These 12 scenic road trips will take you to the most beautiful places in Canada
As many Canadians choose to stay north of the border this summer, Postmedia Travel will be publishing a series of stories highlighting the best that Canada has to offer. This week we look at Canada's most scenic drives.
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The best places to visit in Canada aren't always the most famous, sometimes they're the hidden gems tucked between old-growth forests and coastlines where the road bends and reveals something breathtaking. But in a nation this vast, how do you decide which road is the one worth travelling?
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We turned to seasoned travel experts, road trippin' readers and long-haul wanderers to uncover the best road trips in Canada. What we got back were personal recommendations, local secrets and memorable routes that left a lasting impression on travellers across the country.
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From a scenic loop around the southern part of Vancouver Island to the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, these are some of the most spectacular journeys in Canada, chosen by people who lived them, loved them and now want to pass them on.
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Vancouver Island's Pacific Marine Circle starts in Victoria and travels west along the island's southwest coast looping towards the rolling hills and lakes of the picturesque Cowichan Valley before heading south along the Malahat Highway. Drive west from the provincial capital, pausing at geologically significant Sooke Potholes Provincial Park.
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Stop to watch the surfers at China Beach and Jordan River, then study tidal pool marine life at Botanical Beach further north near Port Renfrew, the trail head for the West Coast Trail. Venture off-road to explore Big Lonely Doug and the temperate rainforest of Upper Avatar Grove. Head east towards Cowichan Lake, a great place for a dip or float on the Cowichan River.
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These 12 scenic road trips will take you to the most beautiful places in Canada
As many Canadians choose to stay north of the border this summer, Postmedia Travel will be publishing a series of stories highlighting the best that Canada has to offer. This week we look at Canada's most scenic drives. Article content The best places to visit in Canada aren't always the most famous, sometimes they're the hidden gems tucked between old-growth forests and coastlines where the road bends and reveals something breathtaking. But in a nation this vast, how do you decide which road is the one worth travelling? Article content Article content Article content We turned to seasoned travel experts, road trippin' readers and long-haul wanderers to uncover the best road trips in Canada. What we got back were personal recommendations, local secrets and memorable routes that left a lasting impression on travellers across the country. Article content Article content From a scenic loop around the southern part of Vancouver Island to the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, these are some of the most spectacular journeys in Canada, chosen by people who lived them, loved them and now want to pass them on. Article content Article content Article content Vancouver Island's Pacific Marine Circle starts in Victoria and travels west along the island's southwest coast looping towards the rolling hills and lakes of the picturesque Cowichan Valley before heading south along the Malahat Highway. Drive west from the provincial capital, pausing at geologically significant Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Article content Stop to watch the surfers at China Beach and Jordan River, then study tidal pool marine life at Botanical Beach further north near Port Renfrew, the trail head for the West Coast Trail. Venture off-road to explore Big Lonely Doug and the temperate rainforest of Upper Avatar Grove. Head east towards Cowichan Lake, a great place for a dip or float on the Cowichan River.
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These 12 scenic road trips will take you to the most beautiful places in Canada
As many Canadians choose to stay north of the border this summer, Postmedia Travel will be publishing a series of stories highlighting the best that Canada has to offer. This week we look at Canada's most scenic drives. The best places to visit in Canada aren't always the most famous, sometimes they're the hidden gems tucked between old-growth forests and coastlines where the road bends and reveals something breathtaking. But in a nation this vast, how do you decide which road is the one worth travelling? We turned to seasoned travel experts, road trippin' readers and long-haul wanderers to uncover the best road trips in Canada . What we got back were personal recommendations, local secrets and memorable routes that left a lasting impression on travellers across the country. