Mapping Canada’s Best Road Trips
POSTED BY Mavy | September 13, 2018
Label: Adventure Travel, North America, Travel TipsIcefields Parkway, Alberta
Banff - Jasper
The 144 mile stretch of road between Banff and Jasper provides some of the most incredible views and breathtaking scenes you can find in Canada. The drive takes you through the Rocky Mountains, presenting you with the spectacular natural beauty of the area. Stop off at Lake Louise for a fantastic photo opportunity and experience the weeping wall at Cirrus Mountain before stepping foot on the thrilling Glacier Skywalk. At the end of your journey, you’ll find yourself in the alpine town of Jasper where you can explore Jasper National Park, the perfect place for stargazing as one of the world’s biggest dark sky reserves.
Montréal to Percé, Quebec
Montréal - Percé
The journey between Montréal and Gaspé offers a great tour of the nearly 400 years of history of the area, taking you through bustling towns and quaint villages. Head to the romantic Quebec City and explore the cobbled streets before venturing into the quaint town of La Malbaie. At Tadoussac you can go out on Saguenay Fjord where you can spot a variety of whales including, fin, blue and beluga whales. Continue up the coast and visit the spectacular Reford Gardens before you continue on to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts where you can explore the coastal area or the mountains. Next, reach Gaspé, a city that holds the name, ‘Cradle of French America’, and finally head to Percé at the very tip of the Gaspé Peninsula and make sure to view Percé Rock.
The Sea to Sky Highway, British Colombia
Vancouver - Whistler
The Sea to Sky Highway is a relatively short road trip, but with so much to see and do along the way, you could spend a whole weekend on this 75 mile journey. Start at the city of Vancouver and head north up the coast to Horseshoe Bay where you can visit Whytecliff Park. Next is the picturesque seaside village of Lions Bay, then onto Porteau Cove, a provincial park where you can get some fantastic views. Then visit Britannia Beach where you can take a guided mine tour at the Britannia Mine Museum before heading up to the old mill town of Squamish. Make sure to visit the Sea to Sky Gondola which takes you up into the mountains. You can then visit Brandywine Falls Provincial Park where you can see the incredible Brandywine Falls, a 70 metre waterfall, before you finish your journey at Whistler.
The Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Island
The Cabot Trail is a 185 mile long loop around Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. You can start at various points along the route and choose to travel clockwise or counter-clockwise. Travelling counter-clockwise may offer better views but will involve driving along the outside of the many steep roads along the route. Make stops at Margaree, known for its fishing and Cheticamp where you can get in touch with nature. You can also visit Pleasant Bay where you can venture into Cape Breton Highlands National Park, head to Cape North where you can go skiing, and Ingonish where you can go whale watching. Also make sure to check out St Ann’s Bay where you’re sure to see plenty of wildlife, and the quaint village of Baddeck.
The Dempster Highway, Yukon Territory & Northwest Territories
Dawson City - Inuvik
This journey is not one for inexperienced drivers and requires a great deal of planning and preparation. The unique road trip spans nearly 480 miles and begins in Yukon Territory’s Dawson City before travelling north through Tombstone Territorial Park and onto Eagle Plains where you will get plenty of incredible views. Make sure to stop at the Arctic Circle Sign which is roughly 22 miles from Eagle Plains before travelling further north in the Arctic Circle. As you continue, you’ll cross the border between Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories as you head to Fort McPherson, your last stop before you reach Inuvik.
Lake Superior Coastal Route, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie - Thunder Bay
Covering roughly 435 miles, the route around the north coast of Lake Superior offers plenty of scenic driving, starting at Sault Ste. Marie and ending at Thunder Bay. The route takes you past a number of beautiful Provincial Parks, including Pancake Bay, Neys and Ouimet Canyon, all of which have spectacular views, fantastic wildlife and offer a wonderful opportunity to get out of your car and get into nature. Lake Superior is a huge body of water which covers 31,700 square miles and runs through Ontario as well as the American states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. If you want to continue your road trip, you can carry on from Thunder Bay and cross the border into Minnesota or even drive all around the lake, a drive that is roughly 1,300 miles long and is known as the Lake Superior Circle Tour.
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