Explore Parc national de la Gaspésie, located within the Chic-Choc Mountains. | PHOTO: IAN ROBERGE/TOURISM GASPÉSIE
Four of Canada’s Most Exciting Travel Destinations
Waterfalls, icebergs, mountains and the northern lights — spectacular landscapes abound on your next road trip across the country.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Canada has long been a destination for travellers seeking adventure, natural beauty and a connection with the land. Whether you’re setting off from home on an epic cross-Canada road trip or flying to a dream destination and renting a car to explore, we’ve rounded up four unforgettable Canadian destinations with larger-than-life scenery that’s worth a visit.
Hunting the northern lights in Manitoba
Swirling, pulsing ribbons of neon green, pink and purple blaze across the night sky — nature puts on a magnificent show with the surreal hues of the northern lights (also known as aurora borealis). While there’s a wide range of options in terms of where to go to see the northern lights in Manitoba, Spruce Woods Provincial Park’s dark sky preserve offers the perfect vantage point. With no light pollution to dull the view, the kaleidoscopic patterns and colours of this celestial performance are all the more vivid — and you’ll also be able to see the Milky Way stretch across the sky.
The province’s first dark sky preserve, Spruce Woods earned the designation in 2022 from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Close to Winnipeg, the park is a great destination for a Manitoba road trip. You can find an open expanse of sky along the park’s Spirit Sands trails, amid sand dunes that tower as high as 30 m. The long, dark nights of winter offer maximum viewing hours, but mid-August to October is ideal for milder temperatures. Consult the Manitoba Parks website for information on forecasts and sightings.
From Winnipeg: A two-hour drive over 192 km along Highway 1 will get you to the park.
(Above) A view of the northern lights from Hogsback Trail in the dark sky preserve at Spruce Woods Provincial Park. (Left) From the Spirit Sands, the Milky Way stretches across the night sky. | PHOTOS: RYAN LUCENKIW
Discovering icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador
When the fog lifts, they make an impact as they suddenly come into view — massive opalescent icebergs, 10,000 years in the making, drifting by ever so slowly. The beauty of icebergs is that no two are alike — some tower above you, others are domes, pinnacles or wedges. Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley, which stretches 1,000 km from Labrador to the eastern edge of Newfoundland, funnels up to 1,000 icebergs every year from Greenland and the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean.
The best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland
Iceberg season runs from spring to early summer, but the best viewing is typically in May and early June. Marvel at these ephemeral frozen giants from shore or while on a boat tour. And if you prefer to get up close and personal, opt for a boat — or even a kayaking — excursion. Just make sure you’re prepared with the proper safety equipment and are up to the rigours of the activity. Some tour operators offer “triple-threat” tours with the opportunity to see humpback whales and puffins as well.
From Winnipeg: If you’re driving your own car to get there, it’s 3,700 km (about 40 hours) to North Sydney, N.S., where you can catch the ferry, which only runs in summer. The crossing takes 16 to 18 hours to Argentia, N.L., and from there drive approximately 250 km to Bonavista (about three hours) or 400 km to Twillingate (about 4.5 hours) for iceberg spotting. Alternately, you can fly into St. John’s, rent a car and then drive approximately 300 km to Bonavista or approximately 450 km to Twillingate.
(Above) The shores of Twillingate offer an exceptional view of Iceberg Alley. (Right) Merritt’s Harbour provides opportunities to see massive icebergs drifting past. | PHOTOS: TOM COCHRANE
Chasing waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario
A rush of water cascades down shale and limestone steps, fanning outward into a waterfall that’s almost as wide as it is tall. In summertime, it’s surrounded by greenery so lush that you might just forget you’re mere steps from the buzz of city living. This is Albion Falls. Considered among the most beautiful waterfalls in the area, it’s only one of many. While most people think of Hamilton as Steeltown, it’s also known as the City of Waterfalls, with more than 100 of these natural marvels, thanks to its prime location along the Niagara Escarpment.
Many waterfalls in Hamilton are easily accessible — some are just minutes from the downtown core — with nearby parking lots and groomed multi-use paths. Summer is ideal for hiking, cycling and picnicking (keep in mind that weekends can be busy at popular spots), while autumn brings colourful fall foliage into the mix. It’s impossible to visit 100 waterfalls in a single day, but you can plan out a road trip to see several by consulting the Hamilton Waterfalls website, which provides driving directions and parking information. You can also check out AllTrails to organize specific hikes.
From Winnipeg: To get there, it takes approximately 24 hours and 2,150 km to drive to Hamilton (taking the northern route through Canada), so you may want to break it up with a few stops along the way. Or fly to Hamilton directly and rent a car to start your waterfall hunt.
