For a long time, the Yukon had been one of those dream travel destinations for us. Its vast wilderness, majestic mountains, and fascinating history tied to the gold rush irresistibly drew us in.
We finally made this ambitious project a reality: a road trip across Canada heading toward the Yukon.
Since the journey from Quebec is considerable, we chose to turn the trip itself into a series of adventures.
Instead of just racking up the kilometers, we made plenty of stops to discover several tourist attractions spread across different provinces.
Along the way, each province offered its share of landscapes and discoveries. We crossed vast forests, admired beautiful lakes, explored historic sites, and visited several local attractions that helped us better appreciate Canada’s diversity.
These breaks made the trip much more enjoyable and allowed us to take the time to fully enjoy each region we visited.
One of the great pleasures of a road trip is the freedom it provides. We could adjust our itinerary based on our mood, extend a visit we particularly enjoyed, or stop spontaneously at a spectacular viewpoint.
Often, it’s these unexpected discoveries that become the best memories.
As we moved northwest, the landscapes became more and more impressive. The roads seemed endless, the mountains drew closer, and nature took on an even greater presence. Traffic gradually thinned out, giving way to a sense of freedom that’s hard to describe.
Arriving in the Yukon marked the culmination of several days of travel. From the first kilometers, we were amazed by the vastness of the territory.
The breathtaking panoramas, the wildlife everywhere, and the unique atmosphere of the Canadian North more than made up for all the kilometers we’d covered.
This road trip to the Yukon reminded us that the destination is important, but the journey is just as much a part of it.
The many stops we made along the way allowed us to discover extraordinary places we probably never would’ve visited otherwise.
Every province we crossed helped make this adventure even more memorable.
The Yukon will certainly remain one of the highlights of our travels, but the memories we gathered along the way hold a special place in our hearts too.
That’s what makes a great Canadian road trip so magical: every kilometer tells a story.
In the upcoming posts, you’ll discover the places that caught our attention throughout this road trip.
Don’t hesitate to watch the videos to complete the experience and explore these attractions as if you were there.
To jump to a specific post, here are the appropriate links:
Roland Lake Falls - Lac-Pythonga (Quebec) | First Stop on the Way to the Yukon
Must-See Stops in Ontario
Stop at the Center of Canada | Manitoba
Stop in Winnipeg (Manitoba)
Discovering Regina (Saskatchewan)
Stops in Moose Jaw, Chaplin & Saskatoon (Saskatchewan)
Stops in Vegreville & Edmonton (Alberta)
Stop at West Edmonton Mall, a World of Attractions Under One Roof
Stops in Beaverlodge (AB) & Dawson Creek (BC)
Adventure on the Alaska Highway: Between Dawson Creek and Liard River (BC)
Discovering Liard River Hot Springs (BC)
The Sign Post Forest (Watson Lake)
Stops at Rancheria Falls, Teslin, and Tagish
Discovering Carcross and Its Must-See Spots
Carcross Desert Yukon: A Surprising Desert in the Heart of Canada
Must-See Stop at Emerald Lake (Yukon)
Hike at Miles Canyon (Whitehorse) - Yukon
Discovering Whitehorse
Spectacular Northern Lights - Fish Lake - Whitehorse (Yukon)
Must-See Stops Between Whitehorse and Dawson City
Road Trip on the Dempster Highway (Yukon) - 100 km of Adventure
Complete Visit of the Historic Town of Dawson City in the Yukon
Midnight Dome Dawson City - Magical Northern Lights in the Yukon
Eastern Canada: the Eastern Townships, Gaspésie, New Brunswick, Acadia, and Nova Scotia.
Forests, lakes, lighthouses, parks, and encounters.
To sum up this trip: amazing encounters, stunning parks, wildlife, and passionate, fascinating Parks Rangers.
Bic Park, Gaspésie, Forillon, Bonaventure Island, Cape Breton Highlands Park, Hopewell Rock
My tips:
Don’t hesitate to chat with the park rangers and check out the activities they organize—it’s really interesting.
If you want to see wildlife, get up early.
The kilometers go by pretty easily; driving 500 km in Canada with an automatic car on long, straight roads with light traffic isn’t much more tiring than doing 120 km on Ireland’s narrow roads...
Try to catch a Quebecois film at the cinema or on TV.
