Canada boasts stunning mountains, endless coastlines and a variety of incredible landscapes across its vast expanse. And while there’s plenty to explore in the world’s second-largest country, how to get around is the biggest logistical challenge you’ll face on your trip to Canada.

If you’re aiming to explore the country coast-to-coast, access to a private car is the best way to go. With Greyhound Canada no longer offering coast-to-coast routes and skipping most of the country, bus travel is best for shorter, regional trips.

Due to its vast size and varied regions, different parts of Canada rely on different modes of transportation: trains run in the more densely populated centers like the Toronto – Montréal corridor, while public ferries operate extensively in British Columbia, Québec and the Maritime provinces. If you want to cover large distances in a shorter period of time, regional and national carriers crisscross the country, taking days off travel time and reaching northern towns inaccessible by road.

So how do you get around in Canada? Here’s our handy guide to everything you need to know.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there may be additional travel restrictions. Check the latest guidance in Canada before planning a trip, and always follow local government health advice.

Car

If you’re planning to go coast-to-coast, a car is your best bet. In most provinces, visitors can legally drive for up to three months with their home driver's license. In some, such as British Columbia, this is extended to six months. If you're spending considerable time in Canada, think about getting an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is valid for one year. Your automobile association at home can issue one for a small fee. Always carry your home license together with the IDP.

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To rent a car in Canada you generally need to: be at least 25 years old (some companies will rent to drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 for an additional charge); hold a valid driver's license (an international one may be required if you're not from an English- or French-speaking country); and have a major credit card. Major international car-rental companies usually have branches at airports, train stations and in city centers. In Canada, on-the-spot rentals often are more expensive than pre-booked packages (ie cars booked with a flight or in advance).

Decided you're ready for a cross-country road trip? Here's our guide to road-tripping across Canada.

Train

VIA Rail operates most of Canada's intercity and transcontinental passenger trains, chugging over 14,000km of track. In some remote parts of the country, such as Churchill, Manitoba, trains provide the only overland access.

Rail service is most efficient in the corridor between Québec City and Windsor, Ontario – particularly between Montréal and Toronto, the two major hubs. The rail network does not extend to Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island or the Northwest Territories.

Taking the train is more expensive than the bus and often comparable to flying, but most people find it a fun, comfortable way to travel. June to mid-October is peak season, when prices are about 40% higher. Buying tickets in advance (even just five days before) can yield significant savings.

If you want to take a train ride that doubles as a sight-seeing tour, VIA Rail has several classic trains: Canadian (Toronto to Vancouver); Hudson Bay (Winnipeg to the polar-bear hangout Churchill); Ocean (Montréal to Halifax): and Jasper to Prince Rupert. There are also privately run regional train companies offering additional rail-touring opportunities, like the famed Rocky Mountaineer.

Bus

Greyhound Canada has cut service dramatically, offering only a handful of connections, primarily in the east and to Vancouver. Regional carriers pick up the slack.

Buses are generally clean, comfortable and reliable. Amenities may include onboard toilets, air-conditioning (bring a sweater), reclining seats, free wi-fi and onboard movies. Smoking is not permitted. On long journeys, buses make meal stops every few hours, usually at highway service stations.

Bus travel is cheaper than other means of transport. The earlier you buy a ticket online, the cheaper your fare.

Plane

As well as Air Canada, the Canadian aviation arena includes many independent regional and local airlines, which tend to focus on small, remote regions, mostly in the North. Depending on the destination, fares in such noncompetitive markets can be high. If you want to explore multiple regions in a short amount of time, flying between larger city hubs is the best use of time.

Star Alliance members can use their 'Round the World' trip planner to make up to 16 different flights at a discounted fare. Air North has an Arctic Circle Air Pass for those traveling around the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Bicycle

Much of Canada is great for cycling. Long-distance trips can be done entirely on quiet back roads, and many cities (including Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Victoria) have designated bike routes.

Buying a bike is easy, as is reselling it before you leave. Specialist bike shops have the best selection and advice, but general sporting-goods stores may have lower prices. Some bicycle stores and rental outfitters also sell used bicycles. To sniff out the best bargains, scour flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops, or check the noticeboards in hostels and universities. These are also the best places to sell your bike.

Boat

Ferry services are extensive, especially throughout the Atlantic provinces and in British Columbia. Walk-ons and cyclists should be able to get aboard at any time, but call ahead for vehicle reservations or if you require a cabin berth. This is especially important during summer peak season and holidays.

Accessible travel in Canada

Canada is making progress when it comes to easing the everyday challenges facing people with disabilities, especially the mobility-impaired. Many public buildings, including museums, tourist offices, train stations, shopping malls and cinemas, have access ramps and/or lifts. Most public restrooms feature extra-wide stalls equipped with hand rails. Many pedestrian crossings have sloping curbs.

Newer and recently remodeled hotels, especially chain hotels, have rooms with extra-wide doors and spacious bathrooms. Interpretive centers at national and provincial parks are usually accessible, and many parks have trails that can be navigated in wheelchairs.

Car rental agencies offer hand-controlled vehicles and vans with wheelchair lifts at no additional charge, but you must reserve them well in advance.

For accessible air, bus, rail and ferry transportation, check the federal government's website. In general, most transportation agencies can accommodate people with disabilities if you make your needs known when booking. Or download Lonely Planet's free Accessible Travel guides here.

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How to get around in Canada 

A new skybridge due to open in Canada in May will offer expansive mountain views from the top of the highest suspension bridges in the country.

Located in the mountain town of Golden, the Golden Skybridge will connect forested trails in British Columbia's Columbia and Rocky mountain ranges. The newly-constructed bridges sit at 130- and 80-meters high, respectively, and will offer up dramatic 360-degree views of expansive alpine vistas. They will also showcase a 61-meter waterfall and the serene mountain river in the deep canyon below.

