USA TODAY 10Best
Canada's best scenic drive? Readers say the Cabot Trail!
Best Scenic Drive in Canada (2017)
Canada's National Highway System encompasses more than 23,000 miles of highways (not counting countless more miles of quaint country roads), and includes some of the most scenic stretches of pavement in the world. From breathtaking ocean views where whales can be spotted breaching to majestic snow-capped peaks, Canada's the perfect place to hop in the car, roll down the windows and hit the road.
We partnered with a panel of Canadian travel writers to nominate their top 20 scenic drives in the country, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their favorites.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Scenic Drive in Canada are as follows:
- Dempster Highway - Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, N.T.
- Fundy Coastal Drive - St. Stephen to Aulac, New Brunswick
- The Viking Trail - Gros Morne to St. Anthony, N.L.
- Acadian Coastal Drive - Moncton to Bathurst, New Brunswick
- Appalachian Range Route - Perth-Andover to Dalhousie, New Brunswick
- The Irish Loop - Cape Shore, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Icefields Parkway - Banff to Jasper, Alberta
- Gaspesie Tour - Sainte-Flavie Loop, Quebec
- St. Lawrence Route - Baie-Saint-Paul to La Malbaie, Quebec
- The Cabot Trail - Cape Breton Island Loop
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 10:
The Dempster Highway, one of Canada's most unique scenic drives, takes visitors on a 460-mile adventure along the only all-weather road across the Arctic Circle. Those who brave this unpaved, two-lane road are rewarded with spectacular views of Yukon and the Northwest Territories, wildlife viewing opportunities and access to the tundra.
Photo courtesy of Canadian Tourism Commission
No. 9:
The natural beauty of the Bay of Fundy is on full display to drivers along the Fundy Coastal Drive. While driving this 286-mile stretch from St. Stephen to Aulac, travelers might see whales breaching off the coast or stop to explore some of the many coastal islands or mudflats along the New Brunswick coast.
Photo courtesy of Copyright Barrett & MacKay Photo / Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
No. 8:
To drive the 304-mile Viking Trail is to step back in time to the days when vikings made their home in Newfoundland. Travelers along the trail can visit the thousand-year-old viking settlement of L'Anse aux Meadows, see ancient aboriginal burial grounds and hike through UNESCO-listed Gros Morne National Park.
Photo courtesy of New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Parks
No. 7:
New Brunswick's stunning Acadian Coastal Drive hugs the shores for 466 miles, passing sandy beaches, scenic bays, rolling dunes and tiny towns brimming with Acadian history. Stellar seafood shacks and restaurants dot this stretch of coastline – each an excellent opportunity for a delicious pit stop along the drive.
Photo courtesy of New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Parks
No. 6:
The Appalachian Range Route extends for 172 miles through New Brunswick's 400-million-year-old mountains brimming with opportunity for outdoor adventure. Highlights along the way include Sugarloaf Provincial Park and Saint-Quentin, the Maple Capital of Canada.
Photo courtesy of Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
No. 5:
The 194-mile Irish Loop takes drivers on a journey through the heart of Irish Newfoundland, starting in the colorful town of St. John's. Along the way, it's possible to spot whales, seabirds and caribou, check out an archaeological dig at Ferryland or gape at the Norwegian-like fjords of Aquaforte.
Photo courtesy of Icefields Parkway Profile Steering Committee
No. 4:
Alberta's Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) winds for 144 miles through the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Connecting Banff and Jasper, this scenic stretch of asphalt offers travelers the opportunity to enjoy some of the province's best scenery, including cascading waterfalls, turquoise alpine lakes, jagged peaks and ancient glaciers.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 3:
The Gaspesie Tour, a 550-mile loop around the Gaspé Peninsula, offers access to dozens of activities and attractions, with loads of picturesque sea and mountain views along the way.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 2:
The St. Lawrence Route takes drivers on a short but breathtaking 36-mile journey between Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie along the shores of the St. Lawrence River. The views from Les Éboulements rank among the most picturesque in Quebec.
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
No. 1:
Looping the northern tip of Cape Breton Island for 185 miles, The Cabot Trail attracts visitors from around the globe to take in the splendor of the Cape Breton Highlands, complete with coastal views and a mix of Celtic and Acadian culture.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Gregory B. Gallagher (Michelin Green Guide Canada 2017), Janet Gyenes, Maureen Littlejohn, Jody Robbins (25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit), Jenn Smith Nelson (travelandhappiness.com) and Nadine Sykora (Hey Nadine) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience of travel in Canada.
Congratulations to all these winning scenic drives!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Gregory B. Gallagher
Gregory B. Gallagher is the author of Michelin... Read More
Gregory B. Gallagher is the author of Michelin Green Guide Canada 2017 and Penguin's DK Top 10 Montreal and Quebec City, the filmmaker behind the "Legends of Magdalen" documentary about Canada's remote Magdalen Islands, one of the original Canadian writers of Sesame Street TV Show, and writer/narrator of the CBC-IDEAS radio history series "Universal Jazz". Follow Gregory on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.
