Road Trips Across Canada: Best Routes to Explore

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Road trips across Canada are dreams of many adventures in the world. Canada offers enough roads to circle the globe 22 times with 900,000+ km of driving routes. You’ll find many car hire services in the country, well-paved open roads, and friendly stop-offs. Get to know what are the best destinations for road journeys through Canadian landscapes.

Vancouver

Vancouver City is well worth of spending a couple of days when you’re starting your road trips across Canada. Despite being largely populated, this city offers plenty of green space for you to enjoy. 

See the must-visit locations in Vancouver in the following table.

Kananaskis Country

For admirers of wild, raw, rugged, and peaceful adventure in nature, the Kananaskis Country is the best choice. You can easily reach this destination from Vancouver by flying into Calgary and picking up a rental car. The best choice is flying in the early morning, so you will have enough time to relax and squeeze an afternoon hike into your schedule.

Think about taking a simple yet rewarding route – Elbow Lake to Tombstone Lakes. This 20 km trail with about 600m of elevation will take you through a valley nestled between towering summits, beautiful lakes, and waterfalls. Some of these lakes are suitable for a scenic swim.

Adventures should also consider visiting Rawson Lake and Sarrail Ridge. This tough hike showcases the raw beauty of Kananaskis. But the trail passes through the prime grizzly habitat, so don’t forget to carry a bear spray.

Banff

When most travellers think of the Canadian mountains, Banff comes into their mind. To experience the vast wilderness of this region, add these hikes to your checklist:

• Lake Louise. In winter, the lake becomes one of the most scenic skating rinks in the world.
• Lake Moraine. Most visitors don’t realize that the «Valley of the Ten Peaks» creates ideal mirror images on the lake’s surface during sunrise, which makes it worthy of the early wake-up call.
• Helen Lake & Cirque Peak. This hike is long, hard, and seriously steep, but the views are absolutely out of this world.
• Mount Yamnushka. Try this 9.5-km loop trail near the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8, Alberta for hiking and meet many other adventurers who come here for birding, backpacking, and rock climbing.
• Rockbound Lake. Get away from the crowd on this trail that will take you to the beautiful lake that is surrounded by bright yellow larches every autumn.
• Banff Upper Hot Springs. Visit this location during snowfall for the magical experience of warm soaking while snowflakes fall around you.

Yoho National Park

The Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies is often overlooked by adventurers and that’s a shame. This destination is perfect for both hiking and setting up the camp for a couple of days. You will be surrounded by epic waterfalls, gigantic glaciers, and towering peaks. Without crowds, which will allow you to align with the rhythms of nature.

The first thing you can’t miss when you visit the location is Emerald Lake & Emerald Glacier with an emerald-coloured lake surrounded by an amphitheatre of dramatic mountain peaks. Take a hike around the shore and snap hundreds of beautiful photos to document this wonder.

You may also be interested in our article: Trip Cost to New Zealand: Is New Zealand Expensive for Travelers?

The next destination is Takakkaw Falls. That’s one of Canada’s highest waterfalls at 254 meters. The name Takakkaw comes from the Cree language, which means “it’s magnificent.” During the peak melt in late June, the thundering water creates its own microclimate of mist and rainbows.

Top Tips for Road Trips Across Canada

Before you hit the road, take time to make all the essential preparations. Make your trip unforgettable with these tips:

• Purchase a Park Canada Discovery Pass that will allow you access to over 80 destinations in 12 months and provide you with a chance to avoid queries;
• Carry bear spray, make noise, and stay vigilant. Since bear spray isn’t allowed on the airplane, be sure to purchase it when you reach Canada;
• Take layers, waterproofs, and suitable footwear. The weather can switch from sunshine to rain in minutes.

Watch YouTube Video for Additional Recommendations

When getting ready for road trips across Canada, take time to watch the video of the traveller Katie Carney, where she explains what things will be useful along the way. Her recommendations will help you plan the first adventure out in the open ideally.

Conclusion about Road Trips Across Canada

As you can see, road trips across Canada are very exciting and eventful. Adventurers spend years travelling across this country and still find plenty of brilliant destinations to explore. The open roads of Canada are the perfect option for a memorable journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Road Trips Across Canada