The two bridges will be connected via a woodland footpath totalling three kilometers in length, and viewing platforms will provide further opportunities to take in the picturesque landscapes. There will be an outdoor courtyard and café at the experience base, and for more adventurous explorers, the Golden Skybridge will also feature a tandem bungee swing and 1,200 metre zipline spanning the canyon, opening later this summer. There is plenty to explore locally as Golden is surrounded by six Canadian national mountain parks.

“The Columbia Valley is one of those remarkable places that is uniquely positioned to provide a stunning, yet accessible mountain experience," says David Barry, president of Pursuit, who will operate the Golden Skybridge in partnership with a group of local developers. "Whether you’re staying in Golden or making it a stop along your journey between Alberta and British Columbia, the Golden Skybridge will soon become an iconic experience for Canadian and international visitors alike.” There are also future plans for a canyon swing, ziplines, axe throwing and dining in the works. For more information on the Golden Skybridge, please see the website here.

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In Canada, a visit to the beach doesn’t just mean ice cream, chilling out in the sun, and a bracing dip in the ocean. If you’re lucky, it might also include a bear encounter, a windswept walk amid driftwood, and a chance to lob a snowball rather than a pebble into the surf.

Depending on where you are, the incoming tide won’t necessarily destroy your sandcastles. With only six of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories enjoying ice-free access to open ocean, many of the nation’s sandiest beaches abut large freshwater lakes.

Editor's note: During COVID-19, please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government health advice. Events may be subject to change.

San Josef Bay, British Columbia

Best wilderness beach

With a reputation for tempestuous weather and tricky access, northern Vancouver Island excels in wild lonesome beaches. The 1.6-mile (2.5km) trail to San Josef Bay starts at the end of a 43-mile (70km) unpaved logging road from Port Hardy.

When the forest finally parts, you’ll be delivered onto a windswept expanse of crashing surf and forested sea stacks where bushes and trees have been contorted by fierce Pacific storms. Bring a tent and binoculars. You can camp right on the smooth sandy beach and the "bins" will enhance your appreciation of the resident wildlife including eagles and ospreys.

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Stanhope Beach, Prince Edward Island

Best beach for avoiding the crowds

The huge, dune-rimmed beach at Stanhope on the north shore of Prince Edward Island sees far fewer tourists than its immediate neighbors. For a quiet ramble, free of bustle and bounding dogs, head to the boardwalk that traverses the park's marram-grass dunes, an important nesting site for the piping plover.

Continue west and you’ll encounter the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse, a white clapboard structure that exudes a diminutive PEI charm. Track east, and you’ll end up at Dalvay by The Sea, a handsome Queen Anne revival style hotel built in 1895.

Wasaga Beach, Ontario

Best beach for swimming

Canada might not plug its beaches like its national parks or cosmopolitan cities, but it can legitimately claim to possess the longest freshwater beach in the world. Wasaga Beach, in the Ontario town of the same name, is a 8.7-mile-long (14km) expanse of soft sand that kisses the shores of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron. This is the closest full-fledged beach resort to Toronto and thousands of visitors pile in every summer when the elongated strip can get rowdy.

Notwithstanding, the beach is part of a provincial park meaning it’s equipped with trails, park naturalists and opportunities to spot owls and woodpeckers. The well-used sand is split into six zones. Areas one and two are the most heavily trafficked, five is best for families, six suits social distancers. All have warm, shallow water that’s safe for swimming.

Chesterman Beach, British Columbia

Best beach for surfing

Choosing your favorite beach in Canada’s surfing capital, Tofino, is like choosing your favorite deluxe sports car. They’re all ridiculously good. Most surveys list Long Beach at No. 1 because it’s, well, long; but many Tofitians (locals) rank the surfer’s hub of Chesterman as the most complete scimitar of sand.

Unlike Long Beach, Chesterman is close enough to town to reach by bike (with your surfboard clipped to a special bike-rack) and firm enough to cycle on if you need some leg exercise before cresting the Pacific waves. Ringed by rock-pools, islets and a narrow sand spit, it’s beautiful in both early morning mist and fiery orange-ripple sunset. The surfing, of course, is sublime.

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Parlee Beach, New Brunswick

Best beach for families

With the warmest sea water in Canada and International Blue Flag certification proclaiming its safety, accessibility, and environmental credentials, Parlee is far and away New Brunswick’s finest ribbon of sand. The beach is soft and golden and the water shallow and positively balmy. In high summer, lifeguards patrol at all hours making it a favorite among families.

Commercialization is kept to a minimum with grassy dunes buffering a manicured strip of showers, change rooms, and poutine-plying eating joints. Locals in the know, save their appetites for the nearby lobster capital of Shediac. The Beach Boys once played a concert at Parlee adding to the beach’s carefree rock n roll spirit.

Kitsilano, British Columbia

Best urban beach

Kitsilano is arguably Vancouver’s (and Canada’s) best urban beach, a freewheeling nugget of Southern California chopped off and transported one thousand miles north. Backed by cool cafes and an attractive park, Kits exudes a sporty, laid-back vibe, especially in summer.

Beach volleyball is the game of choice although there are also enough grassy expanses to spread out and toss a frisbee or football. The yellow arc of sand is sugary and clean with views across the water toward Vancouver ’s glass skyscrapers and the North Shore mountains opposite. If swimming in boat-filled English Bay doesn’t entice you, Kits also has an enormous nearly 450ft-long (137m) saltwater pool, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Shallow Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador

Best beach for kayaking

The bay is shallow, the beach is long, and the sunsets are spectacular. This gentle swathe of sand protected within the boundary of Gros Morne National Park on Newfoundland has a mellow Caribbean feel, until you dip your toes in the 59ºF (15ºC) waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence.

