37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada

Spectacular scenery in Auyuittuq National Park
Spectacular scenery in Auyuittuq National Park

Canada has its fair share of long distance and backpacking trails. I tend to think of Europe when I think of long distance hiking trails or walks. Maybe they’ve just done a better job of publicizing them. But in Canada there are long distance and backpacking trails in every province and territory. Several are a work in progress.

Described are 37 long distance and backpacking trails in Canada.

Some of the long distance trails in Canada are built only for hiking, while others are shared-use trails. Almost all of the national parks have extensive trail systems with many multi-day backpacking trips possible, though only a few of these ones are mentioned – at the end of the post.

Many, but certainly not all of the trails, are designed for adventurous folks with expert navigation and wilderness skills. Fortunately, there are still plenty of trails that are well-marked with multiple access points so they can be done in sections as you have the time. 

It always feels so good to get the boots off at the end of the day
It always feels so good to get the boots off at the end of the day

Check out this detailed packing list for a two week hiking – backpacking trip.

This list and brief description of many of Canada’s long distance hiking trails keeps growing as I hear of or try new trails.

Views from the Charlevoix Traverse in Quebec
Views from the Charlevoix Traverse in Quebec

British Columbia long distance hiking trails

The West Coast Trail

The West Coast Trail is one of the most popular long distance hiking trails in Canada with up to 8,000 people per season tackling the strenuous 75 km (45 mile) section of beach and rain forest between Bamfield in the north and Port Renfrew in the south. Allow 6-8 days.

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
The interminable ladders on the West Coast Trail
One of the beautiful beaches on the West Coast Trail
One of the beautiful beaches on the West Coast Trail

The Juan de Fuca Trail

The Juan de Fuca Trail, is a 47 km (29 mile) strenuous but well-marked trail that follows the coast from Port Renfrew to the small town of Jordan River.

It’s easier than its northern neighbour, the West Coast Trail, and perfect if you have three to four days. You can also hike it in sections because of its multiple access points.

Read: Juan de Fuca Trail: What You Need to Know

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
The Juan de Fuca Trail near Botanical beach
A beautiful beach section on the Juan de Fuca Trail
A beautiful beach section on the Juan de Fuca Trail

The North Coast Trail

The North Coast Trail at the northern end of Vancouver Island offers 43 km (27 miles) of tough and often extremely muddy hiking. It runs from Nels Bight in Cape Scott Provincial Park to Shushartie Bay.

Add in another 15 km to get to the trailhead at San Josef River. You might see black bears, cougars, wolves and seals, sea lions and sea birds. 

Read: Muddy but Fabulous: The Cape Scott Trail

Pacific Ocean views from Cape Scott beach
Pacific Ocean views from Cape Scott beach – Photo credit: Gemma Taylor, Offtrack Travel

The Nootka Island Trail

The Nootka Island Trail takes you approximately 35 km (22 miles) from Louie Bay on the north side of the island to Friendly Cove on the south side – and for that you need to allow 4 – 6 days.

This is another tough trail (my favourite on the west coast), but it rewards with beautiful beaches and quintessential west coast scenery. Lots of wildlife too including black bears, wolves and seals.

Lots of creek crossings in the morning
Lots of creek crossings in the morning
Calvin Falls
Calvin Falls – and lots of fresh water

The Sunshine Coast Trail

The Sunshine Coast Trail in the Powell River area takes you 180 km (112 miles) from the Desolation Sound area in the north to Saltery Bay in the south. There are over twenty access points to choose from but if you do it in one go, allow at least 10 days. It offers free huts along its length but they cannot be reserved.

Read: Sunshine Coast Trail: What you Need to Know 

Admiring spectacularly large trees on the Sunshine Coast Trail
Admiring spectacularly large trees on the Sunshine Coast Trail
Manzanita Hut on the Sunshine Coast Trail
The free Manzanita Hut on the Sunshine Coast Trail

Stein Valley Trails

The Stein Valley trails in Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Provincial Park, east of Whistler, are notoriously arduous. The 52 kilometre (32 mile) hike from Blowdown Pass to the Stein trailhead near Lytton requires four to five days.

The scenery is reportedly excellent but the trails can be very tough going and you need excellent route finding skills.

The Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail

The 420 km (260 mile) Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail (also known as the Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail) takes you from Bella Coola in central BC to Quesnel.

Allow three weeks though it’s possible to do the 80 km section through Tweedsmuir Provincial Park in a week. This historic trail was used by the native people to transport fish grease to the interior for trading.

