Regis St Louis - Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Canada 2 (Road Trips Guide)

WELCOME TO CANADA

The awe-inspiring power of nature is on full display in the second-biggest country on earth. Sky-high mountains, glinting glaciers, spectral rainforests and remote beaches are all here, spread across six time zones. Theyre the backdrop for plenty of ah-inspiring moments and for a big cast of local characters. Thats big as in polar bears, grizzly bears, whales and everyones favorite, moose.

Whether you want to drive into the remote, tundra-filled northern wilderness or follow the sinewy roads past rugged, lighthouse-dotted shores, the 32 road trips in this book will take you there.

If youre game for burgeoning food markets in the Qubcois countryside, wild-fiddling Celtic parties in Cape Breton or mist-cloaked indigenous villages on Haida Gwaii, weve got you covered. And if youve only got time for one journey, pick from our 9 Classic Trips, which take you on a tour of the very best of Canada. Turn the page for more.

Grizzly bear, , British Columbia
David J. Mitchell/Shutterstock

CANADA HIGHLIGHTS

Canadas best sights and experiences, and the road trips that will take you there.

Lake Louise

No one should leave this mortal coil without first setting eyes on the robin-egg-blue waters of Lake Louise nestled bellow the icy hue of the Victoria Glacier and ringed by an impressive amphitheater of mountains. True, selfie sticks can often outnumber walking poles on the crowded lakeside promenade, but take a less obvious path to an alpine teahouse or through a valley of larch trees and youll find that Homo sapiens soon get replaced by wilder company (bears if youre lucky). See it on .

Stunning emerald-green water and tall, snowy peaks
BGSMITH/SHUTTERSTOCK

Dawson City

Dawson, with its brightly painted Klondike-era buildings, once drew thousands in the search for gold. Today, instead of miners, the city attracts artists and rugged individualists, with a doors-always-open atmosphere. On , you can give gold panning a go in the icy rivers or try your hand at poker in the historic saloon. Then soak up some of the spectacular sub-Arctic scenery.

One of the most historic and evocative towns in Canada
JUSTIN FOULKES/LONELY PLANET

Wine Tasting in the Okanagan

Enjoying a trip around the bucolic, vine-striped hills of the Okanagan Valley region is the best way for any tipple-loving visitor to spend their time in Western Canada. On , youll pass numerous wineries. One thing is certain: you wont go thirsty. Nominate a designated driver, and dont forget to dine: many winery tasting rooms are adjoined by excellent restaurants.

Haida Gwaii

Once known as the Queen Charlotte Islands, this dagger-shaped archipelago 80km off BCs coast is a magical trip. Colossal spruce and cedars cloak the wild landscape. Bald eagles and bears roam the ancient forest, while sea lions and orcas cruise the waters. But the islands real soul is the resurgent Haida people, best known for their war-canoe and totem-pole carvings. See the lot on .

Haida Gwaii An eagle perches on a totem pole in
MARKUS THOMPSON/500PX

BEST ROADS FOR DRIVING

Highway 1 Dazzling views near Lake Louise.

Sea to Sky Highway Waterfalls, misty shorelines and jaw-dropping panoramas.

Cabot Trail Clifftop vistas over valleys, fishing villages and rugged shores.

Icefields Parkway Wilderness of glacial lakes, waterfalls and soaring peaks.

Highway 60 Look for moose, otters and bald eagles along forested Algonquin Provincial Park.

Peggys Cove

Despite being clogged with tour buses all summer long, Peggys Cove enchants all who visit. The lighthouse, the blue-grey sea and the tiny sheltered bay scattered with crab traps and Popeye-esque boat docks are all straight out of a sailors yarn. On , take time to meander and experience a glimpse of life in a very, very small Maritime village.