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Hard Hiking Trails in Canada

We track 105 routes that match this search in Canada. They average 86.4 km and 1,910 m (6,266 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 743 km.

That is 20 percent of the 515 routes we map in Canada. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 86.4 km against 20.9 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 1,910 m (6,266 ft) on average versus 472 m (1,549 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

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

SIA, 7-Avignon

Quebec · Canada

Distance
47.6 km
/ 29.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,048 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Waymarked route
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

Casque Isles Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
55.3 km
/ 34.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,217 m
Typical duration
14 hr
Expert

GDT ecg

Alberta · Canada

Distance
38.5 km
/ 24.0 mi
Elevation gain
848 m
Typical duration
10 hr
Expert

GDT ecm

Alberta · Canada

Distance
53.1 km
/ 33.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,168 m
Typical duration
13 hr
Hard

GDT ect

Alberta · Canada

Distance
27.4 km
/ 17.0 mi
Elevation gain
603 m
Typical duration
6 hr 59 min
Expert

GDT efc

Alberta · Canada

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
725 m
Typical duration
8 hr 30 min
Expert

GDT eic

Alberta · Canada

Distance
56.0 km
/ 34.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,233 m
Typical duration
14 hr
Expert

GDT eig

Alberta · Canada

Distance
39.8 km
/ 24.7 mi
Elevation gain
876 m
Typical duration
10 hr
Expert

GDT eil

Alberta · Canada

Distance
39.2 km
/ 24.4 mi
Elevation gain
862 m
Typical duration
10 hr
Hard

GDT eiq

Alberta · Canada

Distance
25.0 km
/ 15.6 mi
Elevation gain
551 m
Typical duration
6 hr 21 min
Hard

GDT eiv

Alberta · Canada

Distance
30.2 km
/ 18.8 mi
Elevation gain
665 m
Typical duration
7 hr 45 min
Expert

GDT ekc

Alberta · Canada

Distance
42.8 km
/ 26.6 mi
Elevation gain
942 m
Typical duration
11 hr
Expert

GDT enj

Alberta · Canada

Distance
33.6 km
/ 20.9 mi
Elevation gain
740 m
Typical duration
8 hr 41 min
Hard

GDT enm

Alberta · Canada

Distance
24.8 km
/ 15.4 mi
Elevation gain
545 m
Typical duration
6 hr 16 min
Hard

GDT enq

Alberta · Canada

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.2 mi
Elevation gain
432 m
Typical duration
4 hr 52 min
Hard

GDT ent

Alberta · Canada

Distance
25.8 km
/ 16.1 mi
Elevation gain
568 m
Typical duration
6 hr 33 min
Hard

GDT enw

Alberta · Canada

Distance
27.8 km
/ 17.2 mi
Elevation gain
611 m
Typical duration
7 hr 5 min
Hard

GDT esc

Alberta · Canada

Distance
32.4 km
/ 20.1 mi
Elevation gain
712 m
Typical duration
8 hr 20 min
Expert

GDT esf

Alberta · Canada

Distance
36.4 km
/ 22.6 mi
Elevation gain
800 m
Typical duration
9 hr 25 min
Hard

GDT esi

Alberta · Canada

Distance
24.7 km
/ 15.3 mi
Elevation gain
543 m
Typical duration
6 hr 15 min

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
SIA, 2-Côte de GaspéQuebec102 km2,242 m27 hrExpertApril to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone OrfordQuebec37.0 km813 m9 hr 35 minExpertApril to October
Lake Superior Coastal TrailOntario50.6 km1,113 m13 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

If you only have time for one, start with SIA, 2-Côte de Gaspé, Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Orford, 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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