Kayaking is a popular activity here. You can cast off from the beach and navigate the sheltered waters of Belldowns Island where arctic terns nest before undertaking their marathon migration south. Whales can sometimes be spotted out at sea and, when the weather turns chilly, beachside paths turn into cross-country skiing trails.

Annette Lake, Alberta

Best beach for wildlife

Landlocked Alberta relies on its lakes to entertain summer beach seekers. While the province has plenty of watery escapes to lure the sand-starved, few are as perfect as tiny Annette Lake in Jasper National Park with its forested shoreline, gothic mountain backdrop and invigoratingly cold glacial waters.

Short and narrow, Annette’s nodule of sand is barely the length of a frisbee throw, but herein lie other quirks. This is one of those rare beaches where you might want to pack some bear spray alongside your blow-up raft: grizzlies are sometimes spotted in the area. Elk and mule deer provide more innocuous company.

Plage de la Grande Échouerie, Québec

Best beach for kitesurfing

Administratively, the Îles de la Madeleine archipelago is in Québec; geographically it’s way closer to the Maritimes. Possessing an astounding 217 miles (350km) of beaches juxtaposed with iron-rich red cliffs, its pièce de la résistance is this 6-mile (10km) sweep of pale sand on the Anglophone island of Grosse Île.

Extending northeast from Pointe Old Harry into the wetlands of the 1690-acre (684 hectares) East Point National Wildlife Reserve, Grande Échouerie invites hours of uninterrupted meditation amid tufted dunes frequented by horned grebe and piping plover. The archipelago’s stiff winds make it one of the best places in Canada for kitesurfing or, for the less athletically inclined, kite-flying.

Dunes Beach, Ontario

Best beach for sand dunes

The aptly named Sandbanks Provincial Park, 2.5 hours drive east of Toronto, juts into eastern Lake Ontario forming the world’s largest bay-mouth barrier dune formation. There are three fabulous beaches here and, boy, do they need them.

The two most popular, Outlet and Lakeshore, face west onto the main body of Lake Ontario. A little quieter and a lot more interesting is Dunes Beach that abuts the cleaner, calmer waters of sheltered West Lake. Here, giant dunes dotted with trees and bushes rise steeply out of the lake. While most beaches invite sloth, Dunes tempts you to indulge in short sharp hill climbs before tumbling full pelt back down into the lake.

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Top 10 beaches in Canada

In the battle to safeguard the planet’s endangered ecosystems, Canada is a global leader. Some of the world’s oldest, best managed, and biodiverse national parks reside north of the 49th parallel collected under the umbrella of Parks Canada, a growing network of nearly 50 parks inaugurated in 1911.

The interconnecting Rocky Mountain parks with their big fauna and brawny mountains are emblematic of the nation and recognized by Unesco. Other enclaves have strong cultural affiliations or focus on protecting specific birds and animals. Several parks in the territories are so vast and remote that they only receive a handful of annual visitors. Whatever your preference, you haven’t really understood Canada until you’ve visited at least one of them.

Banff, Alberta

Best mountain park

The world’s third oldest national park is an integral piece of Canadian history and an essential introduction to the glories of the Rocky Mountains. Banff is where tourism in Canada first took root in the 1880s inspired by the exploitation of a natural hot springs and the construction of the cross-continental railway. The springs still do brisk business but have since been joined by a litany of other attractions, from a mountainside gondola to a chateau-esque hotel overlooking the robin-egg blue waters of Lake Louise.

Due to its early foundation, Banff is more heavily developed than newer Canadian parks and remains the country’s most-visited protected area. There’s a townsite, three ski areas and an abundance of hotels and restaurants. However, its perceived "commercialization" is partly illusionary. One of Banff’s best assets is the thin line it draws between the civilized and the wild. One minute you could be enjoying afternoon tea in the grandiose Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, the next you might be sharing a mountain trail with bears and wondering where you fit into the food chain.

Bruce Peninsula, Ontario

Best park for water activities

Almost 300 miles northwest of Toronto, the Bruce peninsula consists of a limestone outcrop at the northern end of the Niagara Escarpment that juts out into the Great Lakes separating the cooler waters of Georgian Bay from warmer Lake Huron. The finger-like peninsula’s craggy shorelines and green woodlands shelter ancient cedars and rare orchids and are intersected by a short shore-hugging section of the 497-mile (800km) Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest-marked hiking route.

While the national park itself is not large, it squeezes in a lot of attractions into its 59 sq miles (154 sq km). Many are water-based. There’s an ethereal "grotto" (water-filled cave) to explore, plentiful kayaking opportunities and ample chances to swim in either warm Lake Huron, or cold but clear Georgian Bay. The quaint town of Tobermory at the peninsula’s tip is ground zero for freshwater scuba diving in the adjacent Fathom Five National Marine Park, a treasure trove of shipwrecks.

Gros Morne, Newfoundland

Best park for geological exploration

Newfoundland’s finest park is as exciting to geologists as it is to tourists. Students of plate tectonics and continental drift can augment their knowledge uncovering the topography of the barren "Tablelands," an eerie flattop massif that features exposed rock from deep within the earth’s mantle. It’s like looking at Planet Earth without its clothes on.

A PHD in geology is not required to absorb the majesty of Gros Morne’s deep-cut fjords, lonely headlands, sheer cliffs, and 2000ft-drop (610m) waterfalls. Whales breach in the surrounding seas and shipwrecks and beaches dot the coast. If you’re searching for a one-off, all-encompassing park experience, it’s a toss up between hiking the harsh 10-mile (16km) Gros Morne Mountain Trail or taking a bracing boat tour of Western Brook Pond, a land-locked fjord with billion-year-old cliffs.

