#CanadaGem: The best — and totally breathtaking — hiking trails in Canada
Grab your gear and go!
This article was originally published June 20, 2017. It was edited and updated June 29, 2018.
We here at CBC Life are just as excited as you about Canada's 150th birthday. So in the month leading up to July 1, we're showcasing some of our country's amazing hidden gems from coast to coast: totally Instagram-worthy food, tiles too pretty to *not* shoot, crazy views and more. #CanadaGem #CBClife
Luckily for Canadians, our country is packed with tons of different trails and climbs fit for every type of hiker, from beginners to seasoned experts! And aside from being an ideal way to sweat it out and work those leg muscles that doesn't involve running on the spot in a crowded gym, hiking provides a unique opportunity to discover pockets of nature and explore the world around us.
With many trails stretching across our national parks, breezing past historic landmarks or winding along the coast to reveal awe-inspiring views of the ocean, hiking in Canada let's us play tourist in our own country, while admiring its raw beauty, too.
From the coast of B.C. to the shores of Newfoundland, here are some of the best (and most scenic!) hiking trails to try out across Canada. Now grab your gear and go!
Skerwink Trail, Port Rexton, N.L.
Distance: 4.8 km
Johnston Canyon Trail to Ink Pots, Banff National Park, Banff, Alta.
Distance: 5.8 km
Stawamus Chief Trail, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, Squamish, B.C.
Distance: 11 km
70 Mile Butte Trail, Grasslands National Park, Val Marie, Sask.
Distance: 5 km
Dickson Falls Trail, Fundy National Park, Alma, N.B.
Distance: 1.5 km
Bruce Trail, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Tobermory, Ont.
Distance: 890 km (main trail)
Wolf Trail, Gatineau Park, Gatineau, Que.
Distance: 8 km
Gros Morne Mountain Trail, Gros Morne National Park, N.L.
Distance: 15.6 km
Hunt Lake Hiking Trail, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Whiteshell, Man.
Distance: 14 km
Chilkoot Trail, White Pass, Y.T.
Distance: 53 km
Polly's Cove Trail, Halifax, N.S.
Distance: 3 km
Geraldine Lakes Trail, Jasper National Park, Jasper, Alta.
Distance: 11 km
Glacier Crest Trail, Glacier National Park, near Golden, B.C.
Distance: 5.5 km
Meewasin Trail, Saskatoon, Sask.
Distance: 26 km
Confederation Trail, P.E.I.
Distance: 435 km (across the entire island)
Les Graves Trail, Forillon National Park, Gaspé, Que.
Distance: 15.2 km
Bluff Trail, Awenda Provincial Park, Tiny, Ont.
Distance: 13 km
The Fairy Meadows, Nahanni National Park Reserve, N.W.T.
Mount Carleton Trail, Mount Carleton Provincial Park, Saint-Quentin, N.B.
Distance: 9.2 km
Spirit Sands and Devil's Punch Bowl Trails, Spruce Woods Provincial Park, Cypress River, Man.
Distance: 13.2 km
The Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, Lake Louise, Alta.
Distance: 13.5 km
West Coast Trail, Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Distance: 75 km
Cape Split Trail, Scott's Bay, King's, N.S.
Distance: 13.2 km
Mount Thor, Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island, Nun.
Distance: 1.6 km
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