BEST of the WEST SERIES : TOP 6 LISTS for the most scenic and compelling road trips in Western and Northern Canada based on “Secret Traveler” onsite visits by CANADA eh TOURISM.
Colin & Greg Girard (the founding brothers) of CANADA eh TOURISM are proud to announce the final selections for the Top 6 “Best of the West” Road Trips. The list includes one selection from each western province and northern territory… plus one bonus selection.
TOP 6 ROAD TRIPS
It is construction season in Canada. And… in Canada we have many different types of seasons. There is the traditional version of seasons like spring, summer, fall and winter and then there is Canada’s version of seasons with spring, sprummer (spring-summer), construction, summer, fall, winter, sprinter (winter-spring) and then spring again. If you are confused then imagine how we feel here in Canada.
Construction season to some is a big headache filled with line ups, flag people, motors idling and the burning scent of fresh pavement. To others, like us, it is a sign of more positive things to come like …. a ROAD TRIP! The construction crews are fixing the highways so we travelers can plan road trips across the country. Here are CANADA eh TOURISM’s TOP 6 favorite road trips in Western and Northern Canada.
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Alaska Highway : Province of British Columbia : Alaska Highway is one of the most historic, scenic and globally recognized driving routes when traveling through British Columbia, Canada. The Alaska Hwy route follows a scenic 2,451 kilometre (1523 mi.) paved road from Mile “0” in Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, Alaska, U.S.A. It is a famous highway recognized as the “16th Wonder of the Engineered World”. LIKENESS FACTORS : wildlife, big curves, mountains, hot springs, remoteness, scenery, villages. |
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Icefields Parkway : Province of Alberta : Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) is a 230 kilometre (143 mile) paved sightseeing highway exploring Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. The highway route runs parallel to the Continental Divide connecting the village of Lake Louise with the town of Jasper, Alberta, Canada. The Icefields Parkway falls within a protected wilderness corridor called the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site . A designation handed out by UNESCO in 1984. LIKENESS FACTORS : mountains, glaciers, wildlife, picnic sites, lakes, hiking trails, scenery, lookouts. |
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Secondary Road #263 : Province of Saskatchewan : To some this may be an odd choice, but to us it is the right choice. Do not knock it till you drive it. The Secondary Highway #263 combined with the Canam Highway (Highway #2) measures 104 kilometres and travels north from the community of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to Waskesiu Village located on the shores of Waskesiu Lake in the Prince Albert National Park. LIKENESS FACTORS : forests, wildlife, wilderness scenery, hiking trails, lakes, Village of Waskesiu and park adventures. |
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Dempster Highway : Yukon Territories : The Dempster Highway is the only highway in Canada which explores the Arctic Circle. It is one of the best and roughest self guided driving tours in Canada exploring up to 10 different and vital eco systems. The route travels a 738 kilometre gravel highway from Mile “0” just south of Dawson City, Yukon to the little isolated community of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. LIKENESS FACTORS: remote, Arctic Circle, wildlife, long days, sunsets, birds, mountains, uplands, Eagle Plain Plateau, The Richardsons, Mackenzie Delta. |
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Waterfall Highway : Northwest Territories : The Waterfall Highway travels northwest from the Alberta/NWT Border to the service community of Checkpoint. The Waterfall Highway (Hwy #1 E) is a sightseeing route with a collection of some of the most amazing waterfalls in Canada complimented by canyons, deep walled gorges, whitewater rivers and hiking trails. Many of the major waterfall attractions include campgrounds and are ideal destinations for activities like fishing, canoeing, kayaking, picnicking and swimming. LIKENESS FACTORS : waterfalls, scenery, parks, wilderness, wildlife |
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eh BONUS Road Trip : Chilcotin-Bella Coola Highway British Columbia (Hwy #20) : The Cariboo section of the highway explores a land of lakes, rolling hills, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and ranchlands. The Chilcotin section is covered with rivers, lakes, grassland fields and alpine plateaus. The Bella Coola coastal section explores thundering mountain ranges, thick lush forests and meets up with the Pacific Ocean. In total it measures 453 kilometres of bliss. LIKENESS FACTORS: Tweedsmuir Park, small villages, rolling highways, grasslands, wilderness lakes, little traffic. |