Fundy, New Brunswick

Best park for beachcombing

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to walk across an ocean floor littered with marine life and debris, Fundy will answer most of your questions. New Brunswick’s oldest national park, established in 1948, is famous for the world’s highest tides. When the sea water recedes, the broad beaches reveal mudflats, rock pools, colonies of crustaceans, and other little-seen ocean secrets. Stick around for a few hours to witness the tide turn and the water begin its rapid rise.

Beyond a shoreline backed by irregularly eroded sandstone cliffs, the heavily-wooded park is dotted with pretty waterfalls and braided with trails suited to hiking and biking. Small pockets of civilization provide temporary comfort among the roughshod natural exhibits. You can swing a nine-iron on a golf course, stay at a retro 1950s motel, and swim in a heated outdoor saltwater pool that provides a milder alternative to the chilly ocean.

Jasper, Alberta

Best park for wildlife-viewing

Banff’s non-identical twin shares many similarities with its southern neighbor. It has a small townsite, a gondola to the top of a nearby mountain (The Whistlers) and a spirit-reviving hot springs. But Jasper is larger, less-visited and wilder than more developed Banff. Seeing big fauna here is more a guarantee than a possibility. Elks graze on railway tracks, bears poke their noses around alpine meadows, and wolves and cougar occasionally frequent the park’s central valleys in the winter.

Lured by the wilderness, Jasper attracts legions of DIY travelers to its rustic hostels and hike- or ski-in backcountry lodges. In the last decade, the park has added another string to its bow, establishing itself as the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve with an unusual array of star-gazing and astronomical activities.

Pacific Rim, British Columbia

Best park for surfing

British Columbia has seven national parks, more than any other province, but its most symbolic and unique protected space is, arguably, Pacific Rim.

A narrow but dramatic strip of wave-whipped beaches, brooding forests, and weather-beaten sea-stacks on the west coast of Vancouver Island, the park is split into three units which are usually visited separately. The Broken Group Islands Unit in Barkley Sound is a wilderness archipelago accessible on multi-day kayaking excursions or shorter boat trips. The largely road-less West Coast Trail Unit to the south is crisscrossed by one of the most famous long-distance trails in Canada. More accessible and attracting 95% of the visitors is the northern Long Beach Unit, bookended between the two mellow tourist towns of Tofino and Ucluelet and revered for its surf beaches and burnt orange Pacific sunsets.

Grasslands, Saskatchewan

Best Prairie park

The newer of Saskatchewan’s two national parks, Grasslands is a wild and lonely sea of grass and prairie where treeless hills meet big skies. Anchored by an informative visitor center located in the tiny settlement of Val Marie, the park’s harsh, semi-arid landscapes are the habitat for two important animal species: black-tailed prairie dogs and plains bison. The latter were successfully reintroduced into the park in 2005.

The easiest way to see both critters is on the self-guided Grassland Ecotur Scenic Drive which incorporates seven points of interests along its 50-mile (80km) course including old homesteader cabins, flat-topped buttes and a couple of short interpretive walks.

Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia

Best park for a scenic drive

Road-tripping is how most people absorb the primordial land-meets-ocean scenery of Cape Breton courtesy of the Cabot Trail Scenic Travelway, a 185-mile-long (298km) "ring road" that circumnavigates the island’s northern reaches dipping into tiny Acadian fishing villages en route. One third of the road passes along the edge of this national park, inaugurated in 1936 as the first park in Atlantic Canada.

Guarding dramatic highland scenery, steep cliffs and a tundra-esque plateau, Cape Breton is a superb place for hiking; the park's most famous route is the 5-mile (8.2km) round-trip Skyline Trail from where you can look down on sea, headlands and the distant Cabot Trail with its cars reduced to tiny toys. The park also supports a healthy moose population, logging an estimated 3000 of these solitude-seeking ungulates.

Forillon, Québec

Best park for coastal hikes

Sticking out into the Gulf of St Lawrence on the eastern extremity of Québec province, Forillon covers the crumpled crests of the Gaspé Peninsula. Here, mountains plunge directly into the choppy ocean and rugged sea cliffs stand sentinel over spouting whales. There’s an elemental, end-of-the-continent feel on the precipitous north coast where cliff-top trails are well ventilated by blustery winds. The south coast is more sheltered and secluded harboring beaches and salt marshes where rare ringlet butterflies thrive. While birds and sea mammals dominate the coastal wildlife, porcupine, deer, moose, foxes, and bears inhabit the forested slopes of the park's interior.

Lending this wild domain a more human feel is a solar-powered lighthouse at the northeastern-most tip of the peninsula, and a WW2 military battery built to counter the German U-Boat threat in 1942.

Kluane, Yukon

Best wilderness park

Canada’s territories protect a baker’s dozen of vast, barely-touched national parks, but access is often difficult and expensive. If you’re keen on visiting one of them, fill up the four-wheeler with gas and drive to Kluane in the Yukon, an imposing empire of mountain and ice" that’s home to Canada’s highest peak, Mt Logan (19550ft/5959m), and sits flush up against humongous Wrangell-St Elias national park in Alaska to form one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the world.

You can explore the cusp of the park and glimpse a few of its supersized wonders from the Alaska and Haines Highways starting just north of the BC-Yukon border. Nearly two dozen hikes lead off a 109-mile (175km) stretch of the road. Some are one-hour rambles, others are highly-advanced multi-day adventures, none of them penetrate the true heart of the park, an extreme backcountry of giant icefields, remote unclimbed mountains, and majestic grizzly bears.

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Canada's wild expanse of breathtakingly beautiful landscapes stretching across vast distances make it perfect for a road trip. If you want to see soaring mountains, sparse tundra or tree-lined coasts, Canada offers it all. From short scenic drives to a multi-day action-packed road trip, this massive country has some of the best driving options in the world. Here's Canada’s best road trips across the country and in each region.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there may be additional travel restrictions. Check the latest guidance in Canada before planning a trip, and always follow local government health advice.

