Where to Travel in Canada

Where to travel in Canada? 
As a tour guide, I love to share my favourite travel destinations in Canada with you.

Here's my TOP 5 on this page:
Backpacking in British Columbia
My favourite road trip in Canada
Whale watching in Johnstone Strait
My favourite hike in Yoho National Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia

Other pages:
Find inspiration for your travel vacation: Itinerary samples and Road trip ideas Canada
Discover a Map of Canada
Where and when to view Northern Lights in Canada

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Where to travel in Canada # 1: Backpacking in British Columbia

The West Coast Trail 

Where to find the West Coast Trail?

The West Coast Trail is located within Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Access the trailhead either at Gordon River -5 km north of Port Renfrew-, or at Pachena Bay -5 km south of Bamfield.

Best time of the year to hike the West Coast Trail

July and August (least chance of rain). 
The West Coast Trail is closed from October 1 till April 30.

Reservations

Reservations are needed.
Discover more information regarding West Coast Trail reservations here.

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Where to travel in Canada #2: My favourite road trip in Canada

The Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Endless mountain chains, turquoise lakes, seven ice fields, many more glaciers and a good chance of  spotting wildlife such as bears, elk, mountain goat and bighorn sheep make this destination my favourite road trip. 

Check here the Icefields Parkway and other favourite Canadian road trips.

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Where to travel in Canada #3: Wildlife viewing in British Columbia

Whale watching in Johnstone Strait

During the summer months, several pods of orcas are feasting on migrating salmon in the rich waters of the Johnstone Strait. 

Other wildlife that live in these waters are:
humpback whales, white sided dolphins, porpoises, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles, and several other bird species.

The scenery is great: the Johnstone Strait is surrounded by high mountain peaks and many small forested islands.

Best time of the year to go whale watching in Johnstone Strait

From mid June through October you will see lots of marine wildlife.

Note: Resident orcas follow the Chinook salmon run as this is their primary food source.
The Johnstone Strait is called the ‘salmon highway’. Every summer tons of salmon migrate through the Strait to reach the estuaries. From here their journey to the spawning grounds starts. It is hard to predict when the Chinook salmon start their run through the Johnstone Strait. Some summers it is earlier than others. However, August and September will more or less guarantee sightings of orcas.

Several whale watching companies offer guided tours. Reservations are needed. 

Read more about whale watching in British Columbia or whale watching in Canada.

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Where to travel in Canada # 4: Hiking in British Columbia

The Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park

The Iceline trail in Yoho National Park offers astonishing views of the Takakkaw and Laughing Falls.
The Wapta and Waputik  icefields shape this landscape.
 ‘Yoho’ is a Cree expression for ‘a place of awe and wonder’. This says it all...

Characteristics

Length:  21 km / 13 miles
Difficulty:  moderate – difficult. Only suitable for intermediate and experienced hikers
Duration:  8 hours
Elevation gain and loss: 700 metre /2300 feet

Trailhead location

27 km West of Lake Louise.
From Hwy 1/Trans Canada Hwy, turn onto Yoho Valley Road (4km east of Field). Follow this road northbound for 16.5 km until you reach the hostel. Park your car at the parking lot.
The trail starts just north of the hostel.

Best time of the year to hike the Iceline Trail

The Yoho Valley Road is open from the end of June until late September.
Therefore, you can only reach the trailhead within this time span.

Check the trail condition report close to your planned hike as the higher elevation of the trail might not always be free of snow.

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Where to travel in Canada # 5: My favourite Park

Wells Gray Provincial Park, British Columbia

Where to stay in Wells Gray Provincial Park

Located inside Wells Gray Provincial Park are several BC Parks campgrounds, which are located back-country as well as front-country. 

A handful of private campgrounds in close proximity of Wells Gray Provincial Park offer plenty of choice whether you travel by RV or when tenting.

Read more about camping in Canada.

Folks looking for more comfort can stay in one of the B&B’s, Motels, Lodges, or Hotels close to the park. Check out some of the accommodations around Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Where is Wells Gray Park located?

Turn off Hwy 5 at the Info Centre in Clearwater, BC.
Follow the scenic Clearwater Valley Road northbound for about 30 minutes and you will enter the park.

Best time of the year to visit Wells Gray Provincial Park

May and June for watching Black bears grazing on dandelions and grasses along the Clearwater Valley Road.
Winter is the best season to spot Wolves and/or Moose.
The waterfalls are most spectacular early summer and mid-winter.
Each winter a spectacular ice cone forms at the base of Helmcken Falls.   

Most campgrounds are operating between May 1 and October 1.
Some accommodation is open year-round.

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