Boating
If there were an official boat of Canada, it would be the canoe! As said by Canadian writer Pierre Berton, a Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe.
In Ontario alone, there are 250,000 lakes and 35,000 km of waterways. The most popular canoe route in Ontario is the 190 km Rideau Canal, a fairly easy ride from Kingston to Ottawa. No end of fascinating water routes can be found in British Columbia as well. The Yukon River system-- especially the South McMillan River east of Pelly Crossing--is a profound treat. Canadian waters also offer nearly limitless opportunities to kayak, motorboat, and jet ski.
Fishing
Many tourists come to Canada for the express purpose of fishing, and opportunities for excellent fishing abound in every province. Some of the specialties include Arctic char in the Northwest Territories, Pacific salmon in British Columbia, and trawling for lobster and scallops in the Maritimes.
Hiking
Canada has some of the best hiking in the world. With over 30 national parks and a huge number of provincial parks, one can find excellent hiking backpacking and camping opportunities in any province. Some of the best-known parks in Canada are Banff, Jasper, and Kootenay, all of them in the Rockies, although some of the smaller ones such as Glacier are well worth a visit. Some of the other particularly great parks are Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, and Yamaska National Park in Quebec. If you are truly adventurous, there is no experience in North America that can match hiking the principal trail of Baffin Island, which lies over an ice shield that never melts.
Skiing
The skiing in Canada is superb. There are resorts all across the country. The most spectacular ones are, of course, in the Rockies. Banff-Lake Louise has one of the longest ski seasons in North America stretching from late November to mid-May. But even in the eastern part of the country there are terrific ski opportunities, such as in the Gatineau Hills, outside of Ottawa. There are over 300 ski runs in the Laurentian Mountains, just an hour from Montréal. There are even a few fun hills to conquer in the Maritimes.
