Canada is constantly reaching the top of “best places to travel” lists and attracting more and more explorers and travellers each year, and with the amazing adventure opportunities available, it is easy to see why. Between the dense rainforest of BC’s West Coast, Alberta’s towering Rocky Mountains, the sprawling grasslands of Saskatchewan, Ontario’s iconic paddling routes in Algonquin Park and the sea side splendor of Cape Breton and the Maritimes, Canada is an adventurer's paradise.
With so many places and adventures to experience, it is no wonder that exploring Canada is on the top of many people’s bucket lists and that millions of outdoor enthusiasts travel to our northern country each year. Of course, those of us who live here are at an unprecedented advantage. Hardly anywhere else in the world do you have the opportunity to walk out your back door and be within an hours drive of such beautiful backcountry. Even in the densest of cities, like as Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver, you are only a hop, skip and a jump away from world-renowned adventure.
This year, celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday by admiring its phenomenal natural playground and adding some of these exhilarating experiences to your own Backcountry Bucket List!
Image: Whitehorse, Yukon - Instagram: @travellingmindfully
1. Sleep Under the Northern Lights
While you don’t necessarily have to go THAT far North to see the Northern Lights, you will certainly get the best view traveling up to the Yukon. Though it may take some time and patience for the perfect viewing opportunity, the breathtaking experience of seeing the Aurora Borealis flicker across the night sky will make you happy you made the trip. From fall to spring you have the best chance of catching some aurora activity, either on a guided tour or on a casual outing, so start planning your bucket list trip to see planet Earth’s greatest light show - Canada’s famous Northern Lights.
Image: Hot Springs Cove - www.blog.hellobc.com
2. Heat up in the Springs of Hot Springs Cove (Ramsay Hot Springs)
Only 37 km (22 mi) from the famous West Coast town of Tofino, a well-known pod of pools draws adventurers here from around the world. Hot Springs Cove, also known as Ramsay Hot Springs, is an incredible destination despite the slight challenge in getting there. To reach the pools on Southern Vancouver Island you will have to book a trip on a float plane, hop on a powerboat, or control a kayak — but every feat is worth the treat. The springs rest on the very edge of the Pacific Ocean, with their steaming water flowing in from a 3 metre (10 ft) waterfall. A trip to Hot Springs Cove is definitely one to remember!.
Image: Della Falls - Instagram: @galenhumber
3. Chase the Beauty of Backcountry Waterfalls
Among the adventure wonderland of Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island, Della Falls is a waterfall chaser’s dream catch. With a total vertical drop of 440 meters (1443 ft) many consider it to be the highest waterfall in Canada. It takes a bit of a hike and paddle, or helicopter ride, to get there, but the breathtaking views of the cascading waterfall are more than worth it. With many campsites available at the falls, you can rest up and get a second chance to enjoy the Della Falls the next day - one of Canada’s most amazing bucket list waterfalls.
Image: Golden Ears Park - Instagram: @tyrelljohnstone
4. Experience the Evergreens of Golden Ears Park
At 55,590 hectares (137,310 ac), Golden Ears Park sizes in as one of the largest parks in BC. Although most recreational usage of the park occurs around its southern portion near Alouette Lake, there are a number of trails that lead adventurers deeper into the park, including the popular Golden Ears Trail and the route to Hector Ferguson Lake. With multi-use and hiking-only trails available, anyone and everyone can dive into the deep evergreens and towering pines of Golden Ears. Whether you are looking for a thrilling overnight backpacking trek or a lazy weekend by the lake, put Golden Ears Park on your bucket list.
Image: Frisby Ridge - Instagram: @dnlknndy
5. Sled the Slopes of Revelstoke
Well-known as a winter wonderland for skiing and snowboarding, Revelstoke, BC has an even higher ranking as a sought-after place to snowmobile. With hundreds of kilometers of groomed trails, such as along Frisby Ridge and Sale Mountain, and opportunities for backcountry riding on Mount McCrae and Turtle Mountain, a cruise through the slopes of Revelstoke is sure to be the sledding trip of a lifetime and one of our top picks for snowmobiling in Canada!
Image: Berg Lake - Instagram: @lytlelady
6. Brave the Berg Lake Backpacking Trail
Resting on the Northern tip of the Thompson Okanagan, the Berg Lake Trail is 23 km (14.3 mi) of pure backcountry beauty. Following the Robson River, the trail will take you through meadows, along teeming river beds and past incredible waterfalls. The world renowned trail guides through three biogeoclimatic zones and there are a variety of backcountry campsites to choose from along the trail. Once you reach the icy turquoise-blue waters of Berg Lake, dotted with icebergs even in the middle of summer, you will see why the Berg Lake Backpacking Trail should be on your bucket list.