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. From a scenic loop around the southern part of Vancouver Island to the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, these are some of the most spectacular journeys in Canada, chosen by people who lived them, loved them and now want to pass them on. If you are planning to hit the open road this summer, you can also take advantage of the new Canada Strong Pass . Starting June 20 to Sept. 2, 2025, travellers across the country can visit a number of national parks, historic sites, museums and attractions for free or at a discounted rate. There's really no time like the present to cross some of the most spectacular destinations in Canada off your bucket list. Vancouver Island's Pacific Marine Circle starts in Victoria and travels west along the island's southwest coast looping towards the rolling hills and lakes of the picturesque Cowichan Valley before heading south along the Malahat Highway. Drive west from the provincial capital, pausing at geologically significant Sooke Potholes Provincial Park. Stop to watch the surfers at China Beach and Jordan River, then study tidal pool marine life at Botanical Beach further north near Port Renfrew, the trail head for the West Coast Trail. Venture off-road to explore Big Lonely Doug and the temperate rainforest of Upper Avatar Grove. Head east towards Cowichan Lake, a great place for a dip or float on the Cowichan River. Take a self-guided First Nations Totem Tour Walk in downtown Duncan and enjoy an ice cream or farm market pit stop in the seaside village of Cowichan Bay. Enjoy the view above the trees at fully accessible Malahat Skywalk before completing the loop wandering among the blooms at Butchart Gardens. Distance: 289 km An unforgettable week-long road trip adventure awaits along the Klondike Kluane Loop in the Yukon. Depart Whitehorse along the Klondike Highway north to the colourful clapboard houses of Dawson City. Kick up your heels at Canada's oldest casino, Diamond Tooth Gerties, then board the free ferry across the Yukon River to connect to the Top of the World Highway. Bring passports for the brief crossing into Alaska before returning on the historic Alaska Highway towards Haines Junction and Kluane National Park and Reserve. The park is rich in wildlife, so watch for grizzly bears, moose and the curved horns of Dall sheep. Take a sightseeing flight over Kluane's protected glaciers, home of Canada's highest mountain, Mount Logan, and the earth's largest non-polar icefield. In Haines Junction, visit Da Kų 'Our House' to learn of the culture and traditions of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations before closing the loop with a satisfying soak at Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs. Distance: 1,435 km Drive the spectacular Icefields Parkway from Jasper National Park, which is open to visitors and recovering from last year's wildfire. Travel south, enjoying views of glaciers and snow-topped alpine peaks. Stop at the scenic Athabasca Falls, take in mountain views at the Goats & Glaciers Lookout and Sunwapta Falls before stopping in beautiful Banff for a good meal at Good Folk and great views atop Sulphur Mountain. Dip south onto Highway 22 for a true taste of the wild west along the Cowboy Trail. Waterton Lakes National Park is where the prairies meet the mountains, a magnificent landscape with alpine peaks and lake beauty, minus the crowds. Distance: 554 km Drive to the top of the world on the rugged and unpaved Dempster Highway from Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Explore Klondike Gold Rush history in Dawson City. Drive past the granite peak of Tombstone Mountain on route to crossing the Arctic Circle and enter the polar zone of the Northwest Territories. Enjoy the 24-hour daylight while wildlife spotting for moose, caribou and bears. Ferry across the majestic Mackenzie River, pass through the Gwich'in hamlet of Tsiigehtchic before arriving in the arctic town of Inuvik. Visit the Western Arctic Visitor Information Centre, unique Igloo Church and the Inuvialuit Cultural Centre. The journey can continue for another 140 km to the Arctic Ocean on Canada's northernmost road, the rugged Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway. Distance: 740 km Embark on a historical journey along the Red Coat Trail , following the March West of the North-West Mounted Police through southern Saskatchewan in 1874. The trail crosses the width of the province, passing through iconic prairie landscapes, grain elevators, ghost towns and small communities. Snap a selfie with Mo the Plesiosaur in Ponteix, pose with the statue of a red-coated Mountie in Redvers and visit Shaunavon and Eastend. Cross the Continental Divide and take in the views of distinctive rock formations and the sweeping Frenchman River Valley, proof that Saskatchewan is not all flat. Stop at the T. rex Discovery Centre and meet Scotty, the world's largest T. rex. Distance: 1,300 km A sweeping urban-to-rural road trip awaits on southern Manitoba's Yellowhead Scenic Highway (16). In Winnipeg, visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights or marvel at the Inuit art in WAG-Qaumajuq. Then head west into the heartland of prairie grasslands, forests and the vast trail network in Riding Mountain National Park . Stop in Neepawa at Farmer Estate Brewery to enjoy a craft beverage. Enjoy the landscape through the parkland region before stopping in the quaint Wasagaming on the shores of Clear Lake, the