The Telegraph Trail follows an historic telegraph line for 100 km (62 miles) between Quesnel and Hazelton.

Alberta hiking trails

The Waskahegan Trail

The Waskahegan Trail offers a remote 309 km (192 mile) experience. The trail makes a loop, beginning south of Edmonton and heading to Wetaskiwin, then east to Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, north to Elk Island National Park and west to Fort Saskatchewan. It’s often done as a series of day hikes.

Bison off in the distance in Elk Island National Park
Bison off in the distance in Elk Island National Park

The Great Divide Trail

The Great Divide Trail takes you 1,200 km (744 miles) from the US border north to Kakwa Provincial Park, north of Jasper National Park. Other than a 100 km section between Crowsnest Pass and Kananaskis Country, it’s an informal route but it’s becoming more popular with every passing year. There is an app you can download and get all the trails.

Lower Elk Lake after sunset
Lower Elk Lake after sunset – and one of the suggested campgrounds on the route

Multi-day hiking trips in the Rocky Mountain National Parks

For a look at a couple of backpacking trips in Banff, Jasper and Kootenay National Parks that are three to four days in length check out the following blogs.

On the way to Surprise Point Campground
On the way to Surprise Point Campground, Tonquin Valley Trail
Mammatus clouds - often associated with severe thunderstorms (and locally there were severe winds and thunderstorms that night)
Mammatus clouds – often associated with severe thunderstorms seen on the Sawback Trail hike

Saskatchewan long distance hiking trails

The Boreal Trail

Saskatchewan offers lots of hiking in the provincial and national parks. They do have one long distance hiking trail – the 120 km Boreal Trail in the western part of the province. It offers a variety of starting and ending points. In 2019 the trail suffered some damage after a big storm so check in with the park before you go. Fortunately I did have a reader say she did the whole trail after the storm.

Read: Hiking the Boreal Trail in Saskatchewan 

Starting the Boreal Trail at its western end
Starting the Boreal Trail at its western end in Meadow Lake Provincial Park

Manitoba hiking trails

The Mantario Trail

The Mantario Trail traverses 66 km (41 miles) through the Canadian Shield and boreal forest, near the Manitoba – Ontario border. This trail is for experienced backpackers only who are prepared for tough conditions – at least according to the trip reports.

Ontario hiking trails

The Voyageur Trail

The Voyageur Trail is a work in progress. Eventually it will link Thunder Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior to Manitoulin Island.

There are four sections of some length that are finished now: Rossport to Terrace Bay (52 m), Pukaskwa National Park Coastal Trail (60 km), Lake Superior Provincial Park Coastal Trail (55 km) and Goulais River -Sault Ste. Marie – Thessalon – Elliot Lake (250 km).

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
Sections of easy flat walking on these rocks that you wish lasted forever

Also read about the Coastal Trail in Pukaskwa National Park. It’s a spectacular trail but plan a trip in late August or September as the bugs can be ferocious earlier in the summer.

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
A beautiful section of the Coast Trail in Pukaskwa National Park

The Ottawa – Temiskaming Highland Trail

Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland Trail is a rugged wilderness trail approximately 100 km in length. There are six access points via road so it’s possible to break the trail up into day trips.

The Bruce Trail

The Bruce Trail is an 800 km (496 mile) trail that follows the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. There are over 300 km of additional side trails. Numerous access points allow day long or weekend trips. It is Canada’s original long distance hiking trail.

The section through Bruce Peninsula National Park is spectacular – but surprisingly tough.

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
The Grotto – one of the highlights along the Bruce Trail in Bruce Peninsula National Park
View down the coast from the top of the cliff
View down the coast from the top of the cliff

Grand Valley Trail

The Grand Valley Trail takes you 275 km (171 miles) between Rock Point Provincial Park on Lake Erie and the town of Alton near Orangeville. Watch out for poison ivy and ticks.

Avon Trail

The Avon Trail stretches from St. Mary’s to Conestoga over 110 kilometres (68 miles). Hike across scenic farmland, occasionally along a country road and even through small towns. The trail links to the Thames Valley and Grand Valley Trails.

The Thames Valley Trail

The Thames Valley Trail is a 110 kilometre (68 mile) hiking trail along the Thames River Valley from London to St. Mary’s. Through London it follows multi-use trails.

The Oak Ridges Trail

The Oak Ridges Trail follows the Oak Ridge Moraine for over 160 kilometres (99 miles) just north of Toronto. There are over 100 km of side trails that link up with it including the Bruce Trail to the west.