Image: Mount Assiniboine - Instagram: @celestineaerden
7. Climb the Mountains of the Canadian Rockies
Sprawling across the southern border of BC and Alberta, the Canadian Rocky Mountains attract millions of tourists and visitors every year. While some parks within the rockies can be reached by simply stopping along a major highway, others require challenging hikes, horseback rides or plane rides to access. However, dramatic views and unique adventures can be found anywhere in this world-famous mountain range. Whether you plan a lengthy trip and take on multiple parks or hone in and see the most intricate corners of one, you’ll want to reserve a few spots on your bucket list to see the best parts of the Canadian Rockies.
Image: Icefields Parkway - Instagram: @laurrhobbs
8. Imagine the Iconic Icefields Parkway
Looking for the road trip of a lifetime? The only answer is to take a cruise along the Icefields Parkway. Also known as Highway 93 North, the Icefields Parkway links the captivating views of Banff National Park along one single highway. The entire highway can be driven in three hours, but with the sights of the iconic Canadian Rocky glaciers, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife, you will want to spend more time than that and stop to enjoy the views along the way. The parkway is rated as one of the top destinations to experience while in Banff, and we rank it as one of the best road trips you will go on in your life!
Image: Waterton Lakes National Park - Instagram: @juanjoselagos_photography
9. See the Wonder of Waterton Lakes National Park
With over 190 km (120 mi) of multi-use trails, beautiful azure lakes for ample fishing opportunities and 3,250 meter (10,660 ft) high mountain peaks to climb, Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta is a haven for adventurists. Take your pick between the countless hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, golfing, rock climbing, scuba diving, swimming, wilderness camping, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing adventures available and experience the wondrous sights of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Image: Athabasca Sand Dunes - Instagram: @travelcanada_
10. Do the Athabasca Sand Dunes
Situated in the North West of Saskatchewan, the Athabasca Sand Dunes stretch over 100 km (62 mi) and are the largest active sand surface in all of Canada. The sandy oasis can only be accessed by float plane and there are no facilities available in order to preserve the fragile environment for years to come. Featuring rare plants and even more extraordinary adventures, a trip to the Athabasca Sand Dunes is a once in a lifetime experience that you will want to repeat again and again.
Image: Lake Diefenbaker - @geologistfrederick
11. Drop a Line in Lake Diefenbaker
For any new or seasoned angler, a good fishing trip can really be one of the best experiences of a lifetime. Saskatchewan has fishing opportunities of all kinds with its hundreds of lakes and river networks, but one world-class fishing destination is Lake Diefenbaker. Home to species such as walleye, rainbow trout, northern pike, lake trout, sauger, yellow perch, lake whitefish, burbot and goldeye, the variety is endless! For an even more fantastic fishing experience, Lake Diefenbaker even hosts three major fishing derbies each year! Whether you are heading out for a first time fish or attempting to get a prize catch, Lake Diefenbaker is an angler’s paradise!
12. Hunt for a Delicious Wild Fall Turkey
Though it may be easier to just head out to the local grocery store to purchase your Thanksgiving or Christmas Turkey, how exciting would it be to enjoy a turkey that you caught yourself? In Manitoba you will have your fair share of poultry pickin’ in the Southern part of the province as you try your hand at wild turkey hunting. While there are many different techniques and skills to catch the best bird, our Hunting Wild Turkey in Manitoba blog will teach you everything you need to know for the hunting experience of a lifetime.
Image: Wapusk National Park - Instagram: @canuk.images
13. Awe at the Amazing Polar Bears of Wapusk National Park
Deep within the tundra of Churchill, Manitoba you will find an adventure land filled with incredible wildlife, frozen foliage and unforgettable experiences. Though the soil of Wapusk National Park is permanently frozen and covered in blankets of snow, the northern park still makes for a bucket list vacation. Not only will you get the chance to see caribou, polar bears and arctic fox, but you can even hop on a guided tour to see wild polar bears up close and personal. Take your sightseeing to water as you canoe the chilling waterways or go on a guided hike to archeological sights and finish off with an aerial tour of the tundra. You’ll want to pack your parka for a cool bucket list adventure in Wapusk National park.
Image: Algonquin Park - www.algonquinbound.com
14. Camp Along the Canoe Routes of Algonquin Park
Where can you get a waterfront view for a very low price, combined with an amazing day-trip of adventure? Within Algonquin Park there are a number of paddle in campsites that offer all of that, and more! After a beautiful day of paddling Algonquin Parks Canisbay Lake, you can enjoy a room with a view as you set up your tent in one of the 16 maintained paddle in campsites. They offer all features of any regular backcountry campsite, but with the luxury of being situated right on the pristine shoreline of Canisbay Lake. Families, friends, couples or anyone looking for a weekend retreat will enjoy the experience of waking up to a view of Algonquin Parks paddle in sites and checking off another bucket list adventure.
