There’s no place on earth quite as magical as Canada during the winter months. Known for its vast array of winter wonders, Canada is home to towering pines decorated with snow, sparkling frozen waterfalls, and white-capped mountains.
Whether you’re planning a winter vacation or simply want to explore what winter has to offer in your own province, here are 10 of the best winter wonders Canada has to offer.
Abraham Lake
Known as the bubble lake, Alberta’s Abraham Lake is a sight to behold in the winter. Located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, roughly three hours northwest of Calgary, this man-made lake is famous for its multitude of methane ice bubbles on display under the clear ice from December through March. The 32-kilometre-long lake retains its gorgeous greenish-blue colour even when frozen, and can take on a variety of hues depending on the lighting and time of day.“The lake typically freezes in mid to late December with the ice bubbles at their best from early-January to mid-February,” says the Explore Nordegg & Abraham Lake blog. “The bubbles are still visible later in the winter but the ice starts to get cloudy and is more likely to be snow-covered in sections.”
Early in the season, the best place to see the ice bubbles is Preachers Point, a shallow section of the lake where ice typically starts to form by mid-November.
Explore Nordegg & Abraham Lake, a not-for-profit tourism corporation, recommends venturing out with an experienced guide, if possible. For those who prefer to go it alone, the group urges all visitors to check ice conditions first.
The Farmer’s Almanac recommends ice be at least three inches (eight centimetres) thick if you are alone and four inches (10 cm) thick if you are walking in a group.
Algonquin Provincial Park
One of Ontario’s most famous parks, Algonquin Provincial Park is also the oldest, established more than 130 years ago.Located in South Central Ontario, 30 minutes east of Huntsville, Algonquin is a virtual winter wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts and is known for its pristine lakes and old forest growth featuring trees more than 400 years old.
One of the best views of the park can be found at the end of the Lookout Trail. The rugged 2.1-kilometre loop is not an easy trek, but several hundred square kilometres of the park can be seen from the panoramic lookout.
Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter biking are favourite activities, as is animal watching while hiking.
“Observant (and quiet) visitors will find tracks of moose, martens, fishers, otters, foxes, and elusive Algonquin Wolves, and may occasionally see the animals themselves,” reads an Ontario Parks blog post.
Bird watchers can expect to see and hear Canada Jays, Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, and colourful winter finches.
Algonquin also has several options for fans of winter camping, including staying in a heated yurt, but you can also rough it by pitching a tent at one of its plowed camping sites or go completely rustic by setting up camp in the park’s backcountry.
Johnston Canyon
Nestled within Banff National Park in Alberta, Johnston Canyon is a year-round destination for hiking enthusiasts and tourists alike with its stunning Rocky Mountains views. Located just thirty minutes from the small resort town of Banff, Alta., the canyon offers a magical experience in the winter with its snow covered trails and icy waterfalls.Visitors can book a guided tour of the wintertime Icewalk, which traverses along steel catwalks built into the canyon walls. The hike first passes the Lower Falls where cascading icicles and the beauty of the natural rock formations will be on display.
You’ll then continue on to the Johnston Canyon Upper Falls which has been transformed into glittering ice columns rising 30 metres overhead. There are viewing platforms in the Upper Falls that give you a chance to stop and enjoy the stunning view of the gorge below. You may even have the chance to see ice climbers scaling the frozen columns.
If guided tours aren’t your thing, you can explore the well-maintained, evergreen lined trails independently. Whichever way you do it—it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
Liard River Hot Springs
The second-largest natural hot spring in Canada, Liard River Hot Springs is known for its idyllic setting in B.C.’s boreal spruce forest. Open year-round, the hot spring located in Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park boasts water temperatures ranging from 42 degrees C to 52 C.A hot spring is a source of water that is heated via the earth’s interior and comes to the surface to form a pool. This particular hot spring is unique, however, because instead of flowing into a river, it trickles into “an intricate system of swamps,” according to BC Parks.
“These warm swamps are the most unique feature of the park,” the BC Parks website reads. “The warm water swamps, although being extremely shallow, never freeze in winter due to the continual inflow of warm water.”
Soaking in a hot spring is not only a great way to relieve stress and relax, the minerals found in these waters can help relieve sore muscles and joints while improving circulation and detoxifying the body. Experts suggest not exceeding a soak time of 15 to 20 minutes in waters above 40 C, however.
Once your soak is over, a hike along the boardwalk leading to the hot springs offers a scenic tour of the forest’s diverse plants and animals.
Lake Louise
Known for its vibrant turquoise waters encircled by soaring mountain peaks, Lake Louise is located in the heart of Banff National Park just 11 kilometres east of the B.C. border and 60 kilometres northwest of Banff, Alta.In the winter, when the lake is frozen, Lake Louise becomes a winter wonderland with its sparkling ice castle and scenic views. The lake typically begins to freeze in November and may not thaw fully until June.
Visitors will see cross country-skiers gliding across the lake and ice climbers scaling frozen waterfalls. There are horse drawn sleigh rides around the snow-covered shoreline and an outdoor skating rink for skaters of all skill levels.
Hikers can explore a variety of trails from the lakefront either on foot or on snowshoes. One of the most popular is the lakeshore trail along the water which offers views of a towering waterfall.
“Winter is a fantastic time to get outside and enjoy the crisp air and beautiful scenery of the Canadian Rockies on foot,” the Banff and Lake Louise Tourism website reads. “Snowshoeing in… Lake Louise is a fun activity that’s easy to learn no matter your age or fitness level.
