How many moderate hikes are there in Canada?

Our directory currently lists 212 matching routes in Canada, each with distance, elevation gain and a mapped route line drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

What is the average length of these trails?

The average is 9.7 km with roughly 242 m (794 ft) of climbing. The longest on this list is 15.5 km.

Which is the best one to start with?

Sentier de l'Estrie, Mont Singer ranks highest here on our popularity score, which weighs route quality, scenery and how well documented it is.

Are these routes suitable for beginners?

Most routes on this list are rated moderate or harder. If you are just starting out, filter by easy difficulty or by distance under 5 km.

Moderate Hiking Trails in Canada

212 routes in Canada qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 9.7 km and 242 m (794 ft) of ascent.

That is 19 percent of the 1,141 routes we map in Canada. They are shorter than the local average, 9.7 km against 14.1 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Mont Singer

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 12.2 km
Elevation gain: 268 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 56 min

Mountain
Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Orford, Accès

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.9 km
Elevation gain: 175 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 55 min

Mountain
Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie Zone Glen

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 5.7 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 29 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Bolton, accès

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.8 km
Elevation gain: 216 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 22 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone East-Angus

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.2 km
Elevation gain: 202 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 13 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Glen, Accès

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 1.4 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 35 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Richmond, Accès

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 1.3 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 34 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton, Accès

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 1.3 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 34 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Écho, Point de vue Mont Écho

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 0.5 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 24 min

Mountain
Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Red Rock Mountain Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 7.6 km
Elevation gain: 166 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 49 min

Mountain

Moderate

Bay’s End Lookout Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 13.3 km
Elevation gain: 294 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 13 min

Panoramic viewpoint

Moderate

Hike: Ranger Summit

Alberta · Canada

Distance: 4.0 km
Elevation gain: 289 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 17 min

River
Mountain
Summit push

Moderate

Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Écho, Accès chemi de la Falaise

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 2.1 km
Elevation gain: 868 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 45 min

Forest
Waymarked route

Moderate

Franey

Nova Scotia · Canada

Distance: 7.7 km
Elevation gain: 169 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 51 min

Moderate

GDT esw

Alberta · Canada

Distance: 8.0 km
Elevation gain: 176 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 56 min

Moderate

GDT ewg

Alberta · Canada

Distance: 13.8 km
Elevation gain: 304 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 20 min

Moderate

Nipigon Recreation Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 9.9 km
Elevation gain: 217 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 23 min

Moderate

Voyageur Trail - Michipicoten Section

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 12.4 km
Elevation gain: 272 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 59 min

Moderate

Sentier des ruisseaux

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 11.0 km
Elevation gain: 243 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 40 min

Waterfall
Waymarked route

Moderate

Gros Morne Mountain Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance: 11.1 km
Elevation gain: 244 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 40 min

Mountain

Moderate

Parcours de la Crête des Grives

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.9 km
Elevation gain: 218 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 24 min

Mountain

Moderate

Tablelands - Off Trail Hike

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance: 9.1 km
Elevation gain: 200 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 11 min

Mountain

Moderate

Tronçon les Cascades Sutherland

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.6 km
Elevation gain: 211 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 19 min

Waterfall
Forest

Moderate

Taylor Lake Trail

Alberta · Canada

Distance: 6.7 km
Elevation gain: 585 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 16 min

Lake
Forest

Moderate

Des Chutes à Marcotte

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.5 km
Elevation gain: 165 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 49 min

Waterfall

Moderate

Sentier Chute-du-Diable

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.9 km
Elevation gain: 218 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 23 min

Waterfall

Moderate

Sentier des Chutes

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.7 km
Elevation gain: 169 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 51 min

Waterfall

Moderate

Chippawa Trail (hiking)

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 15.3 km
Elevation gain: 337 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 42 min

Moderate

Rim Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance: 12.1 km
Elevation gain: 265 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 54 min

Moderate

Snug Harbor Trail

Newfoundland and Labrador · Canada

Distance: 7.2 km
Elevation gain: 158 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 44 min

Moderate

Gulf Shore Way

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance: 8.5 km
Elevation gain: 187 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 3 min

Coastal

Moderate

Strathgartney Provincial Park Trails

Prince Edward Island · Canada

Distance: 8.2 km
Elevation gain: 180 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 59 min

Coastal

Moderate

Tronçon Littoral Basque

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 11.9 km
Elevation gain: 262 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 53 min

Coastal

Moderate

Boucle Mont-Saint-Alban

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.1 km
Elevation gain: 156 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 43 min

Mountain

Moderate

Ishpatina Ridge Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 14.9 km
Elevation gain: 328 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 36 min

Mountain

Moderate

Manitou Mountain Trail

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 6.8 km
Elevation gain: 150 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 39 min

Mountain

Moderate

Mont Richardson

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 8.6 km
Elevation gain: 190 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 5 min

Mountain

Moderate

Parcours du Mont St-Magloire

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.8 km
Elevation gain: 172 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 53 min

Mountain

Moderate

Sentier du Mont Élie

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 7.1 km
Elevation gain: 156 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 43 min

Mountain

Moderate

Sentier du mont du Four

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 11.8 km
Elevation gain: 260 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 51 min

Mountain

Moderate

Tronçon la Montagne à Fourneau

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.6 km
Elevation gain: 210 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 18 min

Mountain

Moderate

Hike: Long Distance

Alberta · Canada

Distance: 8.5 km
Elevation gain: 236 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 8 min

River
Long-distance path

Moderate

Sentier Frontalier 6

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 9.3 km
Elevation gain: 205 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 15 min

Waymarked route

Moderate

Sentier Frontalier 7

Quebec · Canada

Distance: 6.6 km
Elevation gain: 145 m
Typical duration: 1 hr 36 min

Waymarked route

Moderate

Arkon Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 9.8 km
Elevation gain: 216 m
Typical duration: 2 hr 22 min

Lake

Moderate

Big Salmon Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 15.3 km
Elevation gain: 336 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 41 min

Lake

Moderate

Cedar Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 12.5 km
Elevation gain: 275 m
Typical duration: 3 hr 1 min

Lake

Moderate

Gibson Lake Loop

Ontario · Canada

Distance: 8.3 km
Elevation gain: 182 m
Typical duration: 2 hr

Lake

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
Route	Distance	Ascent	Time	Difficulty	Best season
Sentier de l'Estrie, Mont SingerQuebec	12.2 km	268 m	2 hr 56 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Orford, AccèsQuebec	7.9 km	175 m	1 hr 55 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie Zone GlenQuebec	5.7 km	868 m	2 hr 29 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Bolton, accèsQuebec	9.8 km	216 m	2 hr 22 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone East-AngusQuebec	9.2 km	202 m	2 hr 13 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Glen, AccèsQuebec	1.4 km	868 m	1 hr 35 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Richmond, AccèsQuebec	1.3 km	868 m	1 hr 34 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton, AccèsQuebec	1.3 km	868 m	1 hr 34 min	Moderate	April to October
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Écho, Point de vue Mont ÉchoQuebec	0.5 km	868 m	1 hr 24 min	Moderate	April to October
Red Rock Mountain TrailOntario	7.6 km	166 m	1 hr 49 min	Moderate	April to October

If you only have time for one, start with Sentier de l'Estrie, Mont Singer, Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Orford, Accès, Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton, Accès. 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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Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

Trails

The shortlist, side by side

Frequently asked questions

How many moderate hikes are there in Canada?

What is the average length of these trails?

Which is the best one to start with?

Are these routes suitable for beginners?

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