Bundle up and grab a hot drink -- here are nine natural wonders of Canada that are absolutely magical in winter to add to your travel bucket list.
Niagara Falls
Location: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Why You Need To Go: Niagara Falls is a natural wonder that's breathtaking in any season. While it's known as a popular spot to visit during warmer months, come winter, Niagara Falls transforms into a frozen landscape unlike any other.
In the depths of winter, the iconic falls appear to completely freeze over in ice and snow.
According to Niagara Parks, the falls don't actually completely freeze -- instead, when it's particularly cold, the mist and spray of the falls begin to form a crust of ice over of the rushing water, making it appear as though the falls have stopped flowing.
Ice buildup along the falls also creates icicles that frame the edges of the falls, as well as a phenomenon known as the ice bridge, transforming the area into a winter wonderland. Take in the falls at night to see the ice illuminated by colourful lights.
Niagara Parks website
Johnston Canyon
Location: Bow Valley Parkway, Improvement District No. 9, AB
Why You Need To Go: Jonhston Canyon is an incredible sight to see all year, but it's especially breathtaking in winter when it's covered in snow and ice.
Located in Banff National Park, here, you can hike to the depths of a canyon along catwalks and past spectacular waterfalls, which may even be frozen.
Two hikes here take you to different areas of the canyon. An easy, 1.2-kilometre trail takes you to the Lower Falls, taking about 1 hour to complete. For a more challenging route, you can hike 2.5 kilometres to reach the Upper Falls, which takes about 2 hours there and back.
The trails begin in the Johnston Canyon day-use area. Beyond the falls, a forested trail continues up and down to a meadow where water bubbles from deep below the Earth’s surface into shallow pools called the Ink Pots.
Banff and Lake Louise Tourism website
Lake Louise
Location: Lake Louise, AB
Why You Need To Go: Lake Louise is a stunning natural wonder known for its incredibly blue water and beautiful scenery.
While it's a popular spot for visiting in the summer (an optimal time to paddle a red canoe across its waters), winter creates a whole new natural wonder to explore.
In winter, the lake freezes over to become a beautiful outdoor skating rink where you can glide across the ice while soaking up crisp mountain air.
Try your hand at some figure eights or channel your inner Wayne Gretzky with a game of hockey.
The rink is also lit up for night skating, according to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Each year, the hotel also hosts an Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise, in which, as part of the festival, an intricate ice castle is built directly on the frozen lake.
Banff and Lake Lousie Tourism website
Abraham Lake
Location: Abraham Lake Ice Bubbles Viewpoint, 18032 David Thompson Hwy #17562, Clearwater County, AB
Why You Need To Go: Abraham Lake is a stunning blue-green lake on the North Saskatchewan River that lines the David Thompson Highway between Saskatchewan River Crossing and Nordegg.
While the lake is man-made, it's home to a unique natural occurrence that takes place in winter, making it even more spectacular to see during the season.
Here, you'll find the region's famous ice bubbles, which give the frozen lake's surface a dotted appearance.
The bubbles are a result of methane attempting to escape the water before it turns to ice. The trapped methane is frozen in place, appearing as large, clear bubbles on the lake.
According to Explore Nordegg, the lake typically freezes in mid to late December with the ice bubbles at their best from early January to mid-February.
Explore Nordegg has several tips and recommendations for those looking to venture out onto the ice on their own, including waiting for at least 10 centimetres of ice when walking on the ice and sticking to clear ice, which is the strongest.
You can also explore the lake on a guided tour.
Explore Nordegg website
Liard River Hot Springs
Location: 497 Alaska Hwy., Liard River, BC
Why You Need To Go: Home to the second largest hot spring in Canada, Liard River Hot Springs Park is popular tourist stop on the way to Alaska, known for its thermal springs and natural setting in a lush boreal spruce forest.
While it's lovely year-round, in winter the park is especially beautiful, with the trees and surrounding blanketed in snow.
The hot spring, which is open to the public, has water temperatures ranging from a toasty 42 C to 52 C so you can comfortably soak as you take in the scenery.
A boardwalk leading to the hot spring passes through a swamp where you can spot different types of wildlife, including moose, who can be seen feeding in the warm water.
Liard River Hot Springs Park website
Algonquin Provincial Park
Location: ON-60, ON
Why You Need To Go: Algonquin Provincial Park was the first provincial park in Ontario and is one of Canada's oldest.
The park is a popular spot to visit all year, but is absolutely beautiful in winter, when it's covered in snow.
The park is the perfect place to tick off all the winter activities on your bucket list, offering cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fatbiking, and dogsledding opportunities.
There's also a large outdoor rink on Mew Lake where you can skate or play a game of hockey surrounded by wilderness.
If the cold doesn't bother you, you can also enjoy winter camping and do some stargazing.
Algonquin Provincial Park website
Rideau Canal
Location: Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: While not a natural feature itself, the Rideau Canal is an impressive sight in the nation's capital that becomes even more magical in winter.
Each winter, the canal transforms into the Rideau Canal Skateway, the longest naturally frozen skating rink in the world.
The skating season typically runs from January to early March, depending on weather conditions. For the skateway to open, the ice must be at least 30 centimetres thick, meaning that 10 to 14 consecutive days of -10 C and -20 C are needed.
Once open, you can skate on the canal seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Rideau Canal Skateway website
Mont-Mégantic National Park
Location: 189 Rte du Parc, Notre-Dame-des-Bois, QC
Why You Need To Go: Mont-Mégantic is a national park located in the small village of Notre-Dame-des-Bois, in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec.
The park was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2007 by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and is known as "a place where the activities 'of the Earth and the stars' coexist in perfect harmony."
The park offers snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, winter hiking, and the opportunity to encounter more than 120 species of birds.
The park is also home to an observatory that is open to the public.
Mont Mégantic National Park website
Peggy's Point Lighthouse
Location: Peggy's Point Rd, Peggy's Cove, NS
Why You Need To Go: An icon of Canada and one of Nova Scotia's most well-known lighthouses, Peggy's Point Lighthouse in Peggy's Cove is known as a popular spot to visit in summer, but also makes a great case for a winter visit.
Located about an hour from Halifax, the area transforms into a coastal winter wonderland come December and January.
One thing that's great about a winter visit is the quiet -- you can expect way fewer crowds compared to the summer months, allowing you to easily capture the perfect photo.
Winter is also a great time to see impressive sea swells and pancake ice in the area -- just remember to stay off of black rocks and ice patches for a safe visit.
Nova Scotia Tourism website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