Best road trips in western Canada

Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia

Start – Vancouver; End – Whistler; Distance – 254 miles (409km)

Otherwise known as Highway 99, this unforgettably spectacular cliffside roadway links a string of communities between West Vancouver and Lillooet and is the main route to Squamish and Whistler from Metro Vancouver.

If you can take your eyes off the collage of mountains and sea, the winding road has several worthwhile stops, especially if you're in the market for hiking, climbing, mining history or – at the opposite end of the spectrum – drinking small-batch alcoholic beverages.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Start – Jasper; End – Lake Louise; Distance – 142 miles (230km)

There are amazing road trips, then there's the Icefields Parkway, a 142-mile-long ribbon of asphalt passing through some of Canada's most elemental and pristine landscapes en route. Giant mountains, mammoth moose, craning trees and gargantuan glaciers brood moodily from the sidelines.

You can also travel it with a challenging multi-day bike ride, giving you more time to contemplate stop offs at cerulean Peyto Lake, powerful Athabasca Falls and the hikeable Athabasca Glacier, a frozen tributary of the colossal Columbia Icefield.

Dinosaur Trail and Hoodoo Drive, Alberta

Start and end – Drumheller; Distance – 45 miles (73km)

The Dinosaur Trail is a 30-mile (48km) loop that runs northwest from the town and the stunning scenery is worth the drive – badlands and river views await at every turn. It takes you past Midland Provincial Park and the vast Horsethief Canyon and its picturesque views. Glide peacefully across the Red Deer River on the free, cable-operated Bleriot Ferry.

The 15-mile (25km) Hoodoo Drive starts about 11 miles (18km) southeast of Drumheller on Highway 10; it's usually done as an out-and-back, with Wayne as the turnaround point. Between Rosedale and Lehigh you'll find the best examples of hoodoos – weird, eroded, mushroom-like columns of sandstone rock – there's also an interpretive trail.

Grasslands Ecotour Scenic Drive, Southern Saskatchewan

Start and end – Grasslands National Park; Distance – 12 miles (20km), or 50 miles (80km) round-trip from Val-Marie

This drive follows a well-signposted course through the West Block, starting nine miles (15km) east of Val Marie. Pick up a map and advice at the visitors center. There are seven points of interest and two short walks. Do the full 50-mile (80km) drive in a couple of hours or drive in to Frenchman Valley campground and back (21 miles/34km).

A highlight is Top Dogtown where prairie dogs line the side of the gravel road. This is the only place in Canada where colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs still exist in their native habitat. There is also the possibility to spot bison, with the herd in the park now numbering over 400 – Plains Bison were re-introduced in 2005 after a 120-year absence.

Best road trips in eastern Canada

Thousand Island Parkway, Ontario

Start – Kingston; End – Brockville; Distance – 52 miles (85km)

Stretching from Kingston to Brockville, the Thousand Island Parkway is Canada's equivalent to Italy's Lake Como – think opulent summer mansions, picture-perfect vineyards, and discrete restaurants serving locally-produced beer and out-of-this-world food. All you are really missing is George Clooney (though many a hockey player and even some prime ministers are rumoured to own property in the area).

The parkway is comprised of over 1800 islands on the St Lawrence River and the itinerary takes you from Kingston to Ottawa, along the whole of the parkway and up to Morrisburg before heading north to the nation's capital.

It's a stunning drive and while it can easily be completed in a few days, you'll want to take longer to thoroughly soak up the atmosphere of lake life.

Lake Superior Coastline, Ontario

Start – Sudbury; End – Kenora; Distance – 913 miles (1470km)

Overlooked and under-explored by many travelers, Northwestern Ontario is the epitome of "getting away from it all". This is quintessential Canada, and after your road trip you'll wonder why so few people have taken this route before you. You'll find the expected expanse of forest and some wildlife along the way, but you'll also be surprised by the great food, the amazing hospitality, and the variety of activities available at stops en route.

There will be times on this route when you won't see another car for hours. And that's part of the appeal – enjoy the solitude while cruising alongside Lake Superior, keeping an eye out for moose.

The Laurentians, Québec

Start and end – Montreal; Distance – 84 miles (139km)

The Laurentians (Les Laurentides in French) are Montréal’s playground. With gentle rolling mountains, crystal-blue lakes and meandering rivers bordered by towns and villages too cute for words, they're an irresistible draw.

This straightforward road trip will take you through more than a half-dozen delightful towns and villages, from St-Jérôme, and busy St-Sauveur-des-Monts to Val-David (perhaps the best place to rest and chow down along the way), and Ville de Mont-Tremblant, the crème of your Laurentians gâteau. It will also introduce you to Québec province's oldest national park, Parc National du Mont-Tremblant, before returning to the city.

Gaspé Peninsula, Québec

Start and End – Sainte-Flavie; Distance – 560 miles (900 km)

Hiking maritime mountains, exploring offshore islands and devouring fresh-caught seafood are all on the itinerary as you circle La Gaspésie, the seaside peninsula on Québec’s eastern shores, on Rte 132.

Cue up the Québécois sea shanties and hit the road in this Francophone region, where each waterfront village is cuter than the next, and the landscape along the Gulf of St Lawrence varies from forested peaks to sea as far as you can see. Québec’s first national park, plus several provincially-protected beauties, offer excellent hiking. You can spot wildlife, too, from seabirds to whales (and lobster – on your plate).

You can do this loop trip in either direction, but if you travel counter-clockwise around the peninsula, as we’ve suggested here, you’ll always have the water on your right – where it’s easier to pull over for photos or gawk at the views.