(Above) Visit Albion Falls and enjoy watching the falling water cascade over the stepped ledges of rock. (Left from top) Admire the view of the Smokey Hollow Waterfall from the bridge above it, as you hike the Bruce Trail; experience the vertical drop of Tiffany Falls in Spencer Gorge Conservation Area. | PHOTOS: MICHAEL BUDD/ADOBE STOCK; SENORGOGO/ADOBE STOCK; GILBERTO MESQUITA/ADOBE STOCK
Soaking up the majesty of the Chic-Choc Mountains in Québec
Whether you’re hiking through spruce and maple forests or across vast alpine tundra, the Chic-Chocs proffer spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains on Québec’s Gaspésie Peninsula. Here, 25 peaks soar more than 1,000 m with their treeless summits, flat alpine plateaus and steep glaciated valleys. There really are few places in the world like it. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the rare woodland caribou. Visiting the area provides breathtaking panoramas even if you choose not to ascend — the Chic-Choc Mountains are one of the most dramatic parts of the Appalachian range.
The Chic-Chocs are also Québec’s year-round mountain playground, protected in Parc national de la Gaspésie, which spans 800 sq. km. It’s an ideal destination for hiking in summer (the Québec segment of the International Appalachian Trail runs through here) because conditions are milder, making the region more accessible. As you ascend, you may encounter some snow. While trails are open year-round, some are closed to hikers in the winter; they are, however, available for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and backcountry skiing. Remember to stock up on road-trip snacks and supplies in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts before venturing into the mountains.
From Winnipeg: To get there, this road trip will take about 32 hours over approximately 3,000 km. After Québec City, you’ll drive along the St. Lawrence to the Gaspésie Peninsula. Route 299 is the main artery through Parc national de la Gaspésie. You can also fly into Québec City and rent a car — from there, it’s approximately seven hours to drive (about 550 km).
(Above) Take in panoramic views from the Mont Olivine trail in the Chic-Chocs. (Right from top) See caribou roaming Parc national de la Gaspésie; the remote Mont Xalibu offers hikers a true backcountry experience. | PHOTOS: IAN ROBERGE/TOURISM GASPÉSIE; ÉRIC DESCHAMPS/LE QUÉBEC MARITIME; IAN ROBERGE/TOURISM GASPÉSIE
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Four of Canada’s Most Exciting Travel Destinations
Waterfalls, icebergs, mountains and the northern lights — spectacular landscapes abound on your next road trip across the country.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Four of Canada’s Most Exciting Travel Destinations
Waterfalls, icebergs, mountains and the northern lights — spectacular landscapes abound on your next road trip across the country.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
(Above) Visit Albion Falls and enjoy watching the falling water cascade over the stepped ledges of rock. | PHOTO: MICHAEL BUDD/ADOBE STOCK.
Chasing waterfalls in Hamilton, Ontario
A rush of water cascades down shale and limestone steps, fanning outward into a waterfall that’s almost as wide as it is tall. In summertime, it’s surrounded by greenery so lush that you might just forget you’re mere steps from the buzz of city living. This is Albion Falls. Considered among the most beautiful waterfalls in the area, it’s only one of many. While most people think of Hamilton as Steeltown, it’s also known as the City of Waterfalls, with more than 100 of these natural marvels, thanks to its prime location along the Niagara Escarpment.
Many waterfalls in Hamilton are easily accessible — some are just minutes from the downtown core — with nearby parking lots and groomed multi-use paths. Summer is ideal for hiking, cycling and picnicking (keep in mind that weekends can be busy at popular spots), while autumn brings colourful fall foliage into the mix. It’s impossible to visit 100 waterfalls in a single day, but you can plan out a road trip to see several by consulting the Hamilton Waterfalls website, which provides driving directions and parking information. You can also check out AllTrails to organize specific hikes.
From Winnipeg: To get there it takes approximately 24 hours and 2,150 km to drive to Hamilton (taking the northern route through Canada), so you may want to break it up with a few stops along the way. Or fly to Hamilton directly and rent a car to start your waterfall hunt.
(From top) Admire the view of the Smokey Hollow Waterfall from the bridge above it, as you hike the Bruce Trail; experience the vertical drop of Tiffany Falls in Spencer Gorge Conservation Area. | PHOTOS: SENORGOGO/ADOBE STOCK; GILBERTO MESQUITA/ADOBE STOCK
The shores of Twillingate offer an exceptional view of Iceberg Alley. | PHOTO: TOM COCHRANE
Discovering icebergs in Newfoundland
When the fog lifts, they make an impact as they suddenly come into view — massive opalescent icebergs, 10,000 years in the making, drifting by ever so slowly. The beauty of icebergs is that no two are alike — some tower above you, others are domes, pinnacles or wedges. Newfoundland’s Iceberg Alley, which stretches 1,000 km from Labrador to the eastern edge of Newfoundland, funnels up to 1,000 icebergs every year from Greenland and the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean.