For the ferry, plan ahead. Taking it at least once is a great experience.
For the rest, once you know what you want to see, just go with your gut—it’s easy.
The Trip:
Arrived in Montreal on 09/02. Family meal where we tried homemade *pouding chômeur*.
We spent 3 days exploring the Eastern Townships: the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, Bolton, Magog (its wine fair and thunderstorms), Granby, Bromont and its little lake, and its spa…
Gaspésie, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia:
We didn’t stop in Quebec City or at the Montmorency Falls, as we’d already visited them on a previous trip. Otherwise, plan an extra day and a stop in the lovely city of Quebec.
Day 1: Left on 09/05 for Saint-Fabien and Bic Park, famous for its coastline, marshy landscapes, and harbor seals (brochure). About 500 km. Stayed overnight in Saint-Fabien.
Along the way, we saw *barachois*—bodies of water usually at the mouth of a river, separated from the sea by a gravel, sand, or pebble barrier. They can be freshwater or saltwater. The fresh water of the St. Lawrence River mixes with the sea up to Orléans Island. And there’s a measurable tide up to the Trois-Rivières bridge.
Visited Bic Park and observed seals molting with the park rangers. More park photos.
Days 2 & 3: Headed to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (about 200 km). The lighthouse route guided us 😊.
Two nights in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts for a short hike in Gaspésie Park (brochure) and its stunning landscapes between mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes. We didn’t see any caribou or moose, but from the top of Xalibu (a well-marked 5-hour round-trip hike), we had a 360° view of Mont Jacques-Cartier and Mont Albert. More photos.
This was Muriel’s favorite park—it’s exactly what she imagined Canadian forests, rivers, and lakes to be. You can also stay overnight in the park (especially by Lac Cascapédia), which is better but pricier 😢.
Days 4 to 6: Left for Forillon Park (brochure) near Gaspé (200 km). Magical... We were lucky—we came face-to-face with a mother bear and her cubs (brown bears). It was incredible. We also saw beavers at work...
Our lodging was out of the ordinary—what luck! A ranch in the middle of the woods. We stayed 3 nights. This is my favorite park. More Forillon photos.
Gaspé in Mi’gmaq means "end of the land." But for Jacques Cartier, it was the beginning of the country. On July 6, 1534, he and his crew made contact with the first Indigenous people of the Mi’gmaq Nation off the Baie des Chaleurs. On July 24, 1534, he landed in Gaspé, planted a 30-foot cross, and claimed the region for the King of France, where they met the St. Lawrence Iroquoians.
Visited Bonaventure Island (brochure) and its 100,000 northern gannets. Bonaventure Park photos.
Not to mention our first freshly caught and cooked lobster, bought at a fish market on the port.
Day 7: Finished the Gaspésie loop with a stop in Campbellton (300 km) before crossing into New Brunswick. Stopped at Bourdage Tradition farm. We could’ve gone as far as Caraquet, which would’ve been better. Rain all day.
Day 8: Headed to Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia. Overnight in Moncton to split the drive (500 km). We stopped in Acadia, a truly unique region with incredibly friendly and open people. New Brunswick is over 80% forest—it’s impressive how many trucks and dead raccoons you see on the side of the road.
Sunset at Hopewell Rock—bring mosquito repellent! There are thousands, it’s awful. Photos.
Days 9 to 11: Left for Sydney (500 km) for 3 days exploring Cape Breton Highlands Park. If you have time, stop at the "Train Station Inn in Tatamagouche"—I love the concept. You can eat there, sleep there, or just visit.
The Cape Breton Highlands Park loop is over 300 km. Photos. Our apartment was in North Sydney, a bit far from Chéticamp (2-hour drive) and 1.5 hours from the park entrance. But the road itself is beautiful. We should’ve found lodging in Chéticamp or Ingonish. At the time, we were also planning to visit Louisbourg, but it was too much.
Day 12: Time to head back, but there were still over 1,500 km to go. We’d planned to stop at "Le Pays de la Sagouine," a local heroine from Antonine Maillet’s imagination, played by the wonderful local actress Viola Léger. A fantastic place for shows and passion—don’t miss it if you get the chance. Another overnight in Moncton to split the trip (550 km).
Returned through Gaspésie and the Matapédia Valley, famous for its salmon fishing. We met a guy from Haute-Savoie who’d been living there for 15 years, making a living from fishing (he runs a shop) and dog sledding in winter.