Gregory B. Gallagher
Gregory B. Gallagher is the author of Michelin Green Guide Canada 2017 and Penguin's DK Top 10 Montreal and Quebec City, the filmmaker behind the "Legends of Magdalen" documentary about Canada's remote Magdalen Islands, one of the original Canadian writers of Sesame Street TV Show, and writer/narrator of the CBC-IDEAS radio history series "Universal Jazz". Follow Gregory on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin.
Jenn Smith Nelson
Jenn Smith Nelson is an award winning freelance... Read More
Jenn Smith Nelson is an award winning freelance travel writer and photographer who contributes to a number of outlets such as the Toronto Star (regularly), South China Morning Post, My Spotlight Kanada/USA, Skycanner, ReaderDigest.ca, Canadian Geographic, Espaces, Nuvo, National Post, Westworld, Just for Canadian Doctors/Dentists, My Country Extra (US), Nuvo, Chatelaine and more. She's a current member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the North American Journalists Association and the Travel Media Association of Canada. She loves adventure travel and when she's not snuggling with wolves, swimming with belugas or bathing in the snow, she's traveling with her kids collecting stories and memories. You can also catch Jenn on air via CBC Saskatchewan where she is a travel columnist, on her blog www.travelandhappiness.com, or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Jenn Smith Nelson
Jenn Smith Nelson is an award winning freelance travel writer and photographer who contributes to a number of outlets such as the Toronto Star (regularly), South China Morning Post, My Spotlight Kanada/USA, Skycanner, ReaderDigest.ca, Canadian Geographic, Espaces, Nuvo, National Post, Westworld, Just for Canadian Doctors/Dentists, My Country Extra (US), Nuvo, Chatelaine and more. She's a current member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the North American Journalists Association and the Travel Media Association of Canada. She loves adventure travel and when she's not snuggling with wolves, swimming with belugas or bathing in the snow, she's traveling with her kids collecting stories and memories. You can also catch Jenn on air via CBC Saskatchewan where she is a travel columnist, on her blog www.travelandhappiness.com, or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Jody Robbins
Jody Robbins is an award-winning Canadian... Read More
Jody Robbins is an award-winning Canadian freelance travel writer. She is the author of 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit (Touchwood 2017). Her blog, Travels with Baggage, has been cited as one of Canada’s top travel blogs. Connect with Jody on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Jody Robbins
Jody Robbins is an award-winning Canadian freelance travel writer. She is the author of 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit (Touchwood 2017). Her blog, Travels with Baggage, has been cited as one of Canada’s top travel blogs. Connect with Jody on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Maureen Littlejohn
Maureen Littlejohn is an award-winning travel... Read More
Maureen Littlejohn is an award-winning travel writer and editor based in Toronto. The best way she has found to discover a destination is by wandering back roads and chatting with locals. Sampling and savoring regional fare also helps. Currently, Maureen is executive editor of Culture Magazine. She has written for newspapers, magazines and online publications, including The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian magazine. She has also contributed to Guide to Canada and National Geographic Guide to Family Adventure Vacations. Her career has taken her around the world and she has spent long-term volunteer stints in Swaziland, Vietnam and Ghana. Her favorite destination? Wherever she lands next. Follow Maureen on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Maureen Littlejohn
Maureen Littlejohn is an award-winning travel writer and editor based in Toronto. The best way she has found to discover a destination is by wandering back roads and chatting with locals. Sampling and savoring regional fare also helps. Currently, Maureen is executive editor of Culture Magazine. She has written for newspapers, magazines and online publications, including The Toronto Star, Globe and Mail and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian magazine. She has also contributed to Guide to Canada and National Geographic Guide to Family Adventure Vacations. Her career has taken her around the world and she has spent long-term volunteer stints in Swaziland, Vietnam and Ghana. Her favorite destination? Wherever she lands next. Follow Maureen on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Nadine Sykora
Nadine Sykora is one of the top travel vloggers on... Read More
Nadine Sykora is one of the top travel vloggers on Youtube where she has made over 800+ videos gaining over 40 million+ views. Over the last 7 years she has traveled to over 50 country including all around parts of her home country of Canada. She has worked on dozens of video campaigns for brands, tourism boards and companies, and has been on expert travel & business panels at the Canadian Media Producers Association, Playlist Live, VidCon and Buffer Festival. She was a keynote speaker at the 2016 Women in Travel Summit. Nadine’s passion for travel is contagious and she loves to share her experiences and travel expertise via social media and through her videos. Follow her at Hey Nadine or on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Nadine Sykora
Nadine Sykora is one of the top travel vloggers on Youtube where she has made over 800+ videos gaining over 40 million+ views. Over the last 7 years she has traveled to over 50 country including all around parts of her home country of Canada. She has worked on dozens of video campaigns for brands, tourism boards and companies, and has been on expert travel & business panels at the Canadian Media Producers Association, Playlist Live, VidCon and Buffer Festival. She was a keynote speaker at the 2016 Women in Travel Summit. Nadine’s passion for travel is contagious and she loves to share her experiences and travel expertise via social media and through her videos. Follow her at Hey Nadine or on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