The best time to see icebergs in Newfoundland
Iceberg season runs from spring to early summer, but the best viewing is typically in May and early June. Marvel at these ephemeral frozen giants from shore or while on a boat tour. And if you prefer to get up close and personal, opt for a boat — or even a kayaking — excursion. Just make sure you’re prepared with the proper safety equipment and are up to the rigours of the activity. Some tour operators offer “triple-threat” tours with the opportunity to see humpback whales and puffins as well.
From Winnipeg: If you’re driving your own car to get there, it’s 3,700 km (about 40 hours) to North Sydney, N.S., where you can catch the ferry, which only runs in summer. The crossing takes 16 to 18 hours to Argentia, N.L., and from there drive approximately 250 km to Bonavista (about three hours) or 400 km to Twillingate (about 4.5 hours), for iceberg spotting. Alternately, you can fly into St. John’s, rent a car and then drive approximately 300 km to Bonavista or approximately 450 km to Twillingate.
Merritt’s Harbour provides opportunities to see massive icebergs drifting past. | PHOTO: TOM COCHRANE
The view of the northern lights from Hogsback Trail in the dark sky preserve at Spruce Woods Provincial Park. | PHOTO: RYAN LUCENKIW
Hunting the northern lights in Manitoba
Swirling, pulsing ribbons of neon green, pink and purple blaze across the night sky — nature puts on a magnificent show with the surreal hues of the northern lights (also known as aurora borealis). While there’s a wide range of options in terms of where to go to see the northern lights in Manitoba, Spruce Woods Provincial Park’s dark sky preserve offers the perfect vantage point. With no light pollution to dull the view, the kaleidoscopic patterns and colours of this celestial performance are all the more vivid.
The province’s first dark sky preserve, Spruce Woods earned the designation in 2022 from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. Close to Winnipeg, the park is a great destination for a Manitoba road trip. You can find an open expanse of sky along the park’s Spirit Sands trails, amid sand dunes that tower as high as 30 m. The long, dark nights of winter offer maximum viewing hours, but mid-August to October is ideal for milder temperatures. Consult the Manitoba Parks website for information on forecasts and sightings.
From Winnipeg: A two-hour drive over 192 km along Highway 1 will get you to the park.
From the Spirit Sands, the Milky Way stretches across the night sky. | PHOTO: RYAN LUCENKIW
Take in panoramic views from the Mont Olivine trail in the Chic-Chocs. | PHOTO: IAN ROBERGE/TOURISM GASPÉSIE
Soaking up the majesty of the Chic-Choc Mountains in Québec
Whether you’re hiking through spruce and maple forests or across vast alpine tundra, the Chic-Chocs proffer spectacular 360-degree views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains on Québec’s Gaspésie Peninsula. Here, 25 peaks soar more than 1,000 m with their treeless summits, flat alpine plateaus and steep glaciated valleys. There really are few places in the world like it. And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the rare woodland caribou. Visiting the area provides breathtaking panoramas even if you choose not to ascend — the Chic-Choc Mountains are one of the most dramatic parts of the Appalachian range.
The Chic-Chocs are also Québec’s year-round mountain playground, protected in Parc national de la Gaspésie, which spans 800 sq. km. It’s an ideal destination for hiking in summer (the Québec segment of the International Appalachian Trail runs through here) because conditions are milder, making the region more accessible. As you ascend, you may encounter some snow. While trails are open year-round, some are closed to hikers in the winter; they are, however, available for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and backcountry skiing. Remember to stock up on road-trip snacks and supplies in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts before venturing into the mountains.
From Winnipeg: To get there this road trip will take about 32 hours over approximately 3,000 km. After Québec City, you’ll drive along the St. Lawrence to the Gaspésie Peninsula. Route 299 is the main artery through Parc national de la Gaspésie. You can also fly into Québec City and rent a car — from there, it’s approximately seven hours to drive (about 550 km).
See caribou roaming Parc national de la Gaspésie; very remote, Mont Xalibu offers hikers a true backcountry experience. | PHOTOS: ÉRIC DESCHAMPS/LE QUÉBEC MARITIME; IAN ROBERGE/TOURISM GASPÉSIE