Day 13: Things didn’t go exactly as planned. We were supposed to take the ferry from Rimouski to Tadoussac and the Saguenay Fjord. But due to Storm Florence, all boats were docked. We tried the ferry from Trois-Pistoles, but all crossings were canceled. The only other way was a 500 km detour to Quebec City. So we decided to spend the night of 09/17 in Trois-Pistoles (we’d already driven 600–700 km that day).
Days 14 & 15: We changed our plans, heading to Trois-Rivières and La Mauricie Park for a quick seaplane tour. There, we had an amazing encounter at the "Gîte de la Vieille Caisse" (the Old Bank Inn). The welcome was warm, breakfast was hearty, and the outdoor spa in the rain was great. We took our flight with Hydravion Aventure—the team was super friendly, and it was close to our inn. We’ll be back to explore this side of the St. Lawrence 😊.
Returned to family for a quiet end to the trip, with a little hike on Bromont Mountain, a visit to the Bombardier Museum, and a detour to local vineyards to buy a few bottles as souvenirs.
Bromont is the local ski resort, open until midnight on weekends.
We were 10 days too early for the fall colors and the cranberry harvest. I think it’s worth seeing.
If we go back, we’ll try to combine a trip to the north shore of the St. Lawrence (Mauricie, Lac Saint-Jean, Saguenay), the cranberry harvest, and a day at the Saint-Tite Festival. It must be amazing...
In summary:
Parks, forests, but also plains, fields, farms, lighthouses, beaches, small fishing ports, hikes, family moments, and encounters...
Trip Cost:
We spent 3,400 € total for two, including souvenirs. The exchange rate with the Canadian dollar was pretty good.
Flights: 830 € for two.
Accommodations: 750 € for 14 nights, averaging 54 € per night in B&Bs and Airbnbs (family stays not included).
Car rental: 600 € for 3 weeks + 350 € for gas. We drove over 6,000 km—it’s a lot but doable. We wanted to go to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Park entry fees were about 8 CAD per person. We didn’t get a pass because some parks are national (Forillon), others are Quebec national parks, and some are neither.
The seaplane cost 99 CAD per person for 30 minutes.
For meals, we had a cooler to do some basic cooking in apartments or hostels. We ate out 4 evenings.
After visiting Newfoundland Island, we took the ferry to Blanc-Sablon, a municipality located on the Lower North Shore in Quebec, Canada.
Instead of heading back to Quebec via Sydney in Nova Scotia, we decided to explore the Lower North Shore—the least-known region of Quebec—as well as Labrador, which is part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
From Blanc-Sablon, we drove to the municipality of Vieux-Fort via Route 138. This road ends in that municipality.
Afterward, we crossed Labrador to return to the Old Capital. Only one road allows this route. It wasn’t fully paved during our trip, but it is now.
We made stops in different areas to go on hikes that let us discover some incredible landscapes.
I hope this travel journal inspires you to venture into these stunning regions.
Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Click on the image to start the video.
Lower North Shore:
Lower North Shore - Blanc-Sablon - Brador Falls Lookout
Lower North Shore - Blanc-Sablon - Astragalus Trail (Milk-Vetch Trail)
Lower North Shore - Bonne-Espérance - Granny Hill Trail
Labrador:
Red Bay - Tracey Hill Trail
Mary's Harbour - White Water Falls Trail
Mary's Harbour - Gin Cove Hiking Trail
Mary's Harbour - Dr. Moret Hiking Trail
Happy Valley-Goose Bay - Birch Island Walk
North West River - Sunday Hill Lookout Trail
Churchill Falls - Bowdoin Canyon Nature Trail
Labrador City - Tanya Lake Loop Trail
Labrador City - Crystal Falls Hiking Trail
North Shore
North Shore - Manic 2, 3, 5 Hydroelectric Plants and Daniel-Johnson Dam
Baie-Comeau - Pioneers Park
Tadoussac Village
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More landscapes of the Lower North Shore, Labrador, and the North Shore
The Eastern region is a landscape of protected coasts and bays, charming little fishing villages, exceptional scenic routes, and hiking trails in the heart of preserved habitats where many migratory bird species live, including puffins.
