Check out the best guided hiking expeditions and tours in Canada for summer 2024! We have gathered a few of the absolute best guided hiking trips in Canada in this article.
The Best Backpacking Trails and Multiday Hikes In The Canadian Rockies
West Coast Trail Hiking Guide
The Best Hiking Destination You've Probably Never Heard Of
The Yukon is one of the best hiking destinations in the world.
Bold statement, but I’ll tell you why.
The Canadian Yukon is home to:
The planet’s most massive mountain
A region known as "the Patagonia of the North"
A National Park bigger than Jasper & Banff combined
The largest non-polar icefield in the world
A National Park which sees less annual visitors than the summit of Mt Everest
Loads of mountains (1368), not many people (35k) and So. Much. Wildlife.
Some of the best Northern Lights viewing opportunities in Canada!
All of which make this remote and rugged wilderness one of the best kept secrets of the hiking world.
The Yukon is home to 1368 mountains, many of them unexplored - photo by Bex Dawkes
If you’re not familiar with Canada’s best places to hike, you may not know much about The Yukon, other than that it’s cold, and some dude found gold there once. Although it does get chilly in the winter, mild temperatures and exceptionally long daylight hours during the summer months make The Yukon a fantastic hiking destination in Canada, and also host to a massive amount of beautiful natural attractions and fun things to do.
One thing that really set the Yukon apart from the hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies is the vast expanse of untouched wilderness: much of it relatively unexplored and uninhabited. Cell service is limited, resupply stations are minimal and wildlife roams free. In a remote and wild environment like this one, planning and preparation is key. But those who put in the work are rewarded with empty trails, breathtaking scenery and a trip you’ll remember for a lifetime.
Browse through our Yukon hiking guide below and discover some of the best places and trails to hike in Canada’s north.
The Best places to hike in the yukon
The view of Kluane from Haines Junction - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Kluane National Park & Reserve
Perched in the South West corner of the territory, holding its own against Alaska, is Kluane. This National Park covers more than 22,000km2 (bigger than Jasper & Banff combined) and contains 17 of Canada’s 20 tallest mountains. Including the tallest - Mt Logan, which is also considered the most ‘massive mountain’ in the world, due to its enormous circumference. The park also houses the biggest non-polar icefield in the world, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest protected area on the planet.
Much of Kluane is unexplored by foot and can only be accessed by plane or helicopter. That being said, there are extensive hiking and mountaineering opportunities available on the fringes of this mountain wonderland.
Top trail tips:
The ‘gateway’ to Kluane is the tiny town of Haines Junction - home to just 613 year round residents. So even during the ‘busy’ summer months, you still won’t see more than a couple of other people out on the trail each day!
King’s Throne reflected in Kathleen Lake, Kluane National Park - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Tombstones Territorial Park
Often referred to as ‘the Patagonia of the North’ and known as the ‘ragged mountain land’ by the local First Nation community; this magnificent park spans both the continental divide and the legendary Dempster Highway. Dramatic rock formations, striking peaks, windswept tundra, unusual permafrost landforms and rare Beringian plant species can all be discovered in a park which feels out-of-this-world.
A frontcountry campground is accessible just off the Dempster Highway, close to the park’s interpretive centre and offers a number of short trails and day hikes nearby. For the real taste of the Tombstones however, you’ll want to get further into the backcountry. Permits are required for this, so be sure to book before heading out there.
As with many other Yukon hiking destinations, marked trails in this park are rare and most of the hikes involve route finding and advanced navigation. Make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities and weather conditions - snow in July is not uncommon.
Top trail tips:
View from Miles Canyon while hiking in Whitehorse - photo by Bex Dawkes
hiking in Ivvavik National Park
Do you know how many people summit Mt Everest every year? I’ll tell you: around 800. And how many people visit Ivvavik National Park each year? About 100.
