10 Best Remote Getaways in Canada

Saskatoon is a river city in Saskatchewan that’s nicknamed the ‘City of Bridges’ for good reason – there’s a total of 80, to be precise. Besides natural beauty, including hundreds of acres of riverbank parks, the city offers historical landmarks and beautiful architecture to admire. Check out the majestic riverside Delta Hotels by Marriott Bessborough, for instance, which dates back to 1935.

Saskatoon is one of Canada’s sunniest cities and surrounding it you’ll find some of the best remote getaways in Canada. Beyond the Meewasin trail and the pelican-filled weirs of the city lie off-grid backcountry campgrounds. There are also various cabin rentals, villas and even mansions, which you can book for a secluded stay along the South Saskatchewan riverbank.

Regina is the capital city of Canada’s Saskatchewan province. It's a great point for enjoying outdoorsy adventures, either in snowfall or sunshine. In summer, right in the city, there’s the 930-ha Wascana Centre. You can boat on the lake or join a guided tour and there’s both the Royal Saskatchewan Museum as well as the MacKenzie Art Gallery right on the park grounds.

For a family getaway beyond the city, there’s loads of fun to be had at Outer Edge Adventures Park, with zip lines and climbing walls backed by Qu’Appelle Valley vistas. Hiking in winter is just as great at the White Butte Trails Recreation Site, where over 12 km of trails meander through the small forest. Enjoy a remote getaway in its true sense at King’s Acres or the Buffalo Lookout Campground, both of which are just a short drive outside the city.

London, located southwest of Hamilton and Mississauga, is known for having more remote settings than most Canadian cities. This makes it a go-to destination for secluded escapes – the city centre itself has numerous parks and greenways and Komoka Provincial Park nearby offers riverfront hiking trails with wildlife spotting. Just outside the city are numerous conservation areas and campgrounds. 

Further south, around the north of Lake Erie, lies various lakeside cottages and forest cabins that offer a weekend break – or longer – away from it all. These lakeside areas are dotted with beautiful vacation homes, some of which are right on the beach or close to historical landmarks and trailheads and with exciting jet skiing and motorboating to be had on the water.

Ontario’s Tri-Cities include the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo, together with Cambridge nearby. Guelph along the banks of the Speed River is also tied to the Tri-Cities, being just a half-hour drive north. These cities have great nature parks and recreational spots that booking a stay in any of them would practically put you in the great outdoors. 

Smack-dab in Waterloo is Waterloo Park, with its sizable areas for picnics, family fun and sports. Slightly north, the Laurel Creek Conservation Area is a wooded lakeside spot with water sports, hiking trails and campsites. The same can be said for Kitchener with its wide variety of parks. Southeast towards Cambridge, you’ll find remote backwoods and conservation areas. Guelph has great hiking trails leading to natural oases and its namesake rowing lake.

Gatineau is a city on the northern bank of Ottawa River, forming part of the National Capital Region of Canada. Downtown Gatineau is blessed with beautiful riverfront scenery. But beyond the city limits, you’re treated to even more scenic expanses such as Gatineau Park, Parc du Lac Leamy, and the serene Meech Lake. A wide variety of guesthouses and cabin rentals dot these rural areas.

Summer in and around Gatineau is a splendid time to enjoy most of the outdoor activities. Even so, in winter you can take to the nearby slopes for cross-country skiing and snowboarding. Or, head to the 4-season playground of Jacques Cartier Park for fun Winterlude festivities. 

The Eastern Townships in Quebec offer a remote getaway among the beautiful Canadian outdoors, with serene lakes and rolling vineyards backed by forested hills. The many lively towns and villages themselves, from Hatley and Compton to Cowansville and Bromont, each appeal with their American, Scottish, and Irish heritage through their food, culture, and beautiful architecture.

Be at one with nature, either on adventures at Lac Massawippi, along the Tomifobia Nature Trail or with a round of golf at any of the scenic golf courses – the Townships have the greatest number of golf courses in all of Quebec. It’s also home to 4 national parks, one being the Yamaska National Park with its manmade Choinière Reservoir.

Kamloops lies at the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers in British Columbia. It has the pristine Canadian outdoors at its doorstep. The city is one of the top winter getaways in British Columbia, with the Sun Peaks ski resort just northeast of its city centre. Between the town and resort, you’re treated to various ski runs and hiking trails.

Kamloops Lake has rental cabins up in the mountains and down near its beach. On the town’s border, there’s the 12-acre Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park with its 2,000-year-old traditional village. About 19 km further east along the South Thompson River, BC Wildlife Park offers a thrilling day out for the whole family with resident grizzly bears and arctic wolves.

Northern British Columbia features vast Canadian wilderness, including that of the Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park. In winter, you can take on the slopes of Tuya Mountains Provincial Park or go on a leisurely tour of the region by snowmobile. In summer, more fun activities await, from scenic mountain hiking to recreation on the lakes.

For a secluded stay in Northern British Columbia, rural cabin rentals lie in the forests of Terrace, on the hills of Smithers, on the banks of Murch Lake, as well as in the Cassiar Highlands around Jade City – with some rustic ones overlooking Good Hope Lake. Such lakeside spots allow you to canoe, paddleboard or go pedal boating from right outside of your rustic log cabin.

Grande Prairie is a great base for summertime outdoor fun in Alberta, particularly around Muskoseepi Park. Here, you can hike through the wilderness of Bear Creek Valley or go canoeing on its reservoir. The reservoir loop is 2.4 km long and offers a relatively easy hike for all. 

Other provincial parks worth visiting in Grande Prairie include Saskatoon Island that’s great for camping or picnicking, Moonshine Lake with its playground that the kids will love, and Crystal Lake with its 405 ha of parkland. Cabin rentals and vacation homes around Grand Prairie offer nature views out their window. Even so, some aren’t too far from modern facilities such as the Eastlink Center recreation hub and Prairie Mall Shopping Centre.

Red Deer in Alberta has a rich history that traces back to the First Nations people and the late 18th-century fur trade. It also witnessed the first train passing along the Calgary and Edmonton Railway in the late 19th century. Surrounded by pristine nature, a stay in Red Deer has beautiful parks and nature preserves close by, such as Bower Ponds and the Gaetz Lakes Migratory Bird Sanctuary. 

There are exciting and powdery slopes of Canyon Ski Resort to conquer in winter, as well as the scenic Wakasoo Creek Trail to hike along in summer. Sylvan Lake offers plenty of fun for the family and the kids will certainly have a blast at Wildlife Discovery Park, half an hour’s drive south of Red Deer in the town of Innisfail.