Canada is home to so many beautiful sights and amazing experiences. From the pristine Canadian Rocky Mountains to stunning national parks, filled with gorgeous lakes and hikes – come explore natural wonders like Peyto Lake in Alberta and hike the stunning Lake O’Hara of Yoho National Park in British Columbia. This Canadian Photo gallery of 18 images will make you want to visit this great country right away!
All these images are from the Western side of Canada (Alberta and BC) though I’d love to consistently update as I travel more of this beautiful land. Let me know where I should visit next – leave a comment below!
Enough talk, time to Travel through Photography – Canada!
Hike the beautiful Lake O’Hara in British Columbia’s Yoho National Park
Stunning scenery Immediately comes to mind anytime Canada is mentioned – steep and jagged mountains, surrounded by lakes Lakes shimmering hues of blues and greens. Lake O’Hara is my favourite place not only to experience these amazing natural wonders but immerse myself in the picturesque landscape Canada is so well known for.
Whether it’s a day hike, or you spend a few days camping around Lake O’Hara, you’re guaranteed to get some incredible views! My advice is to book a spot on the only transport to and from Lake O’Hara by the bus operated by Parks Canada.
One of my favourite Lake O’Hara photographs is of these little buds, known as “hippy heads” (they do slightly resemble my own younger-days hairstyle). These little guys were sprouting up all along the trails around Lake O’Hara, and other lakes in the area.
Larch trees are another reason why hiking in Lake O’Hara is so popular. These pine tree family members turn a bright yellow in the autumn, giving amazing contrast to the striking blue lakes. Here, Lake MacArthur is the ‘Powerade blue’ backdrop to a single, almost fluorescent larch tree.
If you love natural beauty and enjoy hiking, trails range from easy to moderate and quite challenging. These trails lead to other beautiful lakes and viewpoints around the Lake O’Hara area. plan your trip to Lake O’Hara – you won’t be disappointed!
Conrad Kain Hut in the Bugaboos Provincial Park Hike
One of the more challenging hikes in British Columbia’s Purcell Mountains, offering great views of the Bugaboo Glacier and surrounding vista. This difficult hike takes you through dense forest, to the side of a sheer cliff face, you even have to climb a ladder bolted to the side of a mountain.
The trail begins in the parking lot with cars coated in chicken wire to stop porcupines chewing at the rubber tire. It is possible to stay overnight and hike further on lesser travelled trails. Sleeping in the Conrad Kain Hut is by reservation only, and due to the beauty of the area, it tends to book out fast. This hike can also be completed as a long day hike.
Peyto Lake – The wolf-shaped lake in Alberta
Peyto Lake is situated in Banff National Park, Alberta, and from just looking at its outline, it isn’t hard to see why it’s so popular. While you can hike down to the Peyto Lake, and it is a great walk, putting the wolf outline in perspective is done much easier from a bird’s eye view.
This lake got its name from an early trail guide and trapper in the area, Bill Peyto. This magical lake is easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway highway running between Jasper and Banff. Peyto Lake, at least the viewpoint overlooking the body of water, should be on every traveller’s list to do in the area.
Tombstone Territorial Park
Moving much further north, into the Yukon Territory, is Tombstone Territorial Park. Reaching this park isn’t as easy as other items on this list; you will need to drive yourself. Near the beginning of the desolate Dempster Highway, a 737km stretch of road that sees little vehicle traffic lies Tombstone Territorial Park. In the background of the image, the tall vertical strut of rock is Tombstone Mountain.
Arriving in fall (autumn) is the best time to see this vista painted red and oranges as the leaves of many trees and shrubs begin to turn. Make sure you check the forecast of the road – I visited in a storm and ran off the road just south of the Arctic Circle, although this is much more north of tombstone territorial park. Of course, my first-ever crash has to be on a road that sees less than one vehicle an hour!
Cavell Meadows Hike
Another fantastic Canadian hike is in the Mount Edith Cavell area of Jasper National Park, Alberta. This 8.5km trail weaves through lakes fed by glaciers and meadows full of blooming flowers. Views around the trail don’t get much prettier than colourful flowers in the foreground of snow-capped mountains and ancient glaciers.