Nestled in the very northwest corner of The Yukon, this 9775km2 park borders Alaska to the west and the Arctic Ocean to the North. Created as part of an aboriginal land claims agreement, Ivvavik is a vast expanse of wilderness that very few people have explored. In fact, paths are so untrodden that there are no marked hiking trails within the park at all - meaning any visitors must be adept at navigation or hire a guide.
The park is home to hundreds of different species including: muskox, polar bears, grizzlies, moose, dall sheep, Arctic char, gyrfalcons and migrating herds of porcupine caribou, making the wildlife watching second to none.
With no roads into Ivvavik, the only way to access the park is via charter plane from Inuvik (North West Territories) or by booking a guided trip directly with Parks Canada. As Ivvavik is “about as far away as you can get from anywhere” very few put in the time and effort it takes to plan an expedition. But those who do, are rewarded with endless hiking opportunities in one of the last great wildernesses.
Top tips:
The best time to visit for hiking is mid June - mid August.
Call Parks Canada directly to discuss your trip plan with them
Hiking in the Yukon offers many of Canada’s best hiking trails.
hiking in Whitehorse
Whitehorse is home to more than 80% of The Yukon’s population. And while this bustling urban area contains all the creature comforts you might need, it isn’t known as The Wilderness City for nothing.
Drive for just 15 minutes out of the downtown hub to get into the backcountry. If you’re willing to go a little further afield, you can access areas like the Carcross Desert and Marsh Lake within an hour - offering a huge diversity of landscapes to experience, right on the doorstep.
Whitehorse has even got some amazing hiking options if you don’t have a vehicle. There are a number of hikes accessible via public transit, plus there are a couple of interpretive trails running along the banks of the Yukon River - telling the fascinating story of the Gold Rush era. While some sections might only take you an hour, it is possible to link multiple trails together to reach Miles Canyon - giving you a full day loop hike, starting right in the city centre.
Top trail tips:
Montana Mountain (Carcross)
The Yukon is a majestic, undiscovered gem of a hiking destination. Whether you’re looking for epic mountain ranges, amazing wildlife experiences, well-trodden trails or peaceful off-the-beaten path adventures; this incredible corner of Canada has it all.
To make the most of your Yukon hiking experience, discover one of the Fresh Adventures Yukon hiking guided trips - all of the epic with none of the hassle.
The Yukon is one of the best places in Canada for hikers, but can be made even better by combining with a trip in the Rockies, which are not far south of here (by Canadian standards). Check out our guide to the best backpacking trails in the Rockies!
About THe Author - Bex Dawkes
Bex may not have grown up in the mountains but if you saw her gallivanting around the Kootenays you’d think she was a local as grizzled as any! Among hucking herself off pillows and paddling through remote ocean passages, she manages to find time to keep the adventure travel world informed and capture jaw dropping beauty on her camera. She’s easiest to track down at a local brewery and, if you’re lucky enough, you may just be able to explore with her on some of our tours too!
Wildlife In The Canadian Rockies
Common Wildlife To Spot While Hiking In The Canadian Rockies
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies is very popular for hikers from all over the country and world. The scenery is otherworldly, the weather pleasant but the abundant wildlife may be another reason why it is so popular.
Banff and Jasper National Parks are teeming with wildlife and if you are lucky you could spot several types of animals on your hike in the Canadian Rockies. Here are a few of the more common types of wildlife to spot while hiking in the Rockies, as well as some tips on where are when to find them.
Notes About Wildlife Viewing in Canada
Wildlife viewing in the Canadian Rockies is very popular and can be very rewarding. It is important that we behave in a way that will promote sustainability and protect the future of the animals that we love to see. Here are some tips on making sure they are safe:
Don’t feed the wildlife. Please though. Everyone knows this, and yet most people still want to give the squirrels and birds just a little chunk of their granola bar. Well, that totally counts as feeding the wildlife and everyone does it, so please try not to. You can still get the photos of the squirrel.. just pretend to give it food if you have to. When you feed wildlife it disrupts the natural processes that are so important in the Rockies. There are birds that eat seeds, and if they get used to eating cashews and stop eating pine seeds, the pine trees will die off. They are already endangered. That might not sound so bad, but that pine tree is a keystone species, meaning that when it fails, the whole system comes crashing down. Just don’t feed the animals.
