Oh, Canada! Our homes and native land are filled to the brim with some of the best adventure destinations in the world. Canada is a wide and vast country, with arctic lakes and streams to the North, and some of the best national parks and nature reserves in the world in its South.
If you like the great outdoors and enjoy some kayaking, then Canada has everything you are looking for, and more. Here is our list of the top kayaking destinations in the bountiful land of Canada.
The East Coast of Newfoundland
Starting as far East as you can go in Canada, you can enjoy a once in a lifetime experience kayaking off the coast of Newfoundland. Here you can paddle in the Arctic waters and see humpback whales, dolphins, and icebergs in their natural habitat, as well as some of the most striking coastlines in the North. Wrap up warm, and take a trip with one of the many guides for an afternoon, or for a few days.
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Some of the best kayaking spots in the world can be discovered in Algonquin Provincial Park. Canada’s most celebrated kayaker, four times Olympic medalist Adam Van Koeverden helped make this park famous and uses its waterways to train and hone his skills.
Athabasca River, Alberta
This huge river stretches over 200 miles through the pristine Canadian countryside, making it the perfect destination for an avid outdoors person who wants to have an isolated kayaking experience. You will need to have plenty of provisions, and you’ll need the right equipment to make the most of this long stretch of water.
Churchill River, Manitoba
The mouth of the Churchill River opens up at Hudson Bay, and here you can find one of nature’s friendliest sea creatures; the Beluga Whale. These pale white whales are just a little bit larger than a dolphin, and often swim and swarm around kayakers and canoeists and play with their paddles. They are not the only creatures in the area, however. Look out for Polar Bears, and keep your distance!
Bonaventure River, Quebec
The crystal-clear waters of the Bonaventure River are over 80 miles long, providing plenty of great kayaking opportunities in amongst some picturesque scenery. Salmon make their way up this river to spawn, and if you time your journey right, you can paddle alongside them and witness their journey up close. Even if you are not an experienced kayaker, Bonaventure is a great destination with plenty of experienced tour operators and instructors on hand to help you make a start.
Penticton, British Columbia
This kayaking destination offers something that few others can; a wine tasting tour. You can mix water and wine in moderation as you gently paddle up the shoreline of the Okanagan Lake tasting some fine wines as you go, and have a small picnic on one of the many beautiful spots on the shore. This is a great day out for kayakers of all skill levels.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Over on the West coast of Canada, you can find some kayaking close to a city center in Vancouver, so you can paddle by day and enjoy a night out on the town afterwards. You get a great view of Vancouver from the lakes and rivers that surround it, and Granville Island is the perfect place to start. There is plenty to see and do there, and a range of tour operators and hire shops to choose from.
Kayaking is lots of fun and a great vacation activity. Canada has loads of kayaking spots that are amongst the best in the world, and kayaking gives you a chance to see this wonderful country from a completely different perspective.
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