10 Adventurous Things to do in Canada

Canada is a big country with as many diverse adventures as its people. One trip to the land of the 'True North Strong & Free' isn't enough to get a full sense of a Canadian adventure. Whether its a rainforest hike, a long-distance bike-trek or even a scenic drive through the forest, there's plenty of diverse adventures for people of all fitness levels.

Scenic beauty is everywhere across the country, from the beautiful BC coast to the rocky shores of Newfoundland. Southern Ontario stretches as far south in longitude as northern California and the friendly towns across the Territories reach all the way up to the Arctic. This country is HUGE!

In no particular order, here are our suggestions for 10 adventurous things to do in Canada.

Province - British Columbia

Fitness Level - Good

When - The trail is open from May to September.

Description - The water off of the west coast of Vancouver Island is known as the Graveyard of the Pacific. In the 1700's & 1800's, over a hundred ships crashed on the rugged coastline and hundreds of people died in the frigid north Pacific waters.

The lucky survivors who made it to shore had to survive a treacherous trek along the heavily forested coast to get help. Today, die-hard hikers can retrace their steps on the famous West Coast Trail.

This multi-day hike will:

• weave through thick old growth forests of giant Sitka Spruce, Douglas Firs and Hemlock,
• take you up and down steep gorges on towering ladders,
• help you conquer your fear of heights as you balance on felled trees to cross creeks,
• thrill you with a cable-car ride (self-propelled),
• mesmerize you with secluded beach walks and intertidal pools.

At a relaxed pace, the trek takes 5-7 days to complete one way. Designated camp sites are on the beach or in the forest if a storm blows in. This is bear and cougar country so the hike is best done in groups.

Access is strictly regulated by Parks Canada so get a permit before leaving on your trip as a limited number of people are granted access per year.

We did the hike in September and had gorgeous sunny weather (excluding for one night when gale-force winds came in). I would highly recommended that you plan your trip around the full-moon to have exceptional views at night. The beauty of the West Coast Trail is even more memorable at night!

Province - Alberta

Fitness Level - Low. Suitable for families.

When - Year round access. The temperature is always +5 C underground!

Description - There's one way to find out if your friends are claustrophobic - go spelunking!

A guided underground tour of Grotto Mountain is thrilling and adventurous. The Rat's Nest Cave is a natural cavern that has cool-water pools, colourful mineral deposits and intricate rock formations. There's no handrails or lighting in this extensive cavern except for the lamp on your helmet.

The real thrill about this trek is discovering if you (and your friends) have the nerves to venture deep underground, sometimes crawling on your bellies through narrow passage ways.

There are large chambers and towering caverns where you can stand up straight. Groups gather in these open spaces to listen to short lectures & explanations from the tour guides. There's even a section where you can repel down an interior rock face (I chose not to). An optional route takes you through a narrow section call the Chimney Chute and it's exactly as it's sounds!

All equipment is proved including hardhats, coveralls & gloves. Moderate fitness level is necessary and I would recommend bringing knee pads.

Even though my friend was claustrophobic, she had no trouble controlling her fear and anxiety. One person withdrew from the tour after the first dark passage and she was slowly escorted back to the surface.

People get over their nerves by realizing that thousands of other tourists have gone on the same trek.

Province - Manitoba

Fitness Level - Low

When - October & November

Description - Winter comes early to the shores of the Hudson's Bay. To get to the Polar Bear Capital of the World in Churchill, Manitoba, it costs more than double than travelling to southern climates, but the wildlife experience is unbeatable!

Churchill, Manitoba has been welcoming tourists for decades to share its untamed and uncaged polar bears in their natural environment. These bears have their summer grounds near the town in Wapusk National Park.

After a summer of starvation, hundreds of white-coat polar bears congregate on the shore to wait for the sea ice to form on the Hudson's Bay and for them to start their seasonal feeding frenzy on seal (mmmmmmm seal blubber). On more than one occasion, a giant bears will wonder down the streets of the town.

