Discover the top natural wonders of Canada

Canada is home to some vibrant cities and wonderful man-made attractions, but what sets Canada apart from other destinations is its natural wonders.

Anyone who has been on Canada holidays before will have had their breath taken away by the raw beauty the country offers.

From cascading waterfalls to dancing lights in the sky, Canada’s nature is unrivalled, and there are so many natural attractions which you can enjoy. In this guide, we take a look at the best natural wonders of Canada that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Must-visit natural wonders of Canada

1. The Northern Lights
2. Niagara Falls
3. Great Bear Rainforest
4. The fjords of Gros Morne
5. Hopewell Rocks
6. Dinosaur Provincial Park
7. Nahanni National Park
8. Banff National Park
9. The Cabot Trail
10. Columbia Icefields
11. Okanagan Valley
12. Moraine Lake

1. The Northern Lights

Provinces: Yukon, Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Alberta, Québec

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is one of the best natural wonders that you can enjoy in Canada as the sky explodes into colours of greens, yellows, blues and reds. This natural spectacle occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with gases upon entering our atmosphere and these emit light across the sky.

With Canada located under the auroral oval (a huge ring above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole that displays an aurora), the opportunities to view this natural phenomenon are high.

Robert Berdan, who is the blogger behind the Canadian Nature Photographer, tells us why the Northern Lights are his favourite natural wonder in Canada.

“My favourite natural wonder in Canada is the Aurora photographed in Yellowknife, the colours and movement are one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen. I returned to Yellowknife more than ten times to photograph it and witness the different colours.”

Top tips

Some of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Canada are:

• Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
• Whitehorse, Yukon
• Churchill, Manitoba
• Edmonton, Alberta

Fun Facts

The best chance to see the Northern Lights is usually between 9pm and 2am, and the majority of sightseeing tours will operate around these times.

READ MORE: Ultimate Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in Canada

2. Niagara Falls

Province: Ontario

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One of the reasons many people book flights to Toronto is to visit Niagara Falls in Ontario, as it is one of the most iconic natural features of Canada.

The waterfall is so accessible, being just 1 hour 45 minutes away from Toronto Airport and spanning both the US and Canadian borders.

Visiting Niagara Falls, which is one of the world’s biggest waterfalls, is something that you will never forget and is something that is on many people’s bucket lists of things they want to see. Unsurprisingly, it is one of the world’s most popular honeymoon destinations and is Ontario’s most popular attraction.

Best of all, there are multiple ways you can observe this natural spectacle as you can take a boat tour on the famous Maid of the Mist, trek through tunnels behind the cascades on the Journey Behind the Falls or get a bird’s eye view from the Skylon Tower observation deck.

Kathryn Burrington, the writer behind the Travel With Kat, visited Ontario in spring and she loved her trip to Canada during this time of year as she got to see a frozen Niagara Falls.

“I had a fabulous time discovering a snowy Ontario one April, including seeing the spectacle of a frozen Niagara Falls and a mystical winter-white Lake Superior. Think snowshoes, ice-fishing and wool mittens holding mugs of hot chocolate around a roaring fire.”

Top tips

• For a unique view of Niagara Falls, take a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel. This is Canada’s largest observation wheel, and it offers incredible views of the falls and beyond.

Fun facts

Around 3,160 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls every second. This accounts for 75,750 gallons of water per second over the American and Bridal Veil Falls and 681,750 gallons per second over the Horseshoe Falls.

READ MORE: Canada travel guide

3. Great Bear Rainforest

Province: British Columbia

The Great Bear Rainforest made headlines back in 2016 when Prince William and Kate visited it during their Royal Tour, but despite its fame, it still remains one of the best and most pristine wilderness environments anywhere in the world.

It is the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest as it extends 250 miles across the north coast and central areas of British Columbia.

The Great Bear Rainforest is renowned for its fjords, old-growth forest and its array of wildlife. Wildlife in the area ranges from whales to wolves, but the most iconic animal that calls the area home is the cream-coloured Kermode bear as it can only be found in the Great Bear Rainforest. A large population of Grizzly Bears and Black Bears also live within the rainforest.

Robert Berdan told us that there are a couple of rainforests he loves in Canada and that they were the Great Bear Rainforest and The Carmanah Valley, a rainforest on Vancouver Island.

“The second most awesome wonder is the Rainforest on Vancouver Island in the Carmanah Valley. The giant trees make you feel like you are walking back in time. The Great Bear Rainforest along the BC coast also made me feel this way.”

Top tips

You will want to take lots of photos during your visit to the Great Bear Rainforest, and Susan Portnoy, who is the writer behind The Insatiable Traveler, recommends: “If you’re a traveller who likes to take photos when on vacation but it’s not really your ‘thing,’ a point-and-shoot with the longest optical focal length is your best bet."

