Canada

Beschrijving

West Coast Trail

Canada: the world's fourth largest country, after Russia, China, United States. When the water area is included, Canada is the second largest. A vast land area between 41 and 84 degrees. The southernmost tip is on the same latitude as Rome. The northernmost tip is near the North Pole. The USA are only slightly larger, but count 10 times as many inhabitants.

From east to west, the country displays a great geographical diversity. The Appalachian Mountains run through to Newfoundland on Canada's east coast. Going west, we encounter the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands. Further west lie the vast Canadian Interior Plains, hot summers, cold winters. Further west still, we hit the mountains of the Continental Divide, including the Canadian Rockies. The western coastline finally is green and sparsely populated. Most of Canada's land mass is virtually uninhabited: the Arctic part of Canada.

The hiking trails in Canada are as varied as the landscape. You have a wide choice of trails:

  1. Multi-use Trailways (eg Newfoundland T'railway). Many old railways have been turned into use as recreation trail, which is a very good thing of course. On these paths, cycling is probably more popular than walking, depending on the quality of the surface. Trailways typically are open to hiking, horse riding, cycling, cross country skiing and sometimes snowmobiling in winter;
  2. Wilderness hikes (for example the West Coast Trail, Canol Heritage Trail). These are rough trails, far from civilization, meant for experienced hikers who are prepared to dragging everything with them for an extended period;
  3. Long trails (eg the National Hiking Trail of Canada, Trans Canada Trail). These are semi-permanent projects to create a trail bigger than big. The Trans Canada Trail is a multiuse trail from the east coast to the west coast. Efforts to create a second trail, which is intended solely for walkers, presumably are not very succesful yet: the National Hiking Trail of Canada;
  4. Recreation Trails (For example the Niagara River Recreation Trail, visiting the Niagara Falls). These are easier paths, often multi-use, through nature, forest, fields and farmlands. Often they also have some historical significance. Along the way, options for sleeping often include hotels and B&B's beside campgrounds;
  5. The national and provincial parks offer a choice of shorter and longer walks. These trails are not allways known by a name. An advantage of this type of hiking are the often good camping facilities amidst beautiful scenery. The downside are the large crowds.

As mentioned before, trails are frequently multi-use. On the one hand there is a Canadian lobby to allow the widest possible public access to these public funded trails, including snowmobiling. On the other hand there is a counter lobby to exclusively designate these trails to the serious nature lover who is walking or skiing at most. To make things worse, we have to count on many ATV enthusiasts, who, with their noisy quads destroy the trails and squander nature. In short: war.

To conclude our brief introduction, let's spend some words to the famous Canadian bug. This is not one particular species of small animals, it is rather a collective noun for any annoying insect that you might encounter in nature, often in large numbers, such as black flies, mosquitoes, midges and deer flies. These hateful little creature often bite. They can be a plague, especially during the summer months, depending on weather conditions, humidity, and habitat. In spring they are not so numerous which makes for a more relaxed time on trail. But then there are obviously other pests, such as mud and snow.

From the small bite to the big bite: Canada has healthy populations of black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears and secretive but potentially dangerous cougars (puma's). Nature is wild and beautiful, especialy in Canada.

Kaart

Hiking Map Canada NW Hiking Map Canada NE

Hiking Map Canada SW Hiking Map Canada SE

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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2022
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2018
  • Reisgids Wine Trails - USA and Canada | Lonely Planet
  • Following the success of Wine Trails , we now bring you 40 perfect weekends in North American wine country, introducing vineyards in regions including Sonoma, Walla Walla, Finger Lakes, Texas Hill Country and Okanagan, as well as celebrating secret gems off the beaten path. Wine Trails - United States and Canada is perfect for travel... Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2022
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
2022
  • DK Eyewitness Pacific Northwest
  • Marrying vibrant cities with impeccable wilderness, the Pacific Northwest is as rich as it is diverse.Whether you want to drive along epic coastal highways, hike the pristine paths of Yoho National Park, or tuck into succulent street food in Portland, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that the Pacific Northwest has... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
De Zwerver
Netherlands
  • Wandelkaart 16 Waterton Lakes NP | Gem Trek Maps
  • The Waterton Lakes National Park map is one of our most popular trail map-guides for the Canadian Rockies. This map covers all of Waterton Lakes National Park, the eastern end of Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park, and the Goat Haunt or northern area of Glacier National Park, Montana, at the south end of Upper Waterton Lake. The front of the map... Read more
  • Also available from:
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Waterton Lakes National Park Gem Trek Map
  • Waterton Lakes National Park in British Columbia with the northern part of the Glacier National Park across the US border in Montana at 1:50,000 on a light, waterproof and tear-resistant map from Gem Trek with descriptions of recommended treks and bike trails, etc.Contours are at 25m intervals, enhanced by relief shading and colouring for... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
2009
De Zwerver
Netherlands
  • Also available from:
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Lower Mainland - Richmond & New Westminster ITMB
  • Lower Mainland - Richmond and New Westminster at 1:250,000 and 1:50,000 in a series of topographic survey maps of selected areas of British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies from ITMB with cartography from Canada’s national survey organization. Most sheets are printed on light, waterproof and tear- resistant plastic paper.Whilst the Canadian... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
De Zwerver
Netherlands
2008
  • Wegenkaart - landkaart Canada | Hallwag
  • Kanada Strassenkarte ab 11.95 EURO Karte mit Distoguide, Reiseinformationen mit Piktogrammen, Sehenswürdigkeiten, Nationalparks und Monumenten, States BeeTagg und Index. 1:4 Mio. Road Map Hallwag Straßenkarte. 4. Auflage, Laufzeit bis 2017 Read more
De Zwerver
Netherlands
  • Also available from:
  • Stanfords, United Kingdom
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Stanfords
United Kingdom
  • Algonquin Park ITMB
  • Waterproof and tear-resistant topographic survey map of Algonquin Park at 1:250,000 from ITMB, with an 1:50,000 enlargement of the Haliburton County and Nipissing District on the reverse. Both maps show highways with differentiation of the number of lanes indicated, loose surface roads, cart tracks, and trails are marked. Points of interest are... Read more
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De Zwerver
Netherlands
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