Stretching from Cape Bonavista in the north, where John Cabot landed in 1497, to Fortune and Grand Bank in the south, this part of Newfoundland was the first to be discovered and settled.
Visiting this region is like stepping back in time and discovering the cultural and artistic richness of this province, all at a more relaxed pace.
The Avalon Peninsula, located in the southeast of Newfoundland Island, isn't just a picturesque place—it's also teeming with natural wonders: icebergs, whales, migratory seabirds, and wild caribou.
It was the first region of the province to be settled. Moreover, it's rich in legends, traditions, and the history of the early adventurers who conquered the New World.
St. John's, the capital, is one of the oldest and easternmost cities in North America. With its colorful houses nestled in the heart of steep rocky hills, it has the traditional charm of a small port town.
Below are the hikes we did in this region. A link is attached to each hike to give you quicker access to the relevant information.
Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Please click on the image to start the video.
Chance Cove Coastal Hiking Trail
Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve
Holyrood - Salmonier Nature Park
La Manche Provincial Park - Suspension Bridge Trail
Cape Spear - Lighthouse Trail
St. John's - Deadman's Bay Trail
Quidi Vidi - Sugarloaf Trail
St. John's - Signal Hill National Historic Site
St. John's - North Head Trail Loop - Signal Hill
Salmon Cove - Salmon Cove Sands Provincial Park
A land of adventure, the central region of Newfoundland is a vast area of dense forests and rugged coastlines.
To the north, between April and June, icebergs from Greenland drift along the famous "Iceberg Alley."
Inland, forests, lakes, and rivers dominate—once precious resources for Indigenous peoples and European settlers.
To the east lies Terra-Nova National Park and its typical habitat, made up of islands, ponds, bogs, and forests.
Finally, the southern coast, dotted with spectacular fjords, is home to several isolated fishing villages as well as the Miawpukek First Nation of Conne River, the province’s only recognized reserve.
Creating a masterpiece like Gros Morne National Park wasn’t done overnight. So, when you first discover this extraordinary place, it’s easy to understand why Mother Nature took over 485 million years to bring it to life.
Here, glacial valleys, forests, rugged coastline, beaches, and peat bogs follow one another and intertwine to form a unique ecosystem, one that’s rare in the world. After all, this is where geologists found tangible evidence of the theory of continental drift, and it’s one of the few places on Earth where you can see—and even walk on—the Earth’s mantle. This site is a true celebration of the raw, enigmatic power and beauty of the physical world.
Designated a national park in 1973 and later a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it’s an 1,805 km² playground just waiting for the adventurer in you. Whether you’re traveling solo, with family, or with friends, for a few days or several weeks, you won’t run out of things to do here.
To do this, we traveled to North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to board a Marine Atlantic ferry that took us to Port aux Basques in Newfoundland. The crossing takes about 7 hours.
The ferry *Highlanders* features spacious cabins for two or four people, a restaurant, a retail store, and a play area for kids.
The reclining seats are comfortable and include a headphone jack and a USB charging port.
We went out on the open-air panoramic observation deck several times to admire the Atlantic Ocean, hoping to spot some marine wildlife. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any.
This short video gives you an overview of the facilities. For more details, I invite you to check out Marine Atlantic’s website at the following address: https://www.marineatlantique.ca/.
In July 2018, we decided to go on a road trip to Prince Edward Island. We had four days off, so it was the perfect opportunity to set off on an adventure.
This time, I hadn’t had much time to prepare an itinerary. I’d only done a bit of research online to try and find tourist attractions that might interest us.
I should say that it wasn’t our first visit to the island, and since our stay was quite short, we decided to complete the island loop by making stops along the coast to admire the lighthouses, small fishing villages, beaches, and the stunning steep cliffs.
We also made a few stops at lookouts along the road and even went for a hike in Greenwich National Park.
Our trip was more of an escape into nature. When we travel, we feel best when we’re far from the noise and crowds.
So, I invite you to discover the fabulous landscapes of Prince Edward Island.
To get there, we had to cover nearly 1,000 km. It took us a full day, and we had to cross parts of Quebec and New Brunswick.
The roads are beautiful. However, there isn’t much to see except the vast forests lining the highways.
The Confederation Bridge, which is 12.9 kilometers long, connects New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island.
There’s no fee to enter the island when you cross this bridge. However, a toll must be paid when leaving the island.