Aside from the beautiful scenery a wintery Lake Louise offers, another advantage of planning a cold-weather visit to this popular spot is avoiding the huge crowds that converge there in the summer.
Mont-Mégantic National Park
A protected site in the heart of the world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, Mont-Mégantic National Park is a hiker’s paradise with its 60 kilometres of trails. The park, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Montreal, is located at the northern end of the Appalachian mountain range, near the village of Notre-Dame-des-Bois.“Mountains, valleys, ridges and hills give Parc national du Mont-Mégantic a unique shape that holds an impressive natural environment,” says Sépaq marketing vice-president Simon Boivin, adding that the park’s beauty and wildlife can be enjoyed while hiking, skiing or snowshoeing.
Home to more than 120 species of birds, the park is an ideal place to spot Canada Jays or hear Bicknell’s Thrush, a songbird that is closely monitored by the park’s conservation team.
Nighttime is also an ideal time to enjoy the park. As a dark sky reserve, the park boasts spectacular starry skies at night. The Mont Mégantic Observatory located at the peak of the mountain in the centre of the park takes star gazing to the next level with its 1.6-metre telescope.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has been named by one study as the “best-loved landmark,” despite being pitted against wonders of the world such as the Taj Mahal in India and the Grand Canyon in the United States. The 2022 study ranked Niagara Falls an impressive 9.22 out of 10, well above any other landmarks on its list.Located in a small Ontario city bearing the same name, Niagara Falls has long been a prime tourist destination for honeymooners and summer vacationers. But it is just as worth seeing in the cold winter months.
Niagara Falls Tourism president and CEO Janice Thomson says winter transforms the falls “into an ice-covered wonder.” Ice build ups create the illusion of frozen falls while a chilly mist blankets the surrounding trees. Winter visitors can take it all in from the outdoor viewing platform at Journey Behind the Falls.
The Winter Festival of Lights, which includes a special falls illumination every night, runs yearly from Nov. 18 to Jan. 7 and is the perfect way to see the falls at night. “With more than three million twinkling lights [it] will delight everyone who makes the trip,” Thomson says. “It truly is a sight to see.”
Sleeping Giant
The Sleeping Giant in northwestern Ontario is a large formation of volcanic rock mesas that resemble a giant lying on its back in the water. According to a local Ojibway legend, the giant, or “Nanajibou,” which means “The Spirit of Deep Sea Water,” was turned to stone when the location of a nearby silver mine was found.Located within the 244-square-kilometre Sleeping Giant Provincial Park an hour east of Thunder Bay, the mesas are part of the greater Sibley Peninsula but can look like an island from the way it juts out into Lake Superior.
The park has more than 100 kilometres of hiking trails that remain open throughout the winter, providing beautiful views of the boreal forest, which is home to deer, wolf, fox, and lynx as well as more than 200 species of birds, making it a virtual paradise for amateur ornithologists.
You won’t want to miss Thunder Bay Lookout, which is located near Pass Lake in the park. From this vantage point, you can look out over Thunder Bay and Lake Superior. On a clear, sunny day, you’ll even be able to see across the lake to Michigan.
Camping, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and fat biking are favourite winter activities as are star gazing. One of the park’s best features, however, is the ability to see the northern lights over Lake Superior during the winter months.
Peggy’s Point Lighthouse
Nova Scotia is home to more than 160 historic lighthouses but Peggy’s Point Lighthouse is one of the province’s most famous. Also known as Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, the sturdy white and red structure is located in the picturesque fishing village of the same name.While Peggy’s Point Lighthouse isn’t traditionally considered a winter destination, the cool months can be one of the better times to visit because there are far smaller crowds to contend with. You’ll also have the opportunity to see winter’s effect on the landscape and the Atlantic Ocean as you watch the waves and explore the rocky site. It’s important that visitors are careful not to get too close to the sea and avoid the black rocks and icy areas.
“Visitors are reminded to exercise caution at all times, as the ocean water around Peggy’s cove is dangerous,” Nova Scotia Tourism advises. “Rogue waves (unpredictable, rough waves) commonly splash up over the rocks, even on calm, sunny days.”
Built in 1915, the lighthouse is still operated by the Canadian Coast Guard and is part of the Peggy’s Cove Preservation Area.
Once your visit to the lighthouse is over, you can enjoy a cup of seafood chowder in the village or take advantage of visiting during lobster season.
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park, established in 1885, is located on the western slopes of the Great Divide Trail which spans the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia. Just east of the Alberta border, the B.C. park displays the splendour of the Rocky Mountains.Yoho, a Cree expression meaning awe and wonder, accurately captures the landscape’s beauty with its alpine peaks, valleys, waterfalls, and lakes that are home to a diverse mix of animals such as cougars, lynx, and timber wolves. Winter visitors likely won’t have the opportunity to see a grizzly or black bear, but both species can occasionally awake for short periods during hibernation.
“If you see wildlife, do not approach. Give them lots of space and observe from a distance with binoculars or a telephoto lens,” Parks Canada recommends. “If tracks are observed, do not follow them towards the animal. Be alert, make noise and carry bear spray.”
The park boasts a variety of scenic locations including Emerald Lake, Lake O'Hara, Takakkaw Falls, Yoho Valley, and Natural Bridge, an “ancient rock formation” that spans the rushing waters of the Kicking Horse River.
The park offers ample winter hiking opportunities and many trails are shared with skiers and snowshoers. Winter camping, ice climbing, and fishing are also favourite winter pastimes.
