Breathtaking mountain ranges with turquoise lakes. Lush rainforests. Arctic snow hiding plush polar bears and foxes. I’m not talking about the Swiss alps, Costa Rica, or Greenland. This is Canada. The landscape is picture perfect and the wildlife is abundant. Canada may have a population the size of California, but from one coast to the other, there’s enough for a lifetime of outdoor adventures. Here are some of my favorites from West to East.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria on Vancouver Island is named after, you guessed it, Queen Victoria. It is the regal province of British Columbia, but it is also where you’ll find amazing outdoor experiences that connect you to Canada’s rainforests and Pacific Coast. Start your adventures by taking in the breathtaking views of the Malahat Skywalk, which was built in collaboration with the Malahat Nation. The skywalk takes visitors above the treetops, and they can fly back to the forest floor using the 20-meter spiral slide. Book a hike with Rainforest Tours, hit the trails on an e-bike with Electric Alpine Biking, go for a paddle off the island’s coast with Ocean River Sports, or find some humpbacks with Prince of Whales tours.
Whistler, British Columbia
You may think of Whistler as a winter wonderland. Because it is. But there is more to do there than ski and snowboard. Whistler’s summers are perfect for hikes, cycling, and zip-lining. The Sasquatch Tour is the longest zipline in Canada or the U.S., and it will take you up 7,000 feet, or over 2 kilometers. Rent a bike or bring your own, either way mountain bike season starts in May. Check out their Mountain Bike Park for all abilities, or some of their paved trails. Join a hike along the Cheakamus River trail tour to find an extinct volcano. When you’re done, check out the nearly three-mile Whistler Blackcomb PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and the stunning views from their Cloudraker Skybridge.
Stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler for a luxe escape after a long day of outdoor adventures.
Banff National Park, Alberta
It’s hard to oversell the wilderness of Banff National Park. (It might even be where mountains were invented.) Summers in Banff turn skiing and snowshoeing into hiking, and frosted lakes become places for a paddle on clear mountain waters and wild rivers. Join the Bow River Big Canoe Tour or hold on for your life with whitewater rafting. In Banff you can go underground to explore caves, go rock climbing, or climb into the sky on the Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata.
At the end of the day, there are great places for food and drinks in the town of Banff. Stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for one of the best hotel views in the park, looking out over the lake’s iconic blue waters.
Jasper, Alberta
Alberta is never short on places to find the outdoors, and Jasper National Park is near the top of that list. Despite an historic wildfire in 2024, the town is recovering quickly and much of the park’s unmatched landscapes remain untouched. With elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bears and wolves, Jasper is perfect for wildlife viewing. If you love water sports, you can fish, go rafting, canoeing and kayaking, or take a float tour. Helicopter tours and heli-hiking will get you deeper into the park quickly.
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge on Beauvert Lake in the Canadian Rocky Mountains features golf, eight restaurants, and a 10,000 square foot spa.
Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill is known for polar bears looking for food on the subarctic tundra, but there is an entirely different side of Churchill that tends to get less attention. During the summer the arctic turns from white to green with splashes of color from wildflowers. Polar bears are still there, but this is a great time of the year to hop on a boat, raft, or kayak to see more than 3,000 belugas that have arrived for the season. Plus, some other wildlife, like that of the arctic fox, arctic hare, or ptarmigan.
If you want a sustainable summer adventure, Natural Habitat Adventures has fantastic summer itineraries. NatHab already offsets their emissions as part of their sustainability goals, but for those guests who take one of their climate change-focused itineraries, they will offset that guest’s entire carbon footprint for for an entire year.
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
When people think of Ontario, they might imagine Toronto or Canada’s capital, Ottawa. There is plenty to do outdoors in Ontario, but three hours north of Toronto and West of Ottawa is the wild of Algonquin Provincial Park. Centennial Ridges Trail provides sweeping views, and if you arrive late summer or fall it’s colorful. Barron Canyon is a short loop trail with an incredibly rewarding rocky overlook. The park, and everything in the area, is a peaceful place for a break from city life.
If you love camping, the forested and quiet Pog Lake Campground, with both electric and primitive campsites, won’t disappoint. But if you want a lodge experience, Bartlett Lodge in the park is a perfect alternative.
