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Loop Trails in Canada

There are 78 hikes in Canada in our database that fit. They average 5.1 km and 112 m (367 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 73.7 km.

That is 15 percent of the 515 routes we map in Canada. They are shorter than the local average, 5.1 km against 20.9 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 112 m (367 ft) against 472 m (1,549 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Circular routes: park once, finish where you started, and never walk the same section twice. The mix is broad: 67 are rated easy and 2 are hard or harder, so there is something here whether you have two hours or a full day. A good share of them are loops, so you can park once and finish where you started.

Trails

Easy

Lower Falls Side Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
1.5 km
/ 0.9 mi
Elevation gain
33 m
Typical duration
22 min
  • Waterfall
  • Waymarked route
Easy

Salt Mountain Trail

Nova Scotia · Canada

Distance
1.3 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
28 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Mountain
Easy

Arab Lake Gorge Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.8 mi
Elevation gain
27 m
Typical duration
18 min
  • Lake
  • Canyon and gorge
Easy

Des Cascades

Quebec · Canada

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Waterfall
Easy

Homesteader Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
41 min
Easy

Laura Secord Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
16 min
Easy

Beach Ridges Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
3.1 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Coastal
Easy

Boucle du Mont Laurier

Quebec · Canada

Distance
3.1 km
/ 1.9 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
45 min
  • Mountain
Easy

King Mountain Trail

Quebec · Canada

Distance
1.6 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
36 m
Typical duration
24 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Arkon Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
9.8 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
216 m
Typical duration
2 hr 22 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Big Salmon Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
15.3 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
336 m
Typical duration
3 hr 41 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Cedar Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
12.5 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
275 m
Typical duration
3 hr 1 min
  • Lake
Easy

Doe Lake Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
70 m
Typical duration
46 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Gibson Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
182 m
Typical duration
2 hr
  • Lake
Easy

Hemlock Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
1 hr 4 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Lac Reid

Quebec · Canada

Distance
7.6 km
/ 4.7 mi
Elevation gain
168 m
Typical duration
1 hr 50 min
  • Lake
Easy

Lake Tour

Quebec · Canada

Distance
5.0 km
/ 3.1 mi
Elevation gain
111 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Lake
Easy

Little Clear Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
6.0 km
/ 3.7 mi
Elevation gain
132 m
Typical duration
1 hr 27 min
  • Lake
Moderate

Little Salmon Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.6 mi
Elevation gain
197 m
Typical duration
2 hr 9 min
  • Lake
Easy

Moose Lake Trail

Alberta · Canada

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
59 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • Lake
Easy

Boiler Creek Trail

Saskatchewan · Canada

Distance
2.9 km
/ 1.8 mi
Elevation gain
63 m
Typical duration
41 min
  • River
Easy

Moose Creek Loop

Alberta · Canada

Distance
2.7 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
59 m
Typical duration
39 min
  • River
Easy

Birch Forest Trail

Saskatchewan · Canada

Distance
1.8 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
40 m
Typical duration
26 min
  • Forest
Easy

Des Courreurs des Bois

Quebec · Canada

Distance
2.8 km
/ 1.7 mi
Elevation gain
61 m
Typical duration
40 min
  • Forest
Easy

La Forêt Ancienne

Quebec · Canada

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
85 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Forest
Easy

Les Falaises

Quebec · Canada

Distance
3.2 km
/ 2.0 mi
Elevation gain
71 m
Typical duration
47 min
  • Forest
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
Easy

Alf Campbell Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
3.6 km
/ 2.2 mi
Elevation gain
79 m
Typical duration
52 min
Easy

Aquatic

Quebec · Canada

Distance
1.2 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
26 m
Typical duration
17 min
Easy

Aspen Parkland Trail

Alberta · Canada

Distance
4.5 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
98 m
Typical duration
1 hr 5 min
Easy

Auburn Woodlot Trails

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
52 m
Typical duration
34 min
Easy

Beaver Dam Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
96 m
Typical duration
1 hr 3 min
Moderate

Bluestem Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
298 m
Typical duration
3 hr 16 min
Easy

Boucle Nord-Est

Quebec · Canada

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
88 m
Typical duration
58 min
Expert

Boucle Zen Nature

Quebec · Canada

Distance
57.5 km
/ 35.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,264 m
Typical duration
15 hr
Easy

Brackley Commons Trail

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance
0.5 km
/ 0.3 mi
Elevation gain
10 m
Typical duration
7 min
Easy

Cacti / Dune Loop

Saskatchewan · Canada

Distance
6.5 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
143 m
Typical duration
1 hr 34 min
Easy

Cedar Bog Trail

Manitoba · Canada

Distance
3.7 km
/ 2.3 mi
Elevation gain
25 m
Typical duration
49 min
Easy

Champlain Trail

Quebec · Canada

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
23 m
Typical duration
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
International Appalachian Trail, QuébecQuebec6.2 km137 m1 hr 30 minEasyApril to October
Lower Falls Side TrailOntario1.5 km33 m22 minEasyApril to October
Salt Mountain TrailNova Scotia1.3 km28 m18 minEasyApril to October
Arab Lake Gorge TrailOntario1.2 km27 m18 minEasyApril to October
Des CascadesQuebec2.8 km61 m40 minEasyApril to October
Arkell Springs Loop TrailOntario2.6 km57 m38 minEasyApril to October
Homesteader TrailOntario2.9 km63 m41 minEasyApril to October
Laura Secord TrailOntario1.1 km25 m16 minEasyApril to October
Sugar Shack Side TrailOntario1.5 km34 m22 minEasyApril to October
Beach Ridges TrailManitoba3.1 km69 m45 minEasyApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with International Appalachian Trail, Québec, Lower Falls Side Trail, Salt Mountain 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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