Adventure experiences in Canada: Afloat in the Northwest Territories and beyond

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Adventure experiences in Canada: Afloat in the Northwest Territories and beyond

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The Rocky Mountains are Canada's most famous wilderness destination

The Rocky Mountains are Canada's most famous wilderness destination

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Canada's most extreme adventures make for an unforgettable holiday.

With all those wide open spaces, it is not surprising that Canada abounds in outdoor adventures. On your next trip, give one of these high-octane experiences a go.

British Columbia

Get rocky in Squamish

Nestled within Howe Sound, a verdant fjord on the west coast of Vancouver Island, the town of Squamish is Canada's rock climbing capital. The striking granite cliffs and bluffs that lie just beyond the town centre, draws climbers from around the world with its abundance of climbs: Murrin Provincial Park alone has around 250 routes.

No matter your skill level, you are bound to find some appealing climbs, from the Grand Wall Boulders to the centrally-located Smoke Bluffs. The main attraction, however, has to be the Stawamus Chief, a towering 700 metre-high monolith. With literally hundreds of routes to choose traversing its surface, the Chief can be tackled by inexperienced climbers and veterans alike.

Manitoba

On the trail of polar bears

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It's a sight every animal lover wants to see at least once: a mighty polar bear lumbering past just a short distance away. The best place to make it happen is the Churchill Wildlife Management Area, an 850,000 hectare expanse where the bears rest up over the summer to prepare for the hard winter to come.

To make the most of the experience, book yourself in at a wilderness lodge or sign up for a tour that lets you observe the bears during their daily routine. Along the way, you may also encounter wild caribou and see large numbers of beluga whales passing through the area's bays.

Lake Louise

Bike the Golden Triangle

The Rocky Mountains are Canada's most famous wilderness destination, and it's not hard to see why. With verdant alpine meadows, dense forests and cascading waterfalls, this is a landscape that gets the blood flowing. Mountain bikers get to enjoy the best of it on the Golden Triangle, a 300km route that connects the picturesque mountain-ringed Lake Louise with the towns of Golden and Radium.

You will want to be in shape to tackle this ride; it covers more than 100km a day and has some steep climbs, including one that lasts for half a kilometre. The reward is the opportunity to drink in some of Canada's most gorgeous scenery.

Vancouver

Take it to the edge

If you think bungee jumping is tame, then we have just the activity for you. It is called cliff diving and the name is fairly self-explanatory: climb a cliff, jump off, land in water that, incidentally, is likely to be freezing cold. Repeat as desired.

Despite – or because of - the associated risks, it has become a favourite summer activity in Vancouver, with participants raving about the rush involved. Popular locations include Lynn Valley Canyon and Granny's Cove in North Vancouver. Play it safe by going with someone who knows the area well. If that is not an option, hang back and watch the locals for a while, then follow their example.

Yukon

Trek the Wild West

In the north of the country, right next to Alaska, the Yukon is Canada's equivalent of the Wild West, a place of wide open landscapes where wildlife outnumbers humans by a significant factor, and Arctic icefields and Canada's tallest mountains offer plenty of natural drama.

The Tombstone Territorial Park, perched up near the Arctic Circle, is a dream destination for photographers and landscape lovers. Whichever of the park's many trails that you choose, expect to see jagged cliffs and dramatic rock formations looming over vast tundras, and scenic lakes: Talus Lake and the eerily-blue Azure Lake are two of the most striking.

Nova Scotia

Paddle traditional waterways

A word of warning for kayakers. The canoe routes of Kejimkujik National Park are not to be tackled lightly. Even the local Mi'kmaq people, who created these trails, found it hard work sometimes. That's how Kejimkujik Lake got its name: from the Mi'kmaq word meaning "tired muscles". Fortunately, the hard work is worth it. Along with spectacular scenery, kayakers can expect to see plenty of Mi'kmaq petroglyphs along the shore.

Alternatively, you can explore the area on foot. Fifteen different hiking trails cut through the park's diverse landscapes, travelling through Acadian forests, stands of red maple and haunting pine forests. One trail, dedicated to the area's gold mining history, takes you past old gold mining pits.

Ontario

Hike the Pukaskwa Coastal Trail

They knew what they were doing it when they named it Lake Superior. The world's largest freshwater lake is the highlight of Ontario's Pukaskwa National Park and the centrepiece of the challenging week-long Pukaskwa Coastal Trail.

The going can get tough: be prepared to scramble and leap as well as walk, and keep an eye out for moose, beavers and bald eagles while you are at it. You can always revive yourself with a refreshing swim in the lake. If a week-long walk is a little too challenging, the 18km White River Suspension Bridge Trail can be done as a day hike.

This article has been produced in association with Destination Canada.

To discover more about Canada and why you should really visit, see https://au-keepexploring.canada.travel/

For great travel deals for a holiday in Canada, see http://www.adventureworld.com.au/explore-canada/

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