5 of the Best Scenic Drives in Canada

Have you ever gone to a new destination, where you've rented a car, campervan or motorcycle, and just cruised? It is the quintessential travel lifestyle; there's nothing but you and the unexplored road ahead.

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Hitting the open road provides adventurous souls a sense of freedom and happiness in the simplest way possible.

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Continuing off my most recent article, Your Guide to the Best National Parks in Canada, I have done my best, although difficult, to talk about the best scenic drives around my home country.

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‍A visit to Canada should be in your upcoming plans and these dispersed routes will provide you with a new adventure, no matter where you are in the true north.

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Highway 60 - Algonquin Park, Ontario

Let's start with the spectacular scenic drive along Highway 60 in Ontario.

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The 190 kilometre stretch winds its way throughout the park and provides no shortage of breathtaking views along the way.

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Located to the east of Ontario’s cottage country (Muskoka), access to Highway 60 is quite simple.

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As a travellers tip, I recommend staying in the park for a couple nights.

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Set up your tent, tackle one of the many hiking trails, rent a canoe for the day and enjoy what Algonquin Provincial Park has to offer.

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You won't regret it.

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Interesting fact: Algonquin Park is the oldest provincial park in Ontario and in 1992 became a National Historic Site in Canada.

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Viking Trail - Newfoundland and Labrador

Settle in for the long haul if you’re wanting to take on this entire drive.

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The popular 489 kilometre Viking Trail is located along the Western Coast of Newfoundland.

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With the main highlight being Gros Morne National Park, those willing to drive further up the coast will witness even more sights along the way.

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The scenery throughout the length of the coastline is unlike anything else you will witness in Canada, and it deserves a few days of your time to digest.

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History gurus will also be able to get their fix and learn about the unique stories of the ancient past.

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The warm and welcoming people of Newfoundland always enjoy being able to teach others about their homeland.

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Interesting Fact: The Viking Trail ends in St Anthony, which is also known as the 'Iceberg Capital of the World'.

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Dempster Highway - Yukon and Northwest Territories

Dempster Highway is for those wanting to get off the tourist trail and seek some real adventure.

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The same was said in my previous article about Auyuittuq National Park and this is because of its sheer location in the far North.

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Split between the Yukon and Northwest Territories, the Dempster Highway is a remote Canadian experience.

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It starts in Dawson City and stretches nearly 800 kilometres to the Arctic Circle.

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You’ll have the opportunity to witness new wildlife, landscapes, and even 24-hour sunlight if you choose to venture here during the peak summer months.

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Ensure you rent yourself a 4x4 vehicle, and gear up for what will be an adventure of a lifetime.

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Interesting Fact: The highway is named after William Dempster, a Yukon local.

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He found the remains of 'The Lost Patrol', a group of policemen who went missing in 1900 and had died after getting into difficulty due to the diffcult, snowy conditions.

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Dempster became a local hero and there is still a monument to the Lost Patrol on the highway.

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Cabot Trail - Nova Scotia

Ok, so I can’t write about the best scenic drives in Canada without including the critically-acclaimed Cabot Trail, located on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island.

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Many Canadians and travellers alike will agree that this is one of the leading scenic stops in the entire country.

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Located under 4 hours from Halifax, the Cabot Trail is easily accessible for those who have flown into the capital city (this is considered a short drive for us Canadians…).

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Whether you have two days or one week, a drive around the Cabot Trail loop is an absolute must.

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Being a very popular route during the summer, accommodation styles of all types can be found throughout the journey.

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Interesting Fact: The trail rises to heights of over 1200ft.

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Icefields Parkway - Alberta

If you're planning to visit Banff National Park in the future, you’ll also have the opportunity to drive along the famous Icefields Parkway.

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Connecting the small town of Lake Louise to Jasper a bit further north, the Icefields Parkway (aka Highway 93) is definitely something to rave about.

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Year-round, this highway provides visitors with mind-blowing landscapes and lookouts every direction possible.

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Although only 232 kilometres, you’ll want to give yourself a full day to tackle this route.

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Start bright and early to avoid the crowds that are bound to start showing up throughout the day.

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An important thing to note; there is no cell coverage along the Icefields Parkway, so ensure you do your research beforehand and consider carrying along an old-school map to be safe.

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Interesting Fact: The building of the road was actually a depression-relief project. It was the work of over 2000 local, unemployed city men, who completed the work with hand tools (as that would keep them employed longer).

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That’s a warm-up list for some of the best scenic drives in Canada. Like my article on the 'Best National Parks in Canada', I did my best to provide you with a varying set of drives around the country. Here’s a few others that deserve an honourable mention:

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• Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia
• Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick
• Canadian Badlands, Alberta
• St Lawrence Route, Quebec

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So what are you waiting for?? Pack your bags, hit the road, and cruise.

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Adventure awaits along the many scenic routes around Canada.

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For now, take care of yourself - and remember, adventure is out there.

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