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Best Long-Distance Hikes in Canada

There are 42 hikes in Canada in our database that fit. They average 161 km and 3,552 m (11,654 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 743 km.

That is 8 percent of the 515 routes we map in Canada. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 161 km against 20.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 3,552 m (11,654 ft) on average versus 472 m (1,549 ft) across the wider area.

Multi-day paths, normally walked in stages, with the accommodation and waymarking to support them. The mix is broad: 3 are rated easy and 38 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day.

Trails

Expert

SIA, 2-Côte de Gaspé

Quebec · Canada

Distance
102 km
/ 63.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,242 m
Typical duration
27 hr
  • Coastal
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

SIA, 5-Réserve faunique de Matane

Quebec · Canada

Distance
107 km
/ 66.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,350 m
Typical duration
28 hr
  • Wildlife watching
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

National Hiking Trail

Quebec · Canada

Distance
326 km
/ 203 mi
Elevation gain
7,171 m
Typical duration
87 hr
  • Forest
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

SIA, 3-Haute Gaspésie

Quebec · Canada

Distance
111 km
/ 68.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,431 m
Typical duration
29 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

SIA, 4-Parc de la Gaspésie

Quebec · Canada

Distance
92.4 km
/ 57.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,032 m
Typical duration
24 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

SIA, 6-Vallée de la Matapedia

Quebec · Canada

Distance
131 km
/ 81.3 mi
Elevation gain
2,879 m
Typical duration
35 hr
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Avon Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
165 km
/ 102 mi
Elevation gain
3,619 m
Typical duration
44 hr
  • River
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Thames Valley Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
139 km
/ 86.1 mi
Elevation gain
3,050 m
Typical duration
37 hr
  • River
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GDT ecc

Alberta · Canada

Distance
65.2 km
/ 40.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,435 m
Typical duration
17 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

GDT efm

Alberta · Canada

Distance
68.6 km
/ 42.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,510 m
Typical duration
18 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

The Island Walk

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance
663 km
/ 412 mi
Elevation gain
14,597 m
Typical duration
179 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Ganaraska Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
239 km
/ 148 mi
Elevation gain
5,252 m
Typical duration
64 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Grand Valley Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
212 km
/ 132 mi
Elevation gain
4,674 m
Typical duration
57 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Long Range Traverse Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance
57.5 km
/ 35.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,264 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Mantario Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
61.6 km
/ 38.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,355 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

North Whiteshell Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
99.4 km
/ 61.8 mi
Elevation gain
2,187 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Long-distance path
Easy

Northern Traverse Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance
5.6 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
122 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Oak Ridges Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
254 km
/ 158 mi
Elevation gain
5,597 m
Typical duration
68 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Central PEI Coastal Walk

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance
186 km
/ 115 mi
Elevation gain
4,087 m
Typical duration
49 hr
  • Coastal
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Moose River Route

Alberta · Canada

Distance
62.4 km
/ 38.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,372 m
Typical duration
16 hr
  • River
  • Long-distance path
Easy

De la Traverse

Quebec · Canada

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
68 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Hike: Long Distance

Alberta · Canada

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
236 m
Typical duration
2 hr 8 min
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Interlake Pioneer Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
115 km
/ 71.2 mi
Elevation gain
2,523 m
Typical duration
30 hr
  • Long-distance path
Expert

La Cloche Silhouette Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
73.7 km
/ 45.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,621 m
Typical duration
19 hr
  • Long-distance path

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
International Appalachian Trail, QuébecQuebec6.2 km137 m1 hr 30 minEasyApril to October
SIA, 2-Côte de GaspéQuebec102 km2,242 m27 hrExpertApril to October
SIA, 5-Réserve faunique de MataneQuebec107 km2,350 m28 hrExpertApril to October
National Hiking TrailQuebec326 km7,171 m87 hrExpertApril to October
International Appalachian Trail (Newfoundland)Newfoundland and Labrador743 km16,339 m201 hrExpertApril to October
International Appalachian Trail (Nova Scotia)Nova Scotia488 km10,744 m132 hrExpertApril to October
International Appalachian Trail, PEIPrince Edward Island152 km3,346 m40 hrExpertApril to October
SIA, 3-Haute GaspésieQuebec111 km2,431 m29 hrExpertApril to October
SIA, 4-Parc de la GaspésieQuebec92.4 km2,032 m24 hrExpertApril to October
SIA, 6-Vallée de la MatapediaQuebec131 km2,879 m35 hrExpertApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with International Appalachian Trail, Québec, SIA, 2-Côte de Gaspé, National Hiking Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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