Canada Road Trip: Hiking, National Parks & Canoeing Adventures from Vancouver Island to Ontario

Canada is more than the Rocky Mountains and turquoise lakes. Over the past few years, I've spent several months traveling from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, through Alberta, Yukon, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, all the way to Toronto in Ontario – a huge road trip with multi-day hikes, canoe expeditions, and wilderness adventures .

I have now driven the entire route from Vancouver Island to Toronto by car.

My approximate route:

The journey took them through the Rocky Mountains , through the wild Yukon , across endless prairies , to remote national parks , historic waterways and some of the wildest landscapes in North America .

I hiked through the Rockies, camped by lonely rivers, watched bears, listened to indigenous stories, kayaked among whales, and discovered regions that many travelers to Canada completely ignore.

Here you will find my best Canada travel reports, hikes, outdoor adventures, GPS data and planning tips for your own trip through Canada.

Note:

This overview will be expanded in the coming weeks to include my adventures in Manitoba, Saskatchewan & Ontario.

Canada: Trip planning, road trips & general tips

From initial planning to the big road trip – these articles will help you prepare for your trip to Canada.

• Canada at a glance – travel tips for the West Coast

• Plan your Canadian adventure: reservations, camping & packing list

• Safe hiking and camping in bear country, Canada

• Road trip through the Yukon

• Highlights of the Alaska Highway

• 48 hours in Vancouver

• Favorite accommodations in Western Canada

  
  

Hiking in the Rocky Mountains & National Parks

Turquoise lakes, glaciers, alpine mountains and spectacular hikes:

The Rocky Mountains are among the most famous outdoor regions in Canada.

All tours are linked to GPS data on Outdooractive.

• The 5 most beautiful hikes in the Rocky Mountains

• Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park

• Sentinel Pass & Lake Louise

• Skyline Trail in Jasper

• Sunshine Meadows Circular Hike

• The Onion Hike (Banff Region)

  
  

Wilderness, canoe trips & great adventures

Canada shows its true strength where there are no roads: on rivers, in the wilderness, and on long multi-day hikes.

• West Coast Trail (Vancouver Island)

• Grizzly Lake Multi-Day Hike (Yukon)

• Slim's River Multi-Day Tour (Kluane National Park)

• Hike to Samuel Glacier in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park

• Kayaking adventure with bears & whales (Vancouver Island)

• 12-day canoe expedition on the Hayes River to the historic York Factory (Manitoba)

• Canoe in Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario)

  
  

Manitoba: Bears, bison & endless waterways

The heart of Canada. Manitoba lies exactly in the middle of the country.

Few tourists ever find their way here – they have no idea what they're missing!

• Churchill – from luxury to basic

• Riding Mountain National Park (Bison & Nature)

• Whiteshell Provincial Park (Lakes & Canoe)

• Winnipeg

• Indigenous Stories & Residential Schools (Portage la Prairie)

• Hayes River Canoe Expedition to York Factory

Saskatchewan: Prairie, Badlands & Silent Expanses

Endless gravel roads, wide skies, countless stars, and the only national park dedicated to the prairie.

• Grasslands National Park

• Cypress Hills

• Great Sand Hills

• Historic Reesor Ranch & Fort Walsh

  
  

Ontario, Toronto & Niagara Falls

Great lakes, great nature, big city – Ontario combines city and wilderness.

• Hiking around the Great Lakes

• 7 things you absolutely must not miss at Niagara Falls

• Toronto & Niagara Falls

Here more Canada tips

Indigenous stories & authentic experiences

Indigenous tourism in Canada is booming. More and more travelers want not only to experience the magnificent nature, but also to gain insight into the world of the First Nations and hear the stories of the people who lived here long before the arrival of Europeans.

This knowledge greatly impressed me, and the stories deeply touched me.

• Indigenous tourism in Canada

• Orange Shirt Day & Residential Schools

• York Factory & Hayes River Expedition

  
  

GPS data & Outdooractive

Many of my hikes, canoe trips, and multi-day tours in Canada are linked to GPS tracks on Outdooractive . This allows you to use the tours directly for your own trip planning.