Read: An Easy Hike on the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
An easy section of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail

Ganaraska Trail

The Ganaraska Trail connects Port Hope, Barrie, Orillia and the Bruce Trail over a distance of 500 km (310 miles). Some sections of the trail traverse remote wilderness. There are many sections that can be done over a number of weekends to complete the entire trail.

Walking around 6:30 PM worked to our advantage with the light
Walking around 6:30 PM worked to our advantage with the light

The Rideau Trail

The Rideau Trail is a 387 km hiking trail network between Ottawa and Kingston that takes hikers through two provincial parks, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve & a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Numerous access points make it an ideal trail for hikers completing it in sections but backpackers are through hiking the trail in increasing numbers as well.

The Rideau Canal where it meets the Ottawa River is the start/end point
The Rideau Canal where it meets the Ottawa River is the start/end point depending on what direction you hike it

Quebec long distance hiking trails

Quebec’s section of the National Hiking Trail will eventually be close to 1,500 km (930 miles) in length. The trail will run from the Ottawa/Gatineau Park area, head across the Laurentians and Charlevoix regions before crossing the St. Lawrence at Les Escoumins.

There will be a 160 km lower St. Lawrence section too, stretching all the way to the New Brunswick border. More than half the trail is completed now.

International Appalachian Trail

The Chic Choc Mountains boast 150 km (93 miles) of trail that are the northern part of the International Appalachian Trail. Stay in one of the approximately 20 backcountry huts and keep your eyes peeled for caribou, especially at the higher elevations. For a day hike that offers spectacular scenery you would do well to hike to the summit of Le Mont Albert.

The first views from the top of Le Mont Albert
The first views from the top of Le Mont Albert

Les Sentiers de l’Estrie

Les Sentiers de l’Estrie takes you 150 km from the Vermont border to Kingsbury and connects several peaks over 2,000 feet high. Membership is required to walk the trails.

The Sentier du Lac Kénogami

The Sentier du Lac Kénogami is a 45 km trail along the shores of Lake Kenogami. Allow four days. The trail begins near Hébertville and the east end is south of Chicoutimi.

The Traversé de Charlevoix

There’s a 105 km hut to hut hiking trail near Baie St. Paul called the Traversé de Charlevoix. It takes most people 6 – 7 days to do it. The first four days are the most scenic, with the last three mostly in the woods. In September fuel up with blueberries.

Read: Hut to Hut Hiking on the Charlevoix Traversé

37 Long Distance & Backpacking Trails in Canada
On the first day on the Traversee de Charlevoix there’s an option to do a summit hike with these kind of views
Blue Jay Hut - everyone's favourite
Blue Jay Hut – everyone’s favourite on the Charlevoix Traverse

New Brunswick hiking trails

The Fundy Footpath

The Fundy Footpath hike is a rugged 64.3 km (40 mi) trail that requires at least four days. It takes you along the Fundy shore from the Fundy Trail Parkway near Big Salmon River to Fundy National Park. Be prepared for slippery rocks and cliffs. Plan your hike around the tides. Enjoy superlative coastal views.

One of the access points from the Fundy Footpath
One of the access points from the Fundy Footpath
One of the beautiful beaches you can camp on along the Fundy Footpath
One of the beautiful beaches you can camp on along the Fundy Footpath

The Fundy Circuit

The Fundy Circuit is another possibility. It’s a 48 km backpacking circuit made up of seven linked hiking trails within Fundy National Park. Allow three to five days to hike it. Be sure to make backcountry reservations.

Nepisiguit Mi’gmaq Trail

A millennia old Mi’gmaq migration route follows the winding Nepisiguit River from Mount Carleton Provincial Park to Bathurst on Chaleur Bay There’s an excellent account of the 5-day, 160 km hike along the Nepisiguit River in Canadian Geographic

Nova Scotia hiking trails

The Cape to Cape Trail is in the planning stages. Ultimately it will take you from Cape Chignecto to Cape George, a distance of about 400 km (248 miles).

Cape Chignecto Coastal Trail

The 51 km physically demanding Coastal Trail in Cape Chignecto Provincial Park requires three to four days. You can tent or book a hut. The hike offers beautiful coastal scenery, complete with numerous 200 m high red cliffs, sheltered coves and remnant old growth forest.