Best road trips in Atlantic Canada

Cabot Trail, Cape Breton

Start and end – Sydney; Distance – 261 miles (420km)

This is the big one: the looping, diving, dipping roller-coaster of a road that snakes its way around the northern tip of Cape Breton, with epic views of rolling seas, mountain passes, thick forests and – if you're lucky – the chance to spot a moose, eagle or even a whale en route. Take your time: this is a maritime classic to relish.

Completed in 1932 to link Cape Breton's isolated coastal communities, people have been looping the loop for the last nine decades, and the trail remains as popular as ever. Traversing the edge of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, it's home to some of the province's grandest scenery, richest wildlife and best hiking trails.

Viking Trail, Newfoundland

Start – Deer Lake; End – L’Anse aux Meadows; Distance – 326 miles (526km)

This epic highway, named for the first Europeans to touch shore here, links Newfoundland's west coast to Southern Labrador, with Unesco World Heritage sites at Gros Morne National Park and L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site.

Along the way you'll pass fog-clad coves, snow-capped mountains, stormy fjords and a windblown coast that is ruggedly dramatic even by Newfoundland standards.

Central Coastal Drive, Prince Edward Island

Start and end – Charlottetown; Distance – 157 miles (253km)

Prince Edward Island may be small, but it packs in a real diversity of scenery: pan-flat fields, grass-backed dunes, lonely lighthouses and sienna-colored cliffs, not to mention a wealth of white beaches and some of the warmest waters in the Gulf of St Lawrence.

This coastal route will take you to see the greatest hits of this beautiful island, including Prince Edward Island National Park and Green Gables Heritage Place, where you can learn about Anne Shirley, LM Montgomery’s red-headed star of the Anne of Green Gables series. PEI is as pretty as it’s portrayed in the books. Red dirt and sands mimic Anne’s hair, while white-picket fences and fields of wildflowers paint the real-life backdrop.

If you want to explore further, there are actually three separate coastal routes: the Central Coastal Drivel; the North Cape Coastal Drive; and the Points East Coastal Drive.

Best road trips in northern Canada

Dempster Highway, Northwest Territories

Start – Dawson City; End – Inuvik; Distance – 457 miles (736km)

This classic trip takes you far beyond the Arctic Circle through some of northern Canada's most pristine scenery; a worthy contender for Canada's most scenic and challenging drive. It's a meditative experience; for most of the time you're alone with the road, entirely self-reliant and aware of your own smallness compared to the vastness of the landscape.

It passes through dense boreal forest and bare tundra, and rises gently between snow-tipped mountains. In darker months, your drive may be illuminated by the eerie ribbons of the northern lights dancing overhead, but road conditions are best between June and September. It's an unpaved, partially-potholed road with treacherous muddy sections up to Inuvik.

Klondike Highway, Yukon

Start – Skagway; End – Dawson City; Distance – 439 miles (708km)

Follow the same basic route as the gold-crazed prospectors of 1898 to Bonanza Creek near Dawson City, only they didn't have a nice sealed highway and a car to drive. Nearly the whole trip is wonderful wilderness.

These days it's an easy drive, but you'll still need to be prepared and to keep your eyes open and your wits about you – you never know what might pop out of the forest to cross the road.

Best road trip across Canada

The Trans-Canada Highway

Coast to coast; Distance – 4847 miles (7800km)

Buckle-up as you are in for an epic journey. Canada's main vein stretches 7800km from St John's, Newfoundland, to Victoria, BC, and takes in the country's greatest hits along the way. Gros Morne National Park, Cape Breton Island, Québec City, Banff National Park and Yoho National Park are part of the path, as are major cities including Montréal, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver. It takes most road-trippers a good month to drive coast to coast, so what are you waiting for? Fuel up, cue the tunes and put the pedal to the metal.

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This article was originally published on July 14, 2020 and updated on March 25, 2020.

The 14 best road trips in Canada 

Canada is primarily a summer destination: the country gets three times more foreign visitors in July than January. In a land of seriously frigid winter temperatures and – in the far north – little daylight, summer is a welcome respite when you can unlock the pleasures of 48 national parks, enjoy an abundance of festivals and dine alfresco in a host of cosmopolitan cities. There are even beaches to explore and a burgeoning wine culture to savor.

For those not averse to a little winter chill, the snow-accustomed Canadians offer an alternative winter culture. Whistler is North America’s largest ski resort, Ottawa ’s Rideau Canal hosts the world’s biggest skating rink, and Quebec City ’s February carnival is one of the planet’s most renowned winter festivals.

Here's our guide on when to visit Canada.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there are restrictions on travel and opening hours may vary. Check the latest guidance in Canada before planning a trip, and always follow local health advice.

High season: June to August

Best time to go for hiking in the mountains

In common with most northern hemisphere countries, June to August is Canada’s bonanza season, or to be more specific, Victoria Day (late May) to Labour Day (first weekend in September). Sunny weather, snow-free landscapes, and long hours of daylight (the sun barely sets in the far north) conspire to pull in foreign tourists and huge domestic crowds. Satisfying the demand, everything is open, from museums to hiking trails to wildlife excursions. Even winter ski resorts convert themselves into summer hiking and biking destinations. Summer caveats include higher prices (count on paying 30% more), busier facilities, and more limited availability. Book ahead and come armed with a variety of options.

Shoulder season: May, September and October

Best time to go for budget seekers and leaf peepers

Savvy travelers visit Canada in September. While prices and crowds fall after the Labour Day weekend, good weather usually holds until the end of the month meaning you can still hike at high altitudes, kayak in ice-free waters, and visit the beach. Early October remains snow-free in many regions and is the height of the surfing season on the Pacific coast. Fall foliage turns rust-red and sandy-brown towards the end of October and is particularly impressive in the eastern provinces: Ontario and Prince Edward Island are favorites. May is often relatively warm but snow can still linger at higher altitudes, especially in the Rocky Mountains. The Victoria Day weekend (Monday preceding May 25) usually marks the start of the summer season. From here on you can wave goodbye to any deals or discounts until September.