Fun facts

• At 21 million acres, the Great Bear Rainforest is slightly bigger than Scotland.
• The Great Bear Rainforest is the last and largest intact coastal temperate rainforest on Earth!
• There are 26 First Nations peoples living in the rainforest

READ MORE: The wild side of Canada: Great Bear Rainforest

4. The fjords of Gros Morne

Province: Newfoundland & Labrador

If you thought that there weren’t any fjords that could rival the ones in Norway, then think again. Gros Morne National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its incredible beauty that spans more than 1800 square kilometres and one of its most spectacular parts is it's deep, glacial fjords.

The fjords are nothing like you would expect to see in Canada and one of the best ones to visit is Western Brook Pond.

The fjords aren’t the only natural wonders in Gros Morne National Park as you step foot on ancient sea beds, enjoy alpine plateaus, photograph dramatic waterfalls and walk over the red rocks of the earth’s mantle, which have been pushed to the surface by collisions from tectonic plates.

Top tips

Gros Morne is a typical example of Canada’s natural beauty, and one way to experience this stunning park is by boat.

This is something that Erika Nelson, the blogger behind the My Itchy Travel Feet site, absolutely loved during her visit.

“There is one thing you MUST do if you visit Gros Morne National Park. The boat trip at Western Brook Pond is the highlight of the park. Western Brook Pond in a landlocked fjord tucked with cliffs as high as 2,000 feet. To reach Western Brook Pond, there is a relatively flat 1.75-mile walk.

“Who knew not all gorgeous, majestic fjords are found in Norway?

“I must say, once on the water, the scenery can’t be beat.”

Fun facts

• You can see one of the world’s best examples of continental drift on the isolated and uninhabited mountaintops of western Newfoundland. Here, deep ocean crust and rocks from the Earth’s mantle lie exposed for all to see.
• Gros is the literal translation from the French language, and it means “big”. It is an apt name for the national park as it is the second-largest national park in Atlantic Canada.

READ MORE: Canada's Greatest National Parks

5. Hopewell Rocks

Province: New Brunswick

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The world’s biggest tides can be found in the Bay of Fundy and as a result of the tides, there have been rocks eroded to form spectacular formations.

One such section is known as Hopewell Rocks, located at Hopewell Cape, and they are certainly worth visiting during a holiday to Canada.

If you are visiting Hopewell Rocks you need to be aware that twice a day, the tides flush into the bay, rising as high as 16m, and therefore flooding the base of the rocks. When it is low tide, you can walk amongst the stunning rock formations.

Top tips

Sonja Lishchynski from the travel blog Montecristo Travels talks about her experience of Hopewell Rocks: “They stand 40–70 feet tall. So, it’s no small thing to see when the tide is at its lowest and you walk the bed. And yes – as you can see pets are welcome in this Provincial Park. What a treat!

“There are some food options, and trails to hike in the woods as well. You can easily spend a full day and still only just scratch the surface. A MUST see if in NB, Canada.”

Fun facts

• The Bay of Fundy, where Hopewell Rocks are located, holds the world record for the highest tidal range in the world. The highest tide recorded was over 50 feet.
• Around 160 billion tonnes of water flow into the bay twice daily

6. Dinosaur Provincial Park

Province: Alberta

Another natural wonder of Canada that should be on your bucket list is the Dinosaur Provincial Park, located in Alberta’s Badlands. The park is home to some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made from the ‘Age of Reptiles’.

The park dates back a staggering 75 million years and is the perfect place to visit if you’re a Jurassic Park fan or a budding palaeontologist as you can still stumble across bones that date back to these periods.

If you are visiting Calgary, then there is no reason not to visit the park as it is just a few hours’ drive from the city. 

Top tips

One of the best ways to get up-close to the fossils is to follow one of the hiking trails. Along the Centrosaurus Quarry hike, for example, there is a full skeleton embedded in the earth.

Fun facts

• Some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made have been found here; in particular, about 35 species of dinosaur have been discovered.
• It’s estimated that some dinosaur fossils found in this area are 75-77 million years old.

READ MORE: Must-visit provincial parks near Calgary

7. Nahanni National Park

Province: Northwest Territories

If exploring over 500 kilometres of breathtaking terrain is up your street, then Nahanni National Park in the province of Northwest Territories is the place for you.

There are dozens of trails that are full of natural wonders such as glaciers lakes, rivers and mountains. 

If you enjoy really challenging hikes, the Ram Creek Trail is your best option. It is a 15-kilometre trek but is full of beautiful scenery at every twist and turn.

If you are visiting the Northwest Territories, Robert Berdan told us that he recommends heading to the tundra near Point Lake.