One of the best views along the Coastal Trail
One of the best views of the three days along the Coastal Trail
Never saw a boat on the Bay of Fundy
Never saw a boat on the Bay of Fundy while hiking the Cape Chignecto Trail

Prince Edward Island long distance hiking trails

The Confederation Trail

In PEI look for the Confederation Trail, a 250 km (155 miles) trail on old railway lines. It’s meant to be shared so assume you’ll run into cyclists. Wind your way through pretty villages, through hardwood groves and along many a river. It’s easy to follow and flat.

The latest addition to PEI is the Island Walk – a 700 km circumnavigation of the entire island over 32 sections.

Prince Edward Island by Bike
Confederation Trail makes for easy biking and hiking

Newfoundland hiking trails

The East Coast Trail

The East Coast Trail is a 540 km (335 mile) trail running along the eastern cliffs of the Avalon Peninsula. It’s broken into 18 sections and each section can be accessed for a day hike. I spent 11 days hiking 13 sections in summer 2022 and can say it’s a stunner of a trail to hike. Camp or stay in B&B’s.

The trail links 32 historic communities and features spectacular scenery including cliffs, sea stacks, fjords, lighthouses, icebergs and even a caribou herd.

Recommended reading: The Spurwink Island Path Hike in Newfoundland 

You can a sense of the ruggedness of the East Coast Trail very quickly
You can a sense of the ruggedness of the East Coast Trail very quickly
A colourful start heading north on the Stiles Cove Path
A colourful start heading north on the Stiles Cove Path

The Long Range Traverse

Gros Morne National Park boasts two wilderness backpacking routes – the North Rim Traverse and the Long Range Traverse. Both require solid navigational skills and prior experience OR go with a guide.

The Long Range Traverse typically takes four days to complete. Enjoy fjords, spectacular rugged mountains, many a small lake and numerous wildlife sightings including moose and caribou.

One of the great views you get on the Long Range Traverse
One of the great views you get on the Long Range Traverse
The waterfall is a great place for lunch
The waterfall is a great place for lunch on the Long Range Traverse

Yukon Territory hiking trail

The Chilkoot Trail

The Chilkoot Trail, a 53 km former gold rush trail, is the most famous one in Canada’s north. It’s a demanding four to six day hike that starts on tidewater in Alaska and ends in Bennett, BC – and the you take the train to finish in Carcross, Yukon Territory.

Campsites need to be booked well in advance. 

An easy section of the Chilkoot Trail near Bennett Lake
An easy section of the Chilkoot Trail near Bennett Lake

Northwest Territories hiking trail

The Canol Heritage Trail

The Canol Heritage Trail is an abandoned road that runs 350 km (217 miles) between MacMillan Pass and Norman Wells. The road was built during World War II to reach oil fields. Plan on hiking 20 days to traverse this spectacular country. It is a very remote wilderness experience.

Nunavut hiking trail

Akshayuk Pass

Akshayuk Pass in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island is a 105 km (65 mile) hike that showcases a wild landscape with the world’s tallest rock cliffs – Mt. Thor. You’ll see hanging glaciers, shear-faced mountains and perhaps even a polar bear.

Read: A Backpacking Trip in Auyuittuq National Park

Spectacular scenery in Auyuittuq National Park
Spectacular scenery in Auyuittuq National Park
The view out our tent window at Summit Lake
The view out our tent window at Summit Lake

Do you have any long distance and backpacking trails in Canada to add to this list? What have I missed?

Things I take on most long distance hikes in Canada

At lunch time I like something comfortable to sit on. I love my almost weightless inflatable seat cushion

I like using hiking poles, especially when a stream crossing is involved. Invest in a good pair that are collapsible and lightweight.

No matter how the day starts I always carry rain gear. I find a brim hat with a chin strap invaluable on rainy or hot, sunny days.

I always pack a buff, a multi-purpose piece of cloth yet it takes up almost no room and as a lot of uses like warming your neck, covering your nose if it’s dusty and pulling your hair back in the wind.

I always pack water purification tablets – because they take up almost no room and they’re perfect to use on a short stop.

For blister care I recommend the following.

Leukotape – This came highly recommended to me by a fellow who was hiking the whole of the Great Divide Trail in Alberta and BC. I met him near the end of the trail, and he still swore by the stuff.

KT Blister Tape – Several hikers I have chatted with recently have come to love this tape for blisters. I also recommend KT Tape – an athletic tape that I’ve used for foot support on long hikes.

Compeed – I discovered this Band Aid-like product when I was hiking the Cumbria Way in England and ended up with massive blisters after getting wet feet. I always pack it on multi-day hikes – and I find it speeds up the healing process too. It’s not inexpensive but it’s worth it.