Low season: November to April

Best time to go for skiing and winter sports

Days are dark and temperatures are cold – really cold in the territories, the prairies and parts of Québec. However, there is a silver lining: skiing and other associated winter sports usually kick off in late November/early December and keep going until early April depending on the weather. While prices drop in most regions, ski resorts ramp up their costs for a mini-high season, especially in the peak months of January and February. Elsewhere, November and April are the best months for all-round bargains.

January

Frozen lakes and rivers provide skating opportunities; ski resorts get big dumps of snow – some offer floodlit skiing and cozy warming huts to light up dark evenings.
Key events: Ice wine festivals in Ontario and BC.

February

As the freeze prevails, the Canadians put on plenty of winter festivals to keep warm. The Family Day weekend (third weekend in February) can see a mass rush to the ski slopes.
Key events: Yukon Quest, Quebec City’s Winter Carnival, Winterlude in Ottawa.

March

The clocks spring forward in mid-March lengthening the evenings; Spring break (last two weeks of March) sees many Canadians flee abroad to warmer climes. In national parks and wilderness areas people start swapping their snowshoes for hiking boots.
Key events: Pacific Rim Whale Festival.

April

The ski season peters out as mountain resorts begin transitioning to the summer season in late April. Hikers and bikers hit lower altitude trails. In cities, bars and restaurants start to open their outdoor patios.
Key events: Stratford Festival, World Ski & Snowboard Festival.

May

Bears are awake, the snow is melting in the mountains, and rugged rivers experience choppier currents – a perfect time to go white-water rafting.
Key events: Canadian Tulip Festival, Manito Ahbee.

June

Canadian schools break up in late June heralding a full-on family exodus to the countryside. Hockey’s Stanley Cup Finals can have the whole country on tenterhooks. Trails are mostly snow-free but can still be wet and muddy.
Key events: Montreal Jazz Festival, Pride Toronto, Alianait Arts Festival.

July

The peak month for visitors with sunny weather, long days, an abundance of festivals and pretty much everything open for business. Spectacular wildflowers carpet alpine meadows in late July.
Key events: Canada Day, Calgary Stampede, Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Just for Laughs Festival.

August

A continuation of July with only a minor drop in visitor numbers. The last of the snow melts in the mountains as wildlife and mosquitos come out to play. Bring bear spray and insect repellent!
Key events: Edmonton Fringe Festival, Festival Acadien, Royal St John’s Regatta.

September

While temperatures cool slightly, the weather remains relatively reliable for most of September. Some outdoor facilities close after Labour Day, but many trails, lakes and campgrounds stay accessible until early October.
Key events: Toronto International Film Festival, PEI Fall Flavours.

October

Warmer weather can persist on the coast in early October, while the prairies and territories get an early dusting of snow. Good swells and tepid seas make this the best all-round surfing month in British Columbia.
Key events: Dark Sky Festival, Celtic Colours.

November

In the east, fall foliage can last well into November while, in the west, wet and windy weather has led to a growing interest in storm-watching, particularly on Vancouver Island.
Key events: Niagara Festival of Lights.

December

By early December, most ski resorts are firing on all cylinders. This is also peak season for migratory eagle spotting in British Columbia. Big cities host Christmas markets.
Key events: Vancouver Festival of Lights.

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When to visit Canada

Canada has put enhanced new testing and quarantine measures in place around travelers in relation to COVID-19 air travel. It is due to introduce testing on arrival and a mandatory three-night stay in a hotel to await test results.

In addition to the pre-departure testing requirements already in place, travelers entering Canada will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival and book into an approved hotel at their own expense. This is to help prevent air travel as a potential source of further introduction and spread of the virus and its new variants, but the date of implementation for the new procedures hasn't been confirmed. At present, those who receive a negative test result are authorized to enter the country, but must complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has listed the criteria for hotels seeking to participate in quarantining returning travelers returning from non-essential trips abroad. They must be privately owned and located near one of the four Canadian airports currently accepting international flights - Vancouver International Airport, Calgary International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montreal-Trudeau International Airport.

These hotels will be generally be for people who are asymptomatic, have provided a negative pre-departure test result, and are not close contacts of confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19. Travelers staying at these hotels may have symptoms of COVID-19 but have tested negative on their pre-departure test, or they may have symptoms that are not related to the virus. The hotels must meet operational guidelines and selection criteria for the purposes of accommodating these travelers while they await their test results.

The hotel's main responsibilities will be to provide safe transportation of travelers from the airport to the hotel, as well as lodging, contactless meals, telephone and free wi-fi in a safe and accessible environment. They must also set up a process for allowing guests to have brief outdoor breaks, and report daily check-in and checkout numbers, as well as non-compliant guests.

As the government is still searching for hotels that can meet these requirements, it is not certain when the new measures will take effect. Up-to-date information on regulations can be found on the website here.

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Canada is introducing a mandatory three-day hotel quarantine

The globe's second-biggest country has an endless variety of landscapes – a big draw for many of the people visit Canada every year.  Sky-high mountains, pristine lakes and spectral forests provide the backdrop for plenty of “ah”-inspiring moments, photo ops, and trails that really let you get away from it all. Here are 11 hiking trails that truly showcases Canada’s boundless natural beauty.

Editor's note: Monitor the latest travel restrictions by visiting the park's website before heading out and always adhere to government advice.

