The Country Voted Best In The World For Hiking Is Full Of Stunning Lakes And National Parks

A good hike can be a life-changing experience. There is something about getting out into the wilderness and exploring the great outdoors on foot that is truly transformational, and the best views are usually found far from tarmac and parking lots. The world is full of amazing long-distance hiking trails which take you far into the backcountry, as well as shorter hikes with equally amazing views.

Finding the best hiking destinations around the world is a challenging business, due to the incredible variety of landscapes and trails on offer. Hiking in the U.S. is hugely popular, and it is definitely world-famous for outdoor recreation. The dramatic, remote beauty of Scotland is another great option, as is the unspoiled beauty of Italy's mountain ranges like Supramonte. And world-famous regions like the Alps in Europe, the Inca Trail in Peru, and the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, India, and Bhutan offer stunning experiences. But according to a recent report by TouchNote, a personalized postcard service, the country with the best hiking trails in the world is Canada, with a perfect 10 score in their survey (via Travel and Leisure).

Canada is one of the world's great outdoor destinations, and there are incredible places to hike across the country. From world-class alpine ridges in the Rocky Mountains and dramatic Atlantic coastal paths in Nova Scotia to ancient stone paths in Ontario and beautiful forest trails in Saskatchewan, its position on TouchNote's survey is no surprise. There are plenty of transport hubs, depending on which part of the country you are visiting, with Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in the west and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in the east.

Choosing the best trails in a country filled with so many extraordinary landscapes is obviously impossible, but there are a few exceptional routes and wilderness areas that are particularly worth highlighting. The East Coast Trail in Newfoundland on Canada's Atlantic Coast is often considered the best multi-day hike in the country. It is a mammoth 200 miles in total, across 25 different wilderness trails, meaning keen hikers can either explore individual sections or take on the entirety in an epic through-hike. It boasts stunning ocean views and dramatic coastal paths, as well as the chance to see icebergs, whales, and a huge variety of birds.

Another remarkable long-distance trail is the Bruce Trail, which runs along the top of the Niagara Escarpment for a mind-blowing 560 miles, from Queenston Heights Park to Tobermory Harbor in the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Despite its imposing length, it is an extremely accessible trail, with well-maintained paths divided into clearly marked, shorter sections. It is particularly spectacular during the fall, when the trees explode in a riot of rusty oranges, reds, yellows, and golds.

For a quintessentially Canadian hiking experience, Lake Agnes & the Beehives is unmissable. Set in the heart of Banff National Park in Alberta, this fabulous pair of trails takes adventurers from Lake Louise up and around Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes, with its iconic mountain background, as well as up to the top of Big Beehive, with its staggeringly beautiful views. Don't miss the chance to stop for refreshments at the historic Lake Agnes Teahouse, an icon of Canadian hiking.

Canada scored so highly on TouchNote's survey due to a combination of factors. Its trails are generally considered to be the most photogenic in the world, while also being shorter than average and generally only moderately difficult, providing a wonderful combination of natural beauty and accessibility. According to Craig Law, Head of Marketing at TouchNote, "Over the past twelve months, searches for 'best places to visit in Canada' have soared by more than 5,000 percent, highlighting the True North as one of the world's most sought-after travel destinations all year long. Canada not only claims the top spot for the world's best hikes, but also ranks among the most photographed and memorialized by travelers eager to make their friends jealous with their postcard-worthy holiday snaps."

Hiking is an incredibly popular activity, with one in three adults in both the United States and China saying they go hiking at least occasionally, per Statista Consumer Insights. 71% of travelers are considering or planning a mountain escape in 2026, with summer mountain trail activities having increased by 23% since 2023, according to Skyscanner. As a result, Canada's status as the world's best hiking destination is a huge boost to tourism in the country and ensures that plenty of travelers will be considering a Canadian getaway in the next few years.