More reading on long distance hikes in the world

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37+ long distance hiking trails in Canada

 

  1. Hello, I’m in need of some advise. I plan to hike from southern okanagan up through bc up into the Yukon I would like to start near keremeos bc and end up in Dawson city. Does anyone know of a series of trails I could use for this? This will probably take me a few months I’m guessing. only done a few multi day hikes. Nothing this extensive. has anyone done a trip like this?

  2. @Jack I have written about the trail elsewhere on my blog and in fact included it in my book on 100 Outdoor Adventures in Canada. I fully concur that it’s a trail that delivers day after day. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

  3. I’m not sure what your cut off is to be considered a long distance trail? Having said that, I’d like to put in a vote for the Rockwall Trail, located in Kootenay National Park. It’s 55km long, takes you up over 3 passes: Rockwall pass, Tumbling Pass, and Numa Pass; not to mention Tumbling Glacier, and with a side trip, Wolverine Pass. This trail has to be added to your list. Truly a treasure.

  4. @Laurie I certainly know of the area from a kayaking perspective but had no idea there was a trail. Sounds like a very interesting – and probably not very well used hike – or did you run into a lot of people?

  5. Another multi (4-5) day coastal hike in BC is the Hesquiat Trail. It is 98% coastal hiking with a lot of variation. Not technically hard but arduous 9 kms of boulders and some water shortages. Less traveled that most coastal hikes as it in a fly in fly out hike. I have done all the coastal hikes and this is one of my favorites, no mud or log crossings.

  6. British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley also offers the 67Km long High-Rim + Highland trail(s). These conjoining routes take one from Vernon in the north, down to Chute Lake (Naramata) in the south.

    Andrew Drouin

  7. Think Celtic Shores would be a great biking trail but not backpacking. The packed surface is hard on the feet and legs, and it travels through lots of flat, marshy areas. There is really only one day with scenic views along the coast, and when we did it, it was a day of gale force winds and driving rain. But we like wilderness and variety of landscape – each to their own preferences.

  8. You have forgotten the gorgeous Cape Chignecto Loop in Nova Scotia. 52 kms of rugged coastal trail on the Bay of Fundy and beautiful rugged forest. Campsites and cabins available.

  9. @Tasha The Trans-Canada Trail is great but it’s hardly one continuous trail – yet. They’re working hard to have more sections in place & finished by 2017 – Canada’s 150th anniversary.

  10. Please consider adding the Celtic Shores Coastal trail to your list. 92km of easily accessible multi-use rails-to-trails along the spectacular west coast of Cape Breton Island.

  11. You forgot La Traversée de Charlevoix in Québec! It can be hiked in summer and cross country skied in winter (I did the latter).

  12. @Josh Good points re the Manitoba trails. I have personally hiked the Rockwall and the Skyline Trail but didn’t include them in this list as they weren’t long enough – though they are two of my faves in all of Canada.Thanks so much for stopping by.

  13. A couple to add in Manitoba: the Epinette Creek trail system- about 40km in Spruce Woods Provincial Park and in Riding Mountain National Park you could easily hike for a week in the west part of the park and likely not see a soul. There are over 400 km of trails in the park and you can link up many of them, giving the possibility of 200km of trail solitude.

    I noticed you skipped over some of the more famous hikes in the mountain parks too- Skyline in Jasper and Rockwall in Kootenay. There are of course many more in Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, and Kananaskis.

    Thanks for the great info!

  14. Hey there, Im searching high and low for some help routing a backpacking trip from Quebec City to Newfoundland and am having a lot of trouble mapping it. If anyone with experience doing can provide any help id be extremely grateful!

    1. @Monica Are you trying to backpack via the roads – or the Trans-Canada Trail. I’d start by looking at what sections on the Trans-Canada trail could be used along the route. And buy some very detailed maps.

  15. Great list! A few to add to my list. A friend and I are planning a 100 km trek through a part of the Rideau Trail. It is a great one to do in sections from what I have read, but I have noticed while planning this multi day hike that camp spots are few and far between.

  16. Awesome list! Just found it. In Ontario, the Rideau Trail is offers 387km of marked trail providing a link between Ottawa, Kingston and many communities in between (fastest route is 323km). Check it out! http://www.rideautrail.org/ The Cataraqui Trail is another trail around there that connects Strathcona (near Napanee) with Smiths Falls along an old rail line. Both trails cross sections of the Rideau Canal and through the Frontenac Arch UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. http://www.cataraquitrail.ca/

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