1. Lake Agnes & the Beehives

Two compelling attractions make this Lake Louise's most popular hike. First, the historic Lake Agnes Teahouse, where hikers have been refueling since 1901, makes a supremely atmospheric spot to break for tea, sandwiches and baked goods at the 3.4km mark. Second, the lake views from atop 2270m Big Beehive (the trail's ultimate destination) are phenomenal. Set off early to beat the crowds.

2. Cape Split

Located on the finger of land jutting into the Bay of Fundy, this 13km-return trail from Scots Bay, taking around five hours, is one of the most popular hikes in Nova Scotia, with little elevation change through a tunnel of forest. The hike ends in a dramatic, often windy clearing on cliffs high above the Bay of Fundy where seabirds nest.

Wander down to the rocky outcrop at the vertiginous end of the trail to see the tides creating waves called tidal rips that flow through a cluster of rock pinnacles. Take time before or after the hike to look for agates along the beach at Scots Bay.

3. Johnston Canyon & the Inkpots

Aside from the Lake Louise shoreline, no place in Banff sees as much foot traffic as the wide, paved Johnston Canyon Trail. The crowds make total sense once you enter the canyon, where dramatic cliff faces vie for your attention with two gorgeous waterfalls. More intrepid hikers can climb to the Inkpots, colorful natural pools in a high mountain valley.

4. Lower Little Harbour Trail

This 4.8km loop, rated moderate-difficult, takes in just about everything that makes Newfoundland special – big root cellars, a 9m natural sea arch, cliffs, coast, forests and the remains of a community, since resettled. The abandoned houses you'll wander by give parts of this trail the whole icy-fingers-on-the-neck vibe.

5. Wild Pacific Trail

Where the temperate rainforest comes down to kiss the ocean, the citizens of Ucluelet have built a magnificent 10km trail that can be equally spectacular in both the sun and (stormy) rain. It starts with a 2.6km loop that winds past a 1915 Amphitrite lighthouse and progresses northwest as far as the Ancient Cedars loop and the Rocky Bluffs beyond.

The trail is well signposted and fastidiously mapped. To complete the whole 10km you’ll need to take a couple of interconnecting paths along quiet roads calling in at several attractive beaches on the way. Various information boards provide background on the area’s history and nature, and the path is dotted with benches, lookouts and so-called “artist’s loops” equipped with viewing platforms. Pack your easel.

6. Mt Duval

Looming high above Pangnirtung in the Baffin Region, Mt Duval (850m) affords tremendous views of the fjord and the settlement from its summit. There's not much of a trail but no chance of getting lost; start at the reservoir and navigate your way up among the boulders. Allow four hours' round-trip.

7. Bruce Trail

For 900km, the Bruce Trail winds along the top of the Niagara Escarpment, from the Queenston Heights Park on the Niagara Peninsula to the Tobermory harbor on the Bruce Peninsula. This wide, well-maintained path is excellent for hiking during summer months, while those armed with cross-country skis take it through its winter paces. Day hikes along the trail are an appealing way to spend a sunny afternoon.

8. Cup & Saucer Trail

From its origin near the junction of Hwy 540 and Bidwell Rd (25km southwest of Little Current) this 9km trail on the Niagara Escarpment on Manitoulin Island, with its 2km of dramatic 70m cliffs, leads to the highest point on the island (351m) with breathtaking views of the crinkled shoreline along the North Channel. Take a shortcut back on the 500m Adventure Trail, which involves descending on rickety wood ladders and clambering up, over and down massive boulders.

9. Kinney Lake & Berg Lake Trails

The trailhead for this easy 2½-hour round-trip hike into gorgeous Kinney Lake (4.5km one-way) is 3km north of the Mt Robson Visitor Centre. A longer hike carries on from Kinney Lake to Berg Lake (23km each way), with seven camping areas along the way. All Berg Lake hikers must check into Mt Robson Visitor Centre before heading out.

10. Canol Heritage Trail

The wild, challenging Canol Heritage Trail leads 358km southwest to the Yukon border, traversing peaks, canyons and barrens. Wildlife is abundant and there are numerous deep river crossings. The only shelter is provided by old Quonset huts. Hiking the whole length takes three to four weeks and most people arrange food drops. Contact Northwest Territories Tourism for information before you head out.

The trail was built at enormous monetary and human cost during WWII to transport oil to Whitehorse; “Canol” is shorthand for “Canadian Oil”. The huge project was abandoned in 1945, with the war nearly over and cheaper oil sources found.

11. Parc d'Environnement Naturel

In summer, Sutton is prime hiking territory, especially in this conservation area, where 80km of trails have been carved through the thickly forested mountains. Backpackers can unfold their tents at three primitive campgrounds (the one at Lac Spruce is the nicest).

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Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

This article was originally published in August 2020 and updated in January 2021.

Canada's 11 best hiking trails 

Border restrictions between the US, Canada and Mexico are being further extended until February 21 to curb the spread of COVID-19, officials have announced.

Current restrictions on non-essential travel between the three countries was due to expire on January 21 but will now remain in place for another month. The US confirmed it had reached agreements with its neighbors this week. The Department of Homeland Security Acting said on social media: "we are working closely with Mexico and Canada to keep essential trade and travel open while also protecting our citizens from the virus."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced the closure on social media, adding, "We'll continue to do whatever is necessary to keep Canadians safe."

The three countries closed their land borders to non-essential travel in mid-March and restrictions have been extended every month since. The travel ban maintains the rules as previous extensions, with cross-border travel permitted for those working in essential services and trade, as well as returning citizens.

While the land borders are sealed, Mexico is still permitting US and Canadian tourists by air, with no quarantine rules in place. Canada has a stricter policy: only allowing in air passengers who meet certain criteria, and who undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arrival.

This story was first published on March 18 and updated on January 13, 2020.

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