones and soak up the beauty of these spectacular environments.

Bruce Trail - The Grotto and Indian Head Cove

Location: Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario
Distance: 4 km
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult

Some of Canada’s most beautiful coastal shorelines skirt Bruce National Park, 300 kilometres from Toronto. The Bruce Trail covers almost 900 kilometres of the reserve and takes in an incredible diversity of vistas. From lush cedar forests and crystalline waterfalls to rocky coves and turquoise oceans, this famous trail has them all.

Unsurprisingly, most visitors do not attempt the entire mammoth trek in one go. However, the beauty of the Bruce Trail is that it consists of multiple mini-routes, each with its unique natural attractions. You can take your pick of what sections to explore. Highlights include serene Cyrus Lake and The Grotto, a coastal cavern opening onto a perfect swimming inlet.

Accommodation: Group camping is available in various campsites. You can also go ‘backcountry camping’ in certain park areas. This term simply means pitching a tent in the middle of nowhere so you can appreciate nature in private, sans crowds, noise, and light pollution. Star-gazing doesn’t get much better than this. Alternatively, if you fancy glamping over camping, you can book a yurt on Cyprus Lake - complete with woodstove, barbeque, and beds.

The Big Beehive

Location: Banff National Park, Alberta
Distance: 11km
Time: 4 to 4 hours
Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult

Banff National Park’s imposing glacial landscapes are among the most exquisite in the world. Dominated by rugged mountain peaks and dotted with icy turquoise lakes, they are the stuff of Narnia - or, for a more modern context, Frozen. The Big Beehive loop is the park’s most popular route, taking in many striking and iconic attractions.

The 11-kilometre hike starts at Lake Louise, close to the parking lot, and begins with lush forested areas. However, it opens up to rocky plains featuring exquisite glacial reservoirs like Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes, with stark mountain peaks surrounding them. It culminates with the Big Beehive itself - a mountain named for its beehive-like shape.

From this lofty vantage point are 360-degree views over the entire park. On the way down, make a pitstop at the Lake Agnes Teahouse, which has been serving fine teas since 1905. The Big Beehive is not strictly an overnight hike. However, there is no better way to end this unforgettable trail than with a stay in beautiful Banff.

Accommodation: Visit Banff’s official website for camping options or find accommodation in the Lake Louise ski hamlet. Alternatively - if you have the budget - treat yourself to a stay at the legendary and luxurious Lake Louise Chateau, dating to 1888.

Gros Morne Mountain Trail

Location: Newfoundland and Labrador
Distance: 16 km / 8km to the viewpoint and back
Time: 8 / 4 hours return
Difficulty: Challenging - not suggested for kids.

The Gros Morne Mountain Trail lies within the Gros Morne National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 16-kilometre circuit hike winds up and down Newfoundland and Labrador’s second-highest peak. Gros Morne Mountain rises 806 metres above sea level and is known for its challenging terrain. You can expect steep ascents and descents, rocky sections, and a challenging scramble to the summit. However, the views from the top are well worth the effort.

On a clear day, you can see for miles in all directions and over some of North America’s largest fjords, carved by glaciers during the Ice Ages. The route moves through varied ecosystems, including boreal and arctic forests, with alpine tundra towards the peak. The first four kilometres of the path follow a gentle incline through woodlands to a lookout platform at the mountain base.

The trail becomes far more challenging from this point and winds steeply upwards through Ferry Gulch. For a less strenuous experience, turn back at the lookout point. While the views are not as exceptional from the summit, they are still breathtaking.

The Fundy Multi-Use Trail

Location: New Brunswick
Distance: 10km one way
Time: 4 to 6 hours return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

In Southern New Brunswick lies one of North America’s most unspoiled and iconic seaside wilderness areas. The Bay of Fundy is famous for having the world’s most extreme tidal shifts, with a dramatic 12-metre difference between high and low tides.

Along this volatile stretch of ocean, the Canadian government has established the Fundy Trail Park. Part of the Fundy Biosphere UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve covers a kaleidoscope of different but equally beautiful environments. Its sandy beaches and pebble-strewn coves meet sheer coastal cliffs and conifer forests dotted with cascading waterfalls and glistening lakes.

The 10-kilometre Multi-Use Fundy Trail is one of the park’s most scenic and accessible trails. You can either hike or bike this route, which offers spectacular ocean views. It hugs the shoreline, snaking through forests, past waterfalls, and along cliff tops, offering breathtaking views of the bay.

Accommodation: Take your pick of camping, cabins, or yurts – all on site in the park.

A hikers paradise

Whether you’re drawn to the dramatic landscapes of the Big Beehive, the rugged terrain of Gros Morne Mountain, the serene beauty of Bruce Peninsula, or the coastal wonders of the Fundy Trail, Canada’s hiking trails offer something for every adventurer.

Each of these routes provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the country’s diverse natural beauty, from lush forests and turquoise lakes to stunning fjords and dramatic coastlines. No matter which trail you choose, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a deeper appreciation for Canada’s spectacular wilderness.

Source references:
Lake Agnes Tea House
Condé Nast Traveler
National Geographic
Destination Ontario
Explore the Bruce
Government of Canada
Trailing Away
Gros Morne
Hiking NB