On the trail of Canada’s natural splendour

Canada is blessed with incredible natural scenery, and there is no better way to take it all in than on foot. The country’s vast, varied landscape means there’s an impressive array of hiking destinations to discover, each unique in its views, vegetation and terrain. 

From mountainside hikes to rocky routes and heart-pumping inclines, here are five scenic hiking trails across Canada to add to your bucket list. As always: check weather conditions and safety guidelines, and pack all necessary gear before you travel. 

Newfoundland: Gros Morne Mountain Trail, Gros Morne National Park

At Gros Morne National Park, in Canada’s most easterly province, you’ll find spectacular gorges, stunning fjords and vistas aplenty. The park has over 100 kilometres of trails, ranging from ambitious inclines with over 500 metres of elevation gain to gently rolling routes. 

The Gros Morne Mountain Trail falls into the former category. It’s a strenuous 17-kilometre-long, eight-hour journey that takes you up the flat-topped Gros Morne Mountain – Newfoundland’s second-highest peak. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of Bonne Bay’s fjords and the U-shaped Ten Mile Pond. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot some of the mountain’s native fauna: the Arctic hare, caribou and a bird called the rock ptarmigan.

Quebec: Mount Nixon, Mont Tremblant National Park

If winding your way through a calming forest of maple trees, yellow birches, conifers and hardwoods is your type of hike, Quebec’s Mont Tremblant National Park delivers this in spades. Plus, it’s located just 90 minutes north of Montreal, making it an easy day trip from the city. On a hike up Mount Nixon, you’ll catch views of some of the park’s 400-plus lakes and streams as you traverse this challenging route. 

The eight-kilometre trail starts at Lac Superieur and Lac aux Ours, continuing along some rocky terrain with a total of 450 metres of elevation gain. The Mount Nixon trail features several stunning viewpoints, with some at the edges of steep cliffs, but it’s the views over the park’s tree-topped rolling hills that makes this test of your fear of heights worthwhile.

Ontario: Bruce Trail 

As the longest continuous-marked hiking trail in Canada, the Bruce Trail isn’t meant to be done in one day, or even one trip. The 890-kilometre path, which runs through southern Ontario, must be tackled in pieces. The route follows the Niagara Escarpment from a small town near Niagara Falls up north to Tobermory, passing through several parks and conservation areas along the way, like Dundas Valley and Mount Nemo. 

Regardless of what section of the trail you choose to traverse, you’re likely to pass by limestone crevice caves, steep cliffs and perhaps a waterfall or two. Thanks to the Niagara Escarpment’s geology – an escarpment is a rocky cliff – you can expect great views over forests, farmland, and even distant glimpses of the Toronto skyline from some segments along the journey.

Alberta: Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, Banff National Park

If your vision of Canada looks like evergreen trees, snow-capped mountain peaks and crystal-clear lakes, you’ll find that vision come to life in Banff National Park . It’s Canada’s first national park, established in 1885, and also the country’s most visited. The popular hike here is the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, an out-and-back with a historic tea house (which is still open for business in the summer) at the trail’s turnaround point. 

You’ll start at the iconic Lake Louise, another must-visit in Banff, and climb 400 metres of elevation, passing large spruce and fir trees, Mirror Lake and a small waterfall before reaching your destination: Lake Agnes, and the tea house along its shores. The journey covers 3.5 kilometres and takes about two hours, one-way. Fun fact: since this trail is the only way to get to the tea house, its staff must do the hike to get to work. 

Vancouver: Grouse Grind 

Lovingly referred to as “nature’s StairMaster”, the Grouse Grind , a 2.5-kilometre trail up Grouse Mountain, feels like climbing up a never-ending staircase (with 2,830 steps, to be exact). Tackling the Grouse Grind is a serious workout, with a heart-pumping elevation gain of 800 metres at an average grade of 30 degrees, so hikers should be in decent shape with regular cardio training before attempting this ascent. 

Most visitors take about two hours to reach the summit (beating the time of your previous attempt is a common goal for repeat hikers). An important note: the Grouse Grind is a one-way ascending route, due to higher foot traffic and narrow paths. So, to descend, take the nearby British Colombia Mountaineering Club (MCBC) Trail back down the mountain. If you’re truly wiped, or fancy a more scenic route, opt for a Skyride gondola journey to bring you back to the start.