Maintain your distance from the animals. We see it all the time… tourists getting out of their cars and way too close to bears on the side of the road. ARE YOU CRAZY?! I saw someone almost get charged by a grizzly, because the sound of our tires on the gravel upset the bear. If the tourist was in their car they would have been safe. Just remember, these are wild animals. Mating elks are very dangerous, and bears- well you should already know they can do some damage. If they get used to humans, their behaviours change and eventually a park warden has to kill them. Let’s just stay a bit further back.
That’s it! Enjoy your trip to the Rockies and I hope you have some successful wildlife viewing!
where to see wildlife in the canadian rockies
There are many places to see wildlife in the Canadian Rockies, including the national parks and the areas just outside them. Spotting bears in Banff National Park is very common, and there are many places to find grizzlies in Jasper National Park as well. Hiking and walking tours in the Canadian Rockies are a great opportunity to spot wildlife too! Below is an overview on finding wildlife in each national park.
wildlife in banff national park- Animal viewing guide to the Rockies
Spotting wildlife in Banff national park is easy if you look in the right places. You can even see elk in Banff fairly often, as they hang around the gold course and along the side of the river. You can find black bears and grizzlies in Banff national park as well, plus a variety of ungulates like moose, elk, deer and caribou. Hoary marmots can be found in the alpine during hikes in Banff National Park- just listen for their distinctive whistle!
Here are a few key places to see wildlife in Banff National Park:
Norquay Road: At the big bend in the road you can park and enjoy the view. There are often big horn sheep in the grassy field right below you. Occasionally there are coyotes around here too. I also had a close encounter with a cougar right at the far end of this field, so keep your eyes open!
Minnewanka Loop: keep your eyes peeled for big horn sheep near the road by the lake and for elk in the open grassy areas and along the side of the road.
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake: Watch for black bears on the drive up to Moraine Lake. There are often grizzlies in Larch Valley during the fall, when they come out to eat berries. You will need to be in groups of four to access these trails in the fall.
Icefields Parkway: There are numerous areas to see wildlife on the Icefields Parkway. Big horn sheep are often see around “Big Bend” area, just south of the Athabasca Glacier viewpoint. It is not uncommon to see elk around Saskatchewan Crossing, and bears along the side of the road the entire way up. The Parker Ridge Hike is a great place to see big horn sheep on a sunny day!
Vermillion Lakes: This is where to see moose near Banff, as they are often in the marshy areas on the far side of the lake near dawn. Elk, deer and other animals are often in this area as well.
spotting animals in jasper national park- Where to see Wildlife
Jasper National Park is teeming with wildlife and if you are lucky, you may be able to see bears, big horn sheep and lots of elk around Jasper. For a decent chance to see elk in Jasper, head just south of town, near Wapiti Campground and look between the highway and the river. They often travel up and down the banks of the Athabasca River early in the mornings, especially in early summer when they have their young. Seeing black bears in Jasper National Park is common as well, especially during the drive to Maligne Lake. Keep your eyes peeled in the ditch. If you see something really black, it’s probably a black bear.
Here are a few key places to see wildlife in Jasper National Park:
Maligne Lake Road: watch for black bears in the ditch, and even grizzly bears along the side of the road. At the beginning of the road there are often elk along the open grassy areas.
Miette Hot Springs Road: the road to Miette Hot Springs can be a great place to see bears crossing the road. Watch your speed!
Pyramid Lake Road: keep your eyes peeled to see elk near Jasper. They are often along the side of the road, among the Aspen trees. There are often black bears and grizzly bears near Jasper along this road as well.
