10 Best Destinations for a Late Summer Trip in Canada

Okanagan Valley offers plenty of sun and warm weather well into the late-summer months of August and September. The valley is known as among the country’s warmest regions, favoured for hiking and biking adventures. Okanagan Lake and its sandy beaches are great for family recreations and paddling out, though it would be a tad cooler than in the peak of summer.

Whichever adventure you choose for your late-summer trip in Okanagan Valley, you’ll be immersing yourself in the gorgeous natural backdrops of pine forests and provincial parks. Vineyard tours and tee-offs at championship golf courses around the main town of Kelowna continue to be popular thanks to the long daylight hours.

The Sunshine Coast in southwest British Columbia, though mountainous, is one of Canada’s best low-lying regions for experiencing the country’s warm Mediterranean-esque climate. Home to several marine provincial parks, the region remains pleasant to visit and explore well into the late-summer months.

The coast stretches for about 180 km, from Desolation Sound on the northwest to Howe Sound on the southeast. In between are 11 charming coastal communities, where you can enjoy boat or kayaking tours and hiking. There’s Roberts Creek, Gibsons, Halfmoon Bay, and Pender Harbour to name a few. Biking over waterfalls or hiking the famed Sunshine Coast Trail is quite an adventure, and afterwards, you can drink craft beer at a local farm.

The Banff area gets quite busy in the full swing of summer with its vibrant lake views and wildlife that can be spotted frolicking in the warm sunshine. It even remains the popular getaway in Alberta for those making it late into summertime. This is partly because it’s easily connected to the Trans-Canada Highway and only a 90-minute transfer from the airport in Calgary.

Most horseback riding tours in Banff and Lake Louise are available throughout September, taking you through glaciers country pioneers once travelled with stops at quaint tea houses. You can also cruise Lake Minnewanka, go canoeing on the Vermilion Lakes, or go white-water rafting down Bow River. Golfing at Banff’s top courses, such as the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, is good through to late September.

Jasper and its namesake national park offer plenty of choices for those looking for a late-summer adventure in the Canadian Rockies. There’s great camping to be had here in some of the most beautiful Canadian backcountry, as well as wonderful hiking and mountain biking. 

As one of the most sought-after destinations in Canada after Banff, Jasper sees visitors from within Canada and the world over. Late summer in Jasper remains popular after the peak around July and August. Higher hiking trails may not be recommended this time around due to sleet, but it’s all fine on the lower trails and down around the town and valley.

The Bay of Quinte is a long, narrow bay on Lake Ontario’s northern shore best known to summer visitors for its sailing, walleye fishing, and golfing. The region also has a collection of serene provincial and seasonal lakeside parks. Wineries and vineyards are great for those who want to take a crash course on wine or enjoy tastings and memorable picnics with pairings.

The sweeping bay is graced by sandy beaches and lakeside complexes where families can relax and engage in water activities. The large stretch of the Sandbanks Provincial Park has dunes and clear, swimmable waters. Golfers can have a great time at any of the 7 notable golf courses surrounding the bay.

Georgian Bay is one of Ontario’s top spots for late-summer recreation. Tucked into the northeastern edge of Lake Huron, its coastline stretches for over 1,500 km, graced by a greyish-pink granite shoreline and a series of rugged rock formations. These features are most striking and prominent in Parry Sound’s Massasauga Provincial Park, while Flowerpot Island with its towering stacks is equally stunning.

The rugged bay remains a freshwater playground well into late summer. You’ll often see kayakers paddling their way around the shore to admire the stark and colourfully exposed geological formations that have been shaped over centuries from glacial activity. For some history, venture into Fathom Five National Marine Park for its preserved shipwrecks and 19th-century lighthouses.

Muskoka, with its bounty of lakes and forests, is beautiful in the peak of summertime, though it remains attractive and enjoyable well into the autumn months. This region offers plenty of parks and lakeside beaches that also double as campgrounds. A scenic cruise on Muskoka's pristine lakes is best done in late summer or autumn, allowing you to see among the best of Ontario's cottage country from the water.

Beyond the gorgeous lakes and lakefronts, hiking trails lead to waterfalls such as Wilsons Falls. You could even go for a kayaking adventure and paddle close to pretty cascades like High Falls. Exciting trails allow mountain bikers to wind through lush, hidden paths. There’s a treetop park where families can share the fun up in the canopies together with their young adventurers.

The Gaspesie - Iles de la Madeleines region in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence offers the best of Quebec’s rugged Gaspe Peninsula. The peninsula is home to 4 national parks with northern gannet colonies, a forested alpine summit, and a series of charming coastal towns with old lighthouses dotted along the coast.

Also known as the Magdalen Islands, the archipelago comprising 8 tiny islands offers an exotic escape away from the mainland with kilometres of white-sand beaches and stunning red sandstone cliffs. The best time of year to visit the region is from June through late September, right before chilly autumn kicks in. Mountain biking through the rugged terrain of coniferous forests, camping, and sea kayaking to see the striking geological features of the islands are among the most popular activities.

The Charlevoix region in Quebec is one of the best places to catch the last of Canada’s summer sun with the Laurentian Mountains serving as a dramatic backdrop. The region on the northern shore of the Saint Lawrence River is home to gorgeous fjords and headlands – it was designated as one of Canada’s 18 biosphere reserves. 

The rolling terrain and magnificent topography of the region were the results of a meteorite that crashed to Earth over 300 million years ago, creating the Charlevoix crater at the heart of the region. Today, the beautiful landscapes serve as quaint settings for charming communities with historic sites like working old watermills, farms, stone windmills, and blacksmith shops.

The Eastern Townships in the southeast corner of Quebec is a popular summer destination for hikers and mountain bikers, spagoers, and enologists. Lakes Memphremagog and Massawippi are a playground for various sailing activities. The 15 townships are locally known as Les Cantons de l'Est.

The region is home to Mont Gosford, southern Quebec’s tallest peak. It rewards those who make it to the summit with breathtaking panoramas from its observation tower. There are many exciting hiking trails available even in late summer, including the Sentiers de l'Estrie south-north trail from Glen Sutton to Kingsbury.