20 Stunning Landscapes You Won’t Believe are in Canada

If you've never been to the West Coast of Vancouver Island, you absolutely must make plans to do so. Clayoquot Sound, which includes the seaside town of Tofino, not to mention number of endless beaches, is also one of the best places to visit in September. If you've ever wanted to learn how to surf, this is the place.

Rising out of the earth and looking like the lair of a super-villain, Mt. Thor is located in Auyuittuq National Park, Baffin Island, Nunavut. With an elevation of 1,675 metres, it towers over the Weasel River. It also features the greatest vertical drop on the planet and attracts rock climbers from around the world.

Picturesque Peggy's Cove is home to one of the world's most beautiful lighthouses and a must-see destination when visiting Nova Scotia. The village is still a working fishing community despite the constant stream of visitors. It's a pleasant 40-kilometre drive from Halifax.

Another entry on everyone's Canadian bucket list is Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland and Labrador. The views are astounding and if you're into hiking or kayaking, you'll have the experience of a lifetime. Located on the western side of Newfoundland, it's a bit of a journey from St. John's, but the trip is definitely worth it. The park is open year round.

The similarities between Scotland and Cape Breton cannot be understated. If you've had a chance to visit both, you'll know what we mean. One of the highlights of Cape Breton is a drive around the Cabot Trail, which is one of the 20 best Canadian trips for solo travellers.

One of the most spectacular and popular destinations in Canada is Niagara Falls. So popular, in fact, that 30 million people visit every year. You can see the falls from a unique vantage point, from the Maid of the Mist boat or take the Journey Behind the Falls tour and see the falls from observation portals behind the falls. Make sure you wear rain gear!

Located in Valley of the Ten Peaks, one of the world's most beautiful valleys, Moraine Lake is a sight to behold. Its crystal clear glacier-fed waters reflect the ten mountain peaks that tower over the valley. Thanks to its location in Banff National Park, Moraine Lake is easily accessible.

Though the Îles de la Madeleine (or Magdalen Islands) are officially part of Quebec, they're located so far out in the Gulf of St. Lawrence that they're actually closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Making the journey here is worth it though. It's a great spot for cycling and other outdoor activities and the sandstone cliffs are a sight to behold at sunset.

Visiting the badlands and hoodoos of Dinosaur Provincial Park is one of the best activities to do in Canada this summer. The park has something for everyone, especially kids who love dinosaurs. Nearly sixty species have been discovered here, making it one of the best places to find dinosaur fossils in the world. The park is near Brooks, about two-and-a-half hours east of Calgary.

Once called the Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii is an archipelago located off the coast of British Columbia. There are two main islands and about 150 smaller ones. Adventure tourism is the big draw, but as the islands are the centre of the Haida First Nation, Aboriginal culture tourism is beginning to boom.

Algonquin Provincial Park is huge: nearly one-and-a-half times the size of Prince Edward Island. Good thing, as its location near Ontario's big cities means the park is very popular with tourists. There are endless outdoor activities on offer and more than 1,200 campsites spread across the park. It's the oldest provincial park in Canada and one of the most beautiful places in Ontario.

Along with Anne of Green Gables, Cavendish Beach is one of Prince Edward Island's biggest attractions. And, as luck would have it, both are located in Prince Edward Island National Park. The red sandstone cliffs of Cavendish rise above the Gulf of St. Lawrence and at 8-kilometres in length, the beach seems to stretch forever. The park is just a short 35-minute drive from Charlottetown.

With big skies above, the vast swathes of farmland on Canada's Prairies stretch to the horizon and beyond. Tiger Hills, located southeast of Brandon, is a great example of the Prairie landscape. Colours abound: blues, greens and yellows and the sweet smell of clover fills the air.

With a height of 3,618 metres, Mount Assiniboine dominates the BC-Alberta border. Known as the Matterhorn of the Rockies, Mount Assiniboine straddles Banff National Park, Alberta and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, BC. Vehicle access is restricted, but you can hike in or, if you're feeling spendy, take a helicopter.

Canada is blessed with waterfalls and the Virginia Falls on the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories are just one of the country's many, it's still impressive. No less impressive is the Nahanni River itself, which is the main attraction in the Nahanni National Park Reserve. Located about 500 kilometres west of Yellowknife, the reserve is popular with outdoor enthusiasts — especially those who come to kayak the river's challenging white water.

Located between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, the Bruce Peninsula is home to both Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park. Here you'll find the rock pillars of Flowerpot Island plus all kinds of outdoor activities. If you're a fan of orchids, you can try spotting all 44 varieties that grow here. If hanging on the beach is more your thing, head over to Sauble Beach. There are 11 kilometres of sand just waiting for you.

The Hopewell Rocks are one of the most visited spots in New Brunswick. Located southeast of Moncton on the Bay of Fundy, some of the rock formations here are more than 21 metres tall. Because the Bay of Fundy has the world's highest tides, the bottoms of the formations are underwater twice a day. But when the tide goes out, you can clamber around the rocks and stroll through sandstone arches. The Hopewell Rocks are accessed via New Brunswick Route 114, one of the best coastal drives to take this summer.

A popular misconception of the Prairies is that they're completely flat. Not so. Take Saskatchewan's Big Muddy Valley. In it you'll find Castle Butte, a well-known local landmark located south of Regina and just north of the Montana border. The towering formation, reminiscent of Australia's Uluru, dates back to the ice age.

Nothing says summer in Canada like a glorious sunset over a lake. Whiteshell Provincial Park, located on the Manitoba-Ontario border, is a two-hour drive from Winnipeg and is Manitoba's cottage country. Here you'll find everything from hiking to fishing in summer and in winter, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

The landscape of Canada's North is always stunning, but adding the Northern Lights takes it to a whole new level. If you've never seen the aurora in Yellowknife, one of the top places to see the Northern Lights, then prepare to be wowed.