Wapiti Campground: Wapiti is a word for Elk, which is evident if you stay in this campground. Watch for elk travelling up and down the river banks in the early mornings of June and July.
wildlife in yoho national park- Canadian Rockies wildlife
Finding wildlife in Yoho National Park is easy most of the time. There are often elk walking along the braided gravel islands of the Kicking Horse River, especially in the spring and early summer as they raise their young calves. There are lots of black bears and grizzlies in Yoho National Park as well. They can be found in bushy areas with berries growing, like sun facing avalanche paths.
Here are a few ideas of where to see wildlife in Yoho National Park:
Kicking Horse River: Watch for mother elk with their calves along the river banks and islands during the spring.
Field: there are often black bears in the avalanche slides around the town of Field. They like the avalanche slides for the berry bushes that grow here, so keep a look out in berry season!
Emerald Lake: There are often black bears around the lake and can often be big horn sheep up high on the sunny slopes of the mountains surrounding the lake.
seeing wildlife in Kootenay national park- Wildlife viewing guide
Kootenay National Park isn’t as popular among visitors to the area, but it seems a very popular place for wildlife! I think a lot of this is because the railroad doesn’t travel through this corridor, which means that settlers didn’t fight forest fires in this region as much. Forest fires are really good at building habitat for the animals we like to see in the Rockies, like elk and bears. Grizzlies love to eat the Buffalo Berries that grow in the sunny patches on south facing slopes, and elk like to snack on the small Aspen Trees that grow low down in the sunny valley bottoms.
Some key places where to see animals in Kootenay National Park:
Burn patches: forest fires are scary and make the news, but they do wonders to create animal habitat in the Rocky Mountains. Look in the old fire sections to see elk and grizzly bears eating the new plants that pop up in the sun!
Along the side of the highway, particularly halfway from Banff to Radium. There are often deer and elk along the sides of the road.
Grizzly bears and black bears can often be seen from the road as they travel through the park.
Grizzly bears in the canadian rockies
Grizzly bears are a much revered and exciting animal to see in the Canadian Rockies. They can reach up to eight feet in height and can weigh to to 270 kg. They hibernate for roughly 6 months in the Rockies, so they need to work hard the rest of the year. Did you know that male grizzlies sometimes kill baby grizzly cubs?! Here are some tips on seeing grizzlies in Canada.
Look where their food is…. and they eat a lot of things, so good luck! Notable items on a grizzly’s menu are: goat and sheep that died during the winter, roots, ants and other insects, berries (lots of them, especially buffalo berries) and fattened up ground squirrels.
Grizzlies are most predictably found in open, sun facing slopes during the early fall, eating mass amounts of buffalo berries.
Grizzly bears can be brown, blond, and even near black! You can identify a grizzly by the hump on its shoulders, which comes from digging.
seeing black bears in the rockies
Black bears are fairly common to see in the Rockies, and it’s great to know that their population is actually on the rise, so good job bears! They usually weigh around 200 kg, and stand up to seven feet tall. Black bears in the Canadian Rockies also hibernate for just over 6 months. They usually give birth every 2 years, and raise their young for roughly 18 months. Here are some tips on seeing black bears in the Rockies:
Look where their food is… Black bears are omnivores, and rarely hunt live game. Their diet consists of berries, insects, roots, grasses, animal carcasses, and fish.
Black bears are generally seen closer to human centres than grizzlies are.
You can recognize them by the lack of a hump between their shoulders and the straight line from their forehead to the tip of their nose. Their colours range from white to brown to black and even black-blue.
Black bears seem to like disturbed areas, where many edible shrubs grow, like burned patches, roadside and avalanche paths.
finding elk in the canadian rockies
Elk are one of the more common types of wildlife to spot in the Rockies, though they are still very special. They can run over forty miles per hour and can jump over eight feet high! They mate in the fall, during rutting season, which is when their antlers are the largest. During this time, and all other times, elk should be considered dangerous and can be very territorial. Here are some tips on where to see elk near Banff and in the Canadian Rockies.
Elk eat grasses, small bushes and saplings. Like grizzly bears, they don’t seem to mind the bitter buffalo berry bushes either.