Piece of Trivia - Polar bears are found in all northern shorelines in Canada. They can mate with grizzly bears (not black bears) and a few hybrid bears with brown coats and white paws have been spotted in the Yukon and Alaska.

Province - Newfoundland

Fitness Level - Low

When - May to September

Description - After spending a warm winter in the Caribbean Sea, whales and dolphins return to their northern feeding grounds off the coast of Newfoundland & Labrador starting in May.

Newfoundland whale watching tours are one of the best wildlife viewing activities on the Atlantic coast. How often do you have an encounter with the largest mammal in the world?

You'll be mesmerized by the grandeur and grace of these gentle giants. Depending on the day, you'll be lucky to spot one of the following types of whales:

• Humpback - Every whale is individually marked by black and white patterns and scars on their flukes (tails) and by the distinctive scalloped edge of the tail. These enormous creatures are best viewed from mid-June to the end of August.
• Minke - These are black & gray in colour and have a white band on each flipper. They usually appear off the coast of Newfoundland in August & September.
• Fin - This is the second largest whale behind the Blue whale and return to Newfoundland in August & September.
• Orca - The Killer whale is the most recognizable and popular whale. Pods of these intelligent creatures usually return by July.
• Sperm, Pothead & Blue whales - Are found far off of the Atlantic coast and rarely come close to shore. S

Tours take place aboard safe & indestructible Zodiacs or larger rigid-hulled boats and last from 2 - 4 hours depending on the weather and on the movements of the whales. The Witless bay Provincial Ecological Reserve near Bay Bulls & St. John's is a prime whale-viewing spot.

Tour operators are conscientious and respectful of these creatures and keep their distance (usually 50 feet). But that doesn't stop these intelligent creatures from swimming next to the boat to observe humans close up!

If you're lucky, on your tour you might see a humpback breach the water.

Province - Quebec

Fitness Level - N/A

When - Year-round. Quebec City has scenic & romantic in all seasons.

Description - Quebec City is one of the oldest cities founded by Europeans in North America and turned 400 years old in 2008. Located on the scenic banks of the St. Lawrence River, 'Old Quebec' feels more like a foreign city than a provincial capital.

The city was founded by Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600's and is the only remaining walled cities in North America. It still has its bastions, gates and defensive networks that surround the 'Old Quarter' and is a perfect example of a fortified colonial city. The area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Quebec City is filled with a romantic atmosphere all year round. Maybe it's the ancient stone buildings or the cobble-stone streets but wandering around the charming 'Old City' brings history and adventure together. A romantic getaway in Quebec is an excellent way for a couple to share and discover adventure.

Provinces - Nova Scotia & New Brunswick

Fitness Level - Low (observing) to moderate (tidal bore surfing)

When - Year round. The Bay of Fundy never freezes

Description - A spectacular natural phenomenon occurs twice a day at the Bay of Fundy as the normal tidal cycle gets exaggerated along the shores of Nova Scotia & New Brunswick.

This is home to the highest tides in the world, creating a tidal surge so large that Mi'kmaq people have created native legends that have latest until today.

This spectacle has been going on for eternity and incredible views can be seen from Fundy National Park.

Twice a day, the bay fills and drains with billions of liters of water. Tides are 3.5 meters (11 feet) high along the southwest shore of Nova Scotia; 280 kilometers (174 miles) up the bay along the narrowing channels in New Brunswick, the tides are exaggerated to up to 16 meters (53 ft)!

The huge forces created by the moving water have created stunning cliffs and mesmerizing sea stacks along the shore (similar to the Alberta Badland's Hoodoos). Fossils are still being found as sediment and rocks are exposed.

Another phenomenon which occurs in the upper bay is the tidal bore. Only around 100 rivers experience these surge waves as the tides roar into the narrowing channels. The Salmon River tidal bore can range in height from 15 to 65 centimeters. Tidal bore surfing & rafting are popular activities.

