Canada Hiking Guide
The Best hiking in canada
Canada is an amazing place for hikers with a lifetime supply of trails and hiking areas. The best hiking in Canada depends on your preferences. The hiking and walking in Ontario is fairly flat, or with minimal elevation change, winding through boreal forest and past limestone outcrops. Hiking and walking in Newfoundland often includes trails over scenic headlands, with ocean views and gusty weather to match.
Alberta is one of the best places in Canada for hiking, with hundreds of world class hiking trails weaving their way through the Rocky Mountains near Banff and Jasper. Some of the best hikes in Canada or here in the Rockies of Alberta. Trails are typically steeper with more elevation gain, heading into the alpine quickly and featuring dramatic views of surrounding peaks and glaciers.
More of the best hiking in Canada can be found in British Columbia, with hikes of all shapes and sizes. The mountains in BC are younger, which makes them steeper, so often the trails here can be a bit steeper, or have more switchbacks to help you gain the summit. Often the hiking in British Columbia is through rain forest, or old growth forest strands that help make these some of the best walking trails in the country. BC has a lot of variety in hiking trails, with some being near the coast and some being in the Rockies, and everything in between, including one of Canada’s only deserts!
There are several other hiking areas in Canada, including the Yukon, which like the slogan says is “Larger Than Life”, and trust me this is true. Hiking trips in the Yukon are gorgeous, with lots of elevation gain and rewarding panoramic views of icefields and some of the biggest mountains in Canada.
If you are planning a hiking trip in Canada, there is something perfect for you somewhere. Most regions in Canada have trails that are easy of challenging, and have options for backpacking trips or single day hikes. There are lots of websites full of hiking information, and the trails below should help you get started. If you find it overwhelming to plan your walking holiday in Canada, you can also go on a guided hiking tour with a reputable company to help! (We just might know of one!)
When to go hiking in canada
Canada is a country of four seasons and not all of them are ideal for hiking! The best hiking is in the middle of summer, though there are perks to hiking in the spring and the fall as well. Some of the best hikes in Canada are ideal in the fall when the trees turn a golden color, such as Larch Valley. The spring can also be a great time to hike with the glaciers looking their most dramatic and there still being some snow around to play with.
Generally speaking you can hike between June and September in the Rockies and year round on the coast (with winter conditions being up high).
What to pack while hiking in canada
Canada’s hiking trails are often remote and you will have limited access to help and your car. In order to stay safe and comfortable you should make sure you have the following:
Map/ compass + GPS
Warm layer + jacket
Sturdy hiking boots or comfy walking shoes
Water and a snack
Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
Bug spray can be a good idea
Best places to go hiking and backpacking in canada
Walking & Hiking in the Canadian ROckies
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies is absolutely breathtaking! Explore the hiking trails in Banff and see towering cliffs, glaciers and incredibly blue alpine lakes. Hiking in Jasper is full of wildlife, open vistas and jagged mountain peaks in the distance. Go for a hike in Yoho National Park and come face to face with towering waterfalls, mountain lakes, and trails that cross directly under ancient glaciers. Hiking in Kootenay National Park is a great way to spot wildlife, see untouched nature and escape the crowds.
Backpacking & Hiking on vancouver Island
You’d be amazed by the hiking on Vancouver Island. The trails here make up some of the best hiking in Canada, with a variety of low lying rain forest trails, and alpine hikes that reach for the sky. You can see it all while hiking on Vancouver Island; towering mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and massive old growth trees. One of the best parts about hiking on Vancouver Island are the lakes, which are much warmer and more pleasant to swim in than in the Rockies.
Trekking & Hiking near vancouver/ Whistler
One of the best perks of visiting Vancouver is the hiking nearby. It’s very easy to go hiking to the tops of the mountains on the North Shore, with epic sunsets and views of Vancouver far below. Venture a little further North and hike through rolling alpine meadows at Elfin Lakes, or up to Garibaldi Lake for some glacier views. Escape the crowds hiking near Vancouver, by heading East to Hope and beyond to the Coquihalla Pass area.
Backpacking & Hiking In The Yukon
The Yukon is “Larger Than Life”, and that says it all for the hiking opportunities in the Yukon. Head out to Kluane for endless landscapes, and the crystal waters of Kathleen Lake, or hike far above Kluane Lake for unbelievable views of the Kaskawulsh Icefield to the West. Hiking in Tombstone Territorial Park will lead you to some of the most iconic and impressive views you could ever ask for. This is a photographers dream trip. Bottom line… go hiking in the Yukon!