Elk are often see travelling along river banks in the early morning.
Mother elk usually travel in large herds in the spring and early summer when they are raising their calves.
Female elk usually live in harems of roughly twenty females with one bull elk who protects them.
where to find moose near banff
Moose are the largest animals found in North America and are generally up to 7 feet tall, weighing up to 1500 pounds. It is estimated that there are roughly 1.5 million moose in the world, spread across wild, open spaces in the northern hemisphere. Moose are hard to find in the Canadian Rockies, but that’s not for a lack of them. A moose and I nearly had a head on collision once during a run!
Moose are most active and easy to spot during dawn and dusk.
They eat twigs, willows, aspen and other brush, especially marshland brush.
The best palces to see moose are often in wet areas, often waist deep in water, munching away.
Moose can run up to 50 km, and can swim almost 20 km per hour!
Moose in the Canadian Rockies eat up to 70 pounds of food per day!
where to find hoary marmots in the rockies
Hoary marmot are the largest of the ground squirrels in the Canadian Rockies. They weigh up to 7 kg and are just over two feet long. How to identify a hoary marmot? The term hoary refers to the silver, grey fur on their back, and they have a little white patch around their nose. Did you know that hoary marmots are the kings of hibernation? They sleep between 7-8 months of the year.
Hoary marmots in the Canadian Rockies live in small colonies of up to 35 individuals.
Marmot live in cold, barren alpine areas, usually with lots of grass and sedges.
Hoary Marmot are often heard before being seen. Listen for a shrill whistle, made by the lookout of the colony. When you hear this, look for a marmot perched on a rock and keeping an eye out on you.
big horn sheep- where to find them
Did you know that big horn sheep in the Canadian Rockies are relatives of domestic farmed sheep? You can tell the difference between males and females by the curled horns on males’ (rams’) heads and the short, spiked horns on females (ewes). Big horn sheep weigh up to 120 kg and can live up to 15 years. Here are some tips on seeing bighorn sheep near Banff, Lake Louise and the Rockies.
Big horn sheep graze on grasses and small shrubs that grow in the Canadian Rockies.
Big horn sheep live in steep, rocky terrain in the alpine.
Big horn sheep have very keen eyesight to help them spot and avoid predators, like bears, wolves and cougars.
They are very nimble and can run up nearly sheer cliffs. They can stand on a ledge the size of a mail envelope!
Viewing guide to wildlife in the Canadian Rockies
It is easy to spot wildlife while hiking in Canada, especially in the Canadian Rockies. Just remember, no matter when you visit the Rockies there are ample opportunities to see wildlife. That being said, I always recommend keeping in mind that there is so much more than wildlife to enjoy during your trip. Wildlife is, well…. wild, so we can’t control it. Sometimes you hit the mother load, sometimes you strike out, but that’s what makes seeing wild animals so special! Below are a few of our tours in the Rockies where we often enjoy some amazing wildlife sightings. By camping in the Rockies, you more than double your chance of seeing wildlife!
Another incredible wildlife viewing destination is Yukon Territory.
You can check out our Vancouver Island Wildlife Viewing Guide here too!
Related tours
best of banff and jasper hiking tour- Hotel Based
7 day rockies camping adventure
12 day rockies hiking tour- Camping Based
About the author
Alex Ross- Lead Guide/ Founder
Let’s just say Alex didn’t want to work a real job when he grew up. He had his heart set on avoiding any kind of accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration, in order to be free for his dream job as a ski guide. Now he guides people on skis, but mostly does accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration work!
Best Areas In Canada To Go Hiking This Summer
Best Places in canada for hiking
With so many amazing places in Canada for hiking the real challenge can be picking where to go hiking in Canada! With so much wilderness and beautiful landscape, this country is a paradise for hikers.