Province - British Columbia

Fitness Level - Low

When - Year round but bears-sightings are abundant in April.

Description - More international tourists know about the stunning wilderness area of Wells Gray Provincial Park than Canadians!

Located in central BC, near Clearwater BC, this untamed wilderness area is home to abundant wildlife, majestic lakes and beautiful waterfalls. In fact, its known as 'The Waterfall Park'. A road trip in BC to this spot is well worth the drive!

Wells Gray Park is located about 3.5 hours west of Jasper National Park. It holds claim to the world's largest paddle-only lake in North America and has world-class canoeing, rafting, hiking and fishing. When you come here, you'll be amazed to see more Europeans touring the park than fellow Canadians.

THERE ARE BEARS EVERYWHERE! When we visited in April, the bears were out of hibernation and were rummaging along the roadside, eating the fresh dandelions. At first we watched their wild beauty from the confines of our car. Around every corner there were black bears!

However, we did venture out into the forest to witness some of the specatular waterfalls including Helmcken Falls, the 4th highest waterfall in Canada. The other ones required hiking short distances to and the treks was well worth it!

There are few amenities in the park itself (it's real wilderness here) but the friendly town of Clearwater, BC is only 30 minutes away and has all services.

Province - Ontario

Fitness Level - Low

When - September & October

Description - I know this may sound corny, but no photograph can capture the peaceful serenity of the fall colours in Ontario.

On our trip through Northern Ontario, we drove past hundreds of kilometers of colourful forest. From White River, Ontario all the way to Algonquin Park in the East, the forest was set ablaze in their autumn colors.

On Manitoulin Island, we & our dogs stayed at a pet-friendly lakefront cottage amongst the blazing colors. Canoeing along the pastel-coloured shore was memorable (until the wind picked up and we struggled to get back... but that's a different story).

The autumn foliage occurs at different times year to year. Check the Weather Network to see when the fall spectacle begins.

Territory - Yukon Territory

Fitness Level - Low to high depending on the activity.

When - Summers are bright & colourful; winters are long, cold & beautiful.

Description - The beauty of the Yukon is far eclipsed by the genuine friendliness of the residents of Yukon, some of the friendliest people in Canada.

Get used to saying hello to people passing by on the streets and waving to fellow drivers on the highways. The Yukon residents are welcoming and receptive to all those who visit their scenic home.

And scenic it is! The land up here is large, free and open. It's a wildlife paradise that includes bear, cougar, elk and caribou. The landscape near the coast is a temperate rain forest and mountainous in Kluane National Park, home of the tallest mountain in Canada, Mount Logan.

In the summer, you can visit the land of the midnight sun, where it's daylight 24 hours a day above the Arctic circle. Most tourists come in the summer to retrace the Klondike gold rush and visit the historic trails including the White Pass & Yukon Route railway, a civil engineering masterpiece.

In the winter, you'll be greeted to the mesmerizing northern lights and their dazzling display in the heavens above. These green, red and blue lights hang in the sky like a giant illuminated curtain. When conditions are just right, you may even be able to hear them crackle & sizzle in the crisp winter air.

Province - Ontario

Fitness Level - Low

When - Winter when the canal freezes over

Description - The longest skating rink in the world is actually a part of one of the most monumental construction projects in the early 1800's.

The Rideau Canal connects Ottawa to Kingston, Ontario and uses a series of canals, rivers, locks and lakes to create this former strategic transportation link.

In the winter, you can skate on the canal for 7.8 kilometers as it weaves through the city of Ottawa, starting near the Parliament Buildings. The video shows how popular this family event is.

There are plenty of Canadian adventures and the thrills can be tame or extreme as you want. Whether you want to 'rough it' in the backcountry or drive from region to region, Scenic Travel Canada has some of the best insider tips on things to do in Canada.