Image: Georgian Bay Islands - Instagram: @sarah_macinnes
15. Kayak the Clear and Beautiful Georgian Bay
With crystal clear azure waters, unique vegetation and captivating rock and cave formations, the Georgian Bay is a kayakers paradise. The North Channel stretches 160 nautical miles down the coast of the Georgian Bay, and is the perfect place for a paddle of any kind. The gorgeous freshwater sailing combined with breathtaking 360 degree views, you can spend days exploring every inch of the Georgian Bay. The Georgian Bay consists of 59 of the world-famous Thousand Islands (world’s largest archipelago) and diverse terrain of the Canadian Shield. A kayak through the clear waters of the Georgian Bay will certainly be a bucket list adventure you never forget.
Image: Top of the Giant Trail - Instagram: @waqonthewildside
16. Find Incredible Fall Views on Top of the Giant
While Canada’s backcountry is full of beautiful places to catch some Fall Foliage Views, some of the best sightings are in Northwestern Ontario. For unobstructed views of trees bursting with bright orange, striking red and shining yellow leaves the Top of the Giant Trail in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is the place to go. After a 2.7 km (1.7 mi) climb, combined with numerous switchbacks, you’ll reach a vantage point featuring colourful fauna as far as the eye can see. You’ll feel like you’re on top of the world experiencing the bucket list adventure of Top of the Giant Trail this fall.
Image: Goutte d'o - Instagram: @lauraharris.nb
17. Sleep in a Goutte d’O
As if camping amidst Canada’s beautiful backcountry wasn’t special enough, Parks Canada implemented many new, and unique, creative camping alternatives. One of these special features, is the Goutte d’Os installed in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick. These extraordinary sleeping pods are built in the shape of a water droplet, and feature an interior of 6 m² (64 ft²) with a sofa bed on the main level and a hammock hanging in the loft above. These cozy creations can fit a family, or a couple, and are the perfect place for a refreshing night sleep in the beautiful Fundy Park.
Image: Cape Breton Highlands - www.novascotia.com
18. See the Scenic Cape Breton Highlands
Stretching 950km² (366 mi²) in size on top of the beautiful Nova Scotia island, Cape Breton Highlands National Park offers some of the most sought after views of the Atlantic Ocean. With plunging canyons, cascading waterfalls, soft sandy beaches, dense forests, and of course, the famous Cabot Trail to explore, there’s always a new adventure around every corner. The park is open year round for ample travel and adventure opportunities, and there are plenty backcountry and serviced campsites available for a five star rest in Cape Breton’s backyard. Whether you’re heading out with your family, friends or solo, a trip through the World renowned Cape Breton Highlands is highly recommended to be on your adventure bucket list this year.
Image: Sable Island - Instagram: @bwaterton
19. Say Hello to the Wild Horses on Sable Island
Canada is home to some very strange adventures and things, but one of the most inquiring places is Sable Island in Nova Scotia. The island, comprised entirely of sand, is home to over 400 wild horses, bird colonies and seal breeding colonies and is considered an ecological treasure. Due to the fragile environment, there are many regulations to stay there, and you have to obtain permission to visit the island, but a trip to Sable Island is truly a magical experience. While no unicorns roam the dusty sandy shores, you will have opportunity to see hundreds of magnificent wild horses for an unbelievable adventure.
Image: Gros Morne National Park - Instagram: @juliaindica
20. Gruel the Grind of Gros Morne
Amidst the beautiful backcountry of Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland & Labrador, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped into a landscape that only exists in fairy tales. Between towering mountains, a vast array of beaches, bogs, forests and cliff sides, it’s no surprise why people travel to Gros Morne from all over the world. With incredible geology and even more engaging history, a hike, bike, kayak, camp, swim, cross-country ski or snowshoe through the breathtaking Gros Morne National Park could be the fairytale adventure you’ve always dreamed of.
With so much to see and do in Canada’s breathtaking backcountry your adventure bucket list may seem like its never ending, but that’s the beauty of it! Without leaving your own backyard, you can spend an entire lifetime seeing, doing and experiencing incredible things. Grab a copy of our Backroad Mapbooks to help you start planning or take us along as we help you navigate the backcountry with our Backroad GPS Maps, or even enjoy spontaneous adventures with the ease of having all our adventures in the palm of your hand with our BRMB Navigator App.
Where do you plan to explore this year? Wherever you go, be sure to share your adventures with the #brmblife community! Follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook to be inspired by like-minded adventurers and join in the joy of being your own guide to amazing new adventures this year!