Not only that but the varying seasons in Canada can make for some amazing scenery on your hiking trip in Canada. Imagine the fall colours in Southern Ontario in autumn, or the wildflowers in the alpine meadows of the Rockies in spring. Nothing beats a multiday backcountry hike in the Rockies with in glowing Autumn colors!
In no particular order below are a few of our favourite areas to go hiking in Canada.
cape breton, Nova Scotia
If you are looking for somewhere to go hiking in Canada, look no further than Cape Breton in the autumn. Rolling hills meet black beaches and rugged, rocky shoreline, with rich red and yellow forest reaching down to the sea. There are many amazing places to hike on Cape Breton, including Black Sands Beach, Meat Cove and the Bras D’or Lakes. Take your pick, or hit them all on your hiking trip!
Bruce Trail, Ontario
The Bruce Trail stretches from Niagra to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, In fact, the Bruce Trail is 885 km long, so there are many options for you to pick from. One thing that makes this trail special is its proximity to the Niagra Escarpment, which is an ancient seabed, consisting of limestone layers that have been pushed to the surface. Many of the trail sections along the Bruce Trail feature high cliffs and lookouts, as well as caves and karst formations. One thing I love about hiking along the Bruce Trail is the canopy of foliage that forms a ceiling overhead. You feel like you are hiking in your own little world, with much of the sun being blocked and a cool shade underneath the leaves. This gigantic trail makes for much of the best hiking in Canada.
Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan
While not as visually impressive as the Rockies, hiking in the grasslands of Saskatchewan offer some breathtaking vistas with wide open skies and shimmering grass plains, blowing rhythmically in the breeze. Best of all, you are almost guaranteed sunny weather, which makes this a great area to hike in Canada.
Kluane National Park, Yukon
Larger than life meets more beautiful than life in the Yukon. Kluane Lake is an impressive sight on its own, and the breathtaking icefield spilling out of the Wrangell St Elias Mountains to the West are just a cherry on top. There are several options for hiking in Kluane National Park, some high and some low. Whatever you go with, you are sure to be impressed. This is actually a stop in a future tour that we are planning! Kluane National Park is surely one of the best hiking areas in Canada.
Banff National Park
OK, so all the national parks in the Canadian Rockies are amazing for hikers, but Banff National Park just might take the cake with such a massive variety of hiking trails and opportunities to see wildlife. Jump on a hike around Lake Louise for glacier views and impressive panoramas over the lakes, or head a bit further North to hike along the Icefields Parkway. Hiking on the Icefields Parkway is full of surprises, like climbing over Parker Ridge to see the epic views of the Saskatchewan Glacier stretching out below. Banff National Park is rich with single day hikes and multiday backpacking routes as well. Ambitious hikers could spends years hiking in Banff and not even scratch the surface. A few trails we recommend are Plain of Six Glaciers, Parker Ridge and Cory Pass, to name a few. Join one of our hiking tours in Banff National Park and we will show you a whole lot more!
Squamish and whistler
The coast mountains surrounding Squamish and Whistler are a hiker’s haven, which is why we planned a new guided hiking tour there, beginning in summer 2021. Rolling alpine meadows stretch to rocky mountain fortresses, accessed by lush old growth forests. It’s very easy to fall in love with this place, and it definitely is home to many of the best hiking trails in Canada. Try hiking up to Garibaldi Lake, Elfin Lakes, or taking a walk at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. Better yet, try out our tour and experience all the best hikes in one epic week!
Tofino
While most people don’t really think of hiking in Tofino, we beg to differ. There are hikes that get you up high and there are hikes that keep you down low, under the forest canopy, hiking through the lush rainforest on the west coast. Some of our favourites are Lone Cone, Rainforest Loop, and the Nuu Chuh Nulth Trail. Check out the visitor centre at the same time for some history! Tofino is definitely one of the best places to hike in Canada!
Here is a guide to spotting wildlife on Vancouver Island.
So now the rest is up to you. Where are you going hiking in Canada next summer? Let us know your favourite hikes in the comments below, and hopefully we will see you out on a guided hiking tour soon! Happy trails!