Sulphur Skyline Hike
While only an 8km return hike, Sulphur Skyline a challenging trek through the Canadian Rockies. With 700m elevation gain, the trail takes anywhere from 4-6 hours to complete (return). The beginning of the Sulphur Skyline starts in the Miette Hot Springs parking lot, right near the entrance to the pools., around 44km from Jasper, Alberta. There are plenty of views like the one pictured throughout the hike.
To top it all off, Miette Hot springs are a great way to soothe sore muscles after this exhausting hike.
Great views in the city of Edmonton
At the time of writing in late 2018, ‘The End Of The World Lookout’ – as it’s locally known, is possibly the best place to watch a sunset in Edmonton. Standing around 15m above the North Saskatchewan River and giving an amazing view of the area, it’s my favourite place to watch the sky fade into pink and purple.
Currently, the end of the world lookout is technically illegal, as long as you’re careful. The edge has no barricade or railing, and there are a few loose rocks and holes. Lately, there has been talk of developing this now redundant retaining wall into an official attraction of Edmonton. So see it while you can!
I currently live in the city of Edmonton, and anyone who has visited knows the city itself can have some rough winters, but the good definitely outweighs the bad – the summer festivals are amazing! Two festivals I think everyone should attend once, are Heritage Days and the Street Performers Festival of Edmonton.
Edmonton’s Heritage Days Festival is so fun and showcases Canada’s multicultural society. Over 100 countries display their culture and cuisine in one setting. Dancing, artworks and so much tasty food is available that you will need an afternoon food-induced nap!
A fun day out for pretty much anyone ever is Edmonton’s Street Performers Festival. The most talented street performers from all around the globe gather every year in Edmonton to entertain the large crowds that gather to watch the amazing abilities of the acts, not to mention the once again abundance of good food available throughout the grounds!
Canoe around Emerald Lake, British Columbia
Emerald Lake is another one of those places that should be on everyone’s Canadian bucket list! Beautiful views are easily spotted along the waling flat path around Emerald Lake itself, but for the best views, hiring a canoe is the way to go!
Once you’re out on the lake, it’s easy to find a quiet spot to appreciate the soaring mountains that surround you. On calm days the reflection is so Pristine that the mountains reflect on the emerald water as smooth as a mirror. Emerald Lake is just outside of the small town of Field, British Columbia.
Stroll around the Natural Bridge, British Columbia
Just down the road from Emerald Lake is another worthy spot to visit (you actually drive right passed it on the road to the lake). Another popular spot, the Natural Bridge is a fairly easy walk, but be careful in the autumn months when early snow can make the walk slippery as snow turns to ice.
East End of Rundle hike – Canmore
Canmore is a small town just inside the mountainous border of Alberta and is a well-known destination for hikers and nature lovers. A fairly short, yet very challenging hike in the area is known as the East End Of Rundle. This should only be attempted if you have some hiking experience as some parts are steep and there are plenty of loose rocks.
Some sections become intimidating, but the panoramic view from the top is worth the effort. Looking out over Canmore and its surrounding mountains in the distance is an unforgettable experience.
Take the ferry to Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Situated just off Canada’s western coast, Vancouver Island is a perfect destination for any type of traveller. Throw on a wetsuit and surf the famous breaks along the shores surrounding Tofino, or take a boat out to whale watch, or explore the incredible rainforests that surround the island itself. No matter what you chose, there are so many beautiful views to be had. My favourite part of visiting Vancouver Island was the ferry ride itself; passing beautiful mountains along clear and deep blue waters was a memorable experience of Canada, a journey I would suggest anyone take.
Travel through Photography – Canada
Canada is a country filled with amazing natural beauty, along with a diverse culture it is a country everyone should visit at least once in their life. There’s always more to see, and I could’ve added hundreds of images to the Canada photography gallery – there’s much more to come down the line.
What would you like to see in the next Canadian image gallery? Let me know in the comments below!
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