“Another awesome spot is photographing Caribou on the tundra in autumn near Point Lake in the Northwest Territories from Peterson Point Lake Lodge  – few people get to see these magnificent animals in such a beautiful setting.”

Top tips

If you are a keen photographer, you should look to climb up Sunblood Mountain as you will be able to take a panoramic photograph of the park's layout.

Fun facts

Late Canadian Prime Minister and veteran paddler Pierre Trudeau first protected this wildly diverse waterway with national park reserve status in 1972, paving the way for Nahanni to be designated the world's first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. Trudeau's eldest son, Justin, who has also become the Canadian Prime Minister, helped with the park's recent expansion.

8. Banff National Park

Province: Alberta

If you think about nature in Canada, then Banff National Park is often at the forefront of people’s minds.

With alpine lakes as blue as Switzerland’s and mountains to rival anywhere in the world, it is a spectacular destination.

The park is a great place to visit year-round as you can enjoy the thousands of miles of hiking trails, go wildlife watching or kayaking in the summer months, or go skiing and snowboarding at one of the Big 3 ski resorts that are located nearby during the winter months.

Top tips

For some of the most spectacular views, ride on the Banff Gondola and enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Canadian Rockies.

There are three other gondola rides you can enjoy: the Banff Sunshine Sightseeing Gondola, the Banff Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift, and the Lake Louise Gondola.

Fun facts

• Banff is Canada’s first National Park and was established in 1885.
• There are more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails in Banff National Park.

9. The Cabot Trail

Province: Nova Scotia

The world-famous Cabot Trail is one of Nova Scotia’s most popular attractions. The 185-mile road is the best way to see the highlights of Cape Breton and is regarded as one of North America’s most scenic drives.

You can expect to see dramatic coastlines and views over the Atlantic Ocean, lush valleys, and rugged moorlands.

Top tips

Some of the best stops along the Cabot Trail include:

• Baddeck
• Ingonish Beach
• The Skyline Trail
• Pleasant Bay
• Meat Cove

Fun facts

• It takes about five hours (without stops) to drive the length of the Cabot Trail

10. Columbia Icefield

Province: Alberta

At the heart of the incredible Icefields Parkway is one of the largest non-polar ice fields in the world – the Columbia Icefield. You can discover the power of nature and explore what is the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains.

Whilst a lot of the icefield is inaccessible, the Athabasca Glacier can be admired right from the Highway, and there are tours that will take you onto the icefield itself.

Top tips

You can ride on enormous, bubble-wheeled ice buses operated by Brewster that will carry you right out onto the glacier itself. You can then walk on the ancient ice and fill up your water bottle with meltwater.

The morning is the quietest time to visit the Columbia Icefield.

Fun facts

• At 325km squared, Columbia Icefield is bigger than Liechtenstein and the Maldives.

11. Okanagan Valley

Province: British Columbia

The province of British Columbia is home to a wine region covering over 10,000 acres, and its best-known stretch, the Okanagan Valley, spans over 150 kilometres from Osoyoos to Vernon.The region is home to over 200 vineyards and 120 wineries, and the great thing about the wineries in Okanagan is the fact they’re all really accessible, so you can enjoy a few days sampling the best wine Canada has to offer.

Top tips

Jean Robert and Gemma are a couple who write about their travel experiences on their blog, Off Track Travel, and they shared some tips for visiting the area.

“If you’re pushed for time, consider a stop at the new District Wine Village. There are 13 wineries plus a brewery and a distillery in one location.

“Take a tour of the Dominion Radio Observatory and learn a thing or two about the skies above the Okanagan Valley.”

Fun facts

• The region has its own version of the Loch Ness Monster. The Ogopogo (or Naitaka) is a lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake. Knowledge of its existence has been passed down through native folklore, and the last reported mass sighting was in 1926.
• Penticton has the most craft breweries per capita in British Columbia.

ALSO READ: 7 Okanagan wineries to add to your bucket list

12. Moraine Lake

Province: Alberta

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This list of natural wonders just wouldn’t be complete without including one of Canada’s stunning lakes. One of the most beautiful is Moraine Lake in Banff National Park.

With its blue-green water reflecting the surrounding forest and the snow-capped mountains of the Rockies, it is unsurprising that the lake features on so many postcards.

Top tips

There are so many activities to enjoy when you visit Moraine Lake and one of the most popular is renting a canoe and paddling around the lake. You should also look to hike along one of the trails for some spectacular photo opportunities.

Fun facts

Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill in 1969 and again in 1979, solidifying its status as an iconic symbol of natural beauty.

These are just some of the natural wonders we think you should visit on future Canadian holidays, but there are lots of other stunning natural attractions located all over the country. Call us and we can start planning your dream trip today!