The Best Hidden Gems Across Canada

written by local expert Anna Faustino

Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.

Did you know that Canada covers nearly ten million square kilometers? You could literally spend years and years trying to take in everything that the country has to offer. While Canada is popularly known for its national parks, sports, and of course, its maple syrup, there really is a lot more to the country than meets the eye.

In fact, some of the best things to do in Canada are hidden! Away from the tourist’s eye lie a wealth of hidden beauty just waiting to be discovered. To prove my point even more, here’s a list of a few of Canada’s best hidden gems that are worth visiting.

Lake O’Hara

British Columbia is a well-known area in Canada with lots of exciting attractions. However, located in the Yoho National Park is one of the lesser-known beauties that is buried and hidden. The park is home to tons of scenic hiking trails and lush forest areas, but the real attraction should be Lake O’Hara.

This destination is probably not visited more often because it does require a reservation booked ahead of time, but it is certainly worth taking the extra time and effort. Every year, tons of people try their luck in booking up spaces to get permits to explore this region and while this can be frustrating for some, it preserves the beauty of the park, leaving it in pristine conditions all year round. yoho national park

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Lake Erie Shoreline

It is easy to understand why the big cities like Ottawa and Toronto get all of the attention. With their bustling buildings, towering skyscrapers, and financial districts, it is easy to see why anyone people enjoy venturing into these areas.

However, located in Lake Erie, Ontario you will find a unique little shoreline that has been so forgotten about it has been dubbed Ontario’s forgotten shoreline. This site offers several beautiful beaches, picturesque views and zero big city attitudes for the locals.

Editor’s Note:

Whether you are looking for hidden gems to explore or you want to partake in the big cities, you need to acquire a visa or electronic visa before entering Canada. Not to worry, as this is something that can be accomplished quickly and easily online at eta-canada.com. The document will allow travelers from most nationalities six months of admittance in the country for a period of up to five years.

Crooked Bush

Mother Nature can be a true mysterious wonder at times. And, there is no better proof of this than the crooked bush. Located near Hafford, Saskatchewan you can find the Redberry Lake Biosphere where there is a stand of warped and twisted aspen trees that are just a true wonder.

Botanists can’t really explain how or why these trees formed in this manner and they are baffled by their appearance, which just makes a visit to this hidden gem all the more worth it. Some have claimed the area is cursed others have said that the trees ended up this way due to radiation and poisoned water. I guess it is one of those things that you will never know. Whatever it is, if you enjoy seeing more unusual attractions, this is one of the best places to visit in Canada for that.

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Kakabeka Falls

Kakabeka Falls might not be as big or as popular as Niagara Falls, but it truly has a lot of offer. You can watch the water tower over the rocks as it flows into the beautiful canyon below, adventure around hiking trails all while sampling the best local cuisines around. And, the best part is that you can do most of these things without a large crowd since the area isn’t as crowded as Niagra.  Kakabeka Falls

Fredericton, New Brunswick

When it comes down to it, Fredericton is a pretty big city, but it is still considered a hidden gem by many of the locals and outsiders. With a vast amount of restaurants and casual pubs, this could be the best place to relax at night in a quiet and calm environment.

The Lunar Rogue Pub is one pub that you must check out, as it is home to over 600 different types of whiskeys and the walk on the river offers views that are to die for. During the day hours, you can check out the Beaverbrook Gallery, which is home to some pretty interesting exhibitions.

Clayoquot Sound

There is nothing that says relaxing like lounging in a hammock. And, that is exactly what you get if you are lucky enough to find this hidden gem in British Columbia. The area is filled with a massive series of treetop hammocks that overlook the ocean.

Of course, the climb up to the spot where the hammocks are is going to be a bit challenging, but the relaxation and view will be worth it when you get there. A dive team set this area up using dive materials and they ask anyone that visits it to please treat it with respect and care.

Kananaskis River

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at surfing, but just haven’t ever been able to find the perfect spot? Whatever the situation is now is your chance to cross this one off your bucket list. Located just an hour outside of Calgary you will find the Kananaskis River. A group of dedicated surfers spent countless hours and $25,000 of their own money to create this artificial wave. The wave is built out of a boulder and provides shark free surfing surrounded by beautiful scenery for absolutely no charge. kakanakis river

Find The Whistler Train Wreck

Back in 1956 crossing the Cheakamus a speeding train derailed and some of its cars were knocked off the tracks into the woods. Unfortunately, it proved to be too costly for a proper cleanup, so the railway company just opted for hauling the cars deeper into the woods where the public wouldn’t see them.

Well, these cars are still here to this very day in British Columbia and the area has now been converted into a bike park. Many famous graffiti artists have even come to leave their mark on these cars so the trek through the woods is certainly worth it to check out this hidden gem.

Regardless if you’ve heard of these locations or not, I have only just scratched the surface with this list as there are heaps of other places waiting to be discovered. However, don’t just take my word for it. Instead, why don’t you head to Canada yourself to explore more of this incredible destination?


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