largest body of water in Riding Mountain National Park. Try fat biking around or kayaking in Clear Lake, then continue to Lake Audy for an unforgettable self-guided driving tour among 40 protected plains bison. Distance: 268 km Depart the vibrant streets of Canada's largest city and head east to explore the idyllic collection of 1000 Islands . En route, stop in Presqu'ile Provincial Park for a walk on the marsh boardwalk or along the beach. Detour to explore the art galleries, coffee shops, boutiques and follow the Taste Trail along the many quaint villages in Prince Edward County. Located along the St. Lawrence River, Gananoque is the gateway to the 1000 Islands. Get out onto the water on a guided kayak tour of Thousand Islands National Park, climb aboard a scenic cruise past historic Boldt and Singer Castles, and 'Just Moo It' at the 161 st annual Lansdowne Fair in July. Distance: 300 km Explore la belle province's delicious foodie trail on a road trip from Quebec City to Charlevoix . Enjoy a sumptuous tasting menu at Le Clan or Bistro L'Orygine in Old Quebec. East of the capital, ride the gondola to the top of Montmorency Falls before continuing to loop around the rolling farmland, strawberry fields, art galleries and chocolate shops on L'Ile d'Orleans. Stop for high tea at La Maison de Thé, located in a rustic farmhouse operated by the owners of Confiturerie Tigidou, a great spot for artisanal jams. Continue along the mighty St. Lawrence Route and unwind at Le Germain Nordic Spa before tackling the gastronomic journey along Charlevoix's Flavour Trail — a gourmet adventure of farm-fresh produce, craft ciders, beers and artisanal cheeses. Distance: 205 km Drive through the heart of historic Acadian culture on the 750-km Acadian Coastal Drive on the East Coast of New Brunswick. Look for right whales in Chaleur Bay, then wander through 200-year-old cottages and farms of Le Village historique acadien. Enjoy a traditional Acadian meal in the old-fashioned charm of historic Hôtel Château Albert. Swim in the warmest ocean waters north of Virginia , learn about more than 400 kinds of forest lichen and stargaze at the Dark-Sky Preserve at Kouchibouguac National Park. Walk the boardwalk at Bouctouche Dune, enjoy a dinner of fresh seafood in Richibucto and marvel as the chocolate-coloured tidal bore rushes up the Petitcodiac River in Moncton. Distance: 750 km Launch your Halifax to the Cabot Trail journey with a day of discovery in Nova Scotia's vibrant capital, visiting the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and picking up a handcrafted souvenir or two at Hydrostone Market. Drive northeast through Truro and Antigonish before crossing the Canso Causeway into Cape Breton, one of the most scenic islands in Canada. Stop in the friendly village of Baddeck, about an hour's drive from Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the beginning and end of the Cabot Trail. Choose your loop direction and wind your way along the coastal highlands. Make time to gallery-hop in Ingonish, spot whales in Pleasant Bay and enjoy lobster rolls or hot gravy-smothered sandwich in the traditional Acadian town of Chéticamp. Distance: 394 km Wind your way along PEI's scenic North Cape Coastal Drive . Canada's Oyster Coast begins in laid-back Summerside and passes through charming villages and seaside towns rich in Acadian and Mi'kmaq culture and history. Indulge in traditional food and musical experiences at Village Musical Acadien. Don't miss the Canadian Potato Museum in O'Leary and enjoy a potato-based lunch in its kitchen. Climb the 72 steps of the West Point Lighthouse and enjoy sweeping coastal views of white-sand beaches and wave action from the lantern deck. Go for a swim at Cedar Dunes Provincial Park and keep time clapping along to Canadian folk classics at the Stompin' Tom Centre Homestead & Schoolhouse. See the impressive convergence of the waters as the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait meet. Walk the Black Marsh Nature Trail and stop at Kildare Capes to marvel at the red cliff coastline. Sample fresh local Malpeque Oysters harvested near the rural village of Tyne Valley. Distance: 350 km Explore the historical and geological wonders of western Newfoundland and Labrador on the Viking Trail . From Deer Lake, drive to Gros Morne National Park and the Tablelands, an ancient geological mesa-like rock formation pushed from deep in the earth to the surface by massive tectonic forces. Take a scenic boat tour of Western Brook Pond's glacier-carved fiord or hike park trails while keeping an eye out for caribou and moose. Enjoy a Supper Club show at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival in Cow Head and stop for a windswept view of 19 th century Point Riche Lighthouse. Near the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, explore L'Anse aux Meadows on a guided Parks Canada tour and learn how Greenlanders and Icelanders led by Leif Erikson founded the first European settlement in North America. Distance: 413 km Interested in exploring some of the best beaches and wildlife-watching spots in Canada? Look for new stories each week. Searching for the best hotel prices for your next trip? Check out for exclusive savings on over one million hotels worldwide. Sign-up is free.
