The pro photographers’ guide to Canada’s most gorgeous spots

Canada is a vast land with distinct and diverse features, and each province has their fair share of staggering sights, scenes and wildlife. Here, pro photographers across the country share some of their favourite Instagrammable spots in their home regions.

NEWFOUNDLAND

The photographer: Chelsey Lawrence, @chelseylawrencephotography, based in St. John’s.

The spot: Signal Hill trail network, St. John’s.

Chelsey Lawrence loves navigating the idyllic network of trails on Signal Hill — a National Historic Site — which is where you’ll find the 121-year-old Cabot Tower. The hiking paths range from easy to strenuous (the hardest, North Head Trail, includes a section similar to climbing 20 floors), but all offer unbeatable panoramic views of St. John’s.

“You’re up really high and you can watch the city come to life as everyone wakes up in the morning,” says Lawrence, who adds that the sights are just as appealing during sunset. It’s also the spot to get a slice of local life, as you’re likely to find many people walking their dogs. “It’s a really, really nice way to start or end your day.”

QUEBEC

The photographer: Math Sparks, @msparksphoto, based in Chambly.

The spot: Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie, Charlevoix.

Math Sparks knows out-of-province visitors are more familiar with other photogenic spots in Quebec, like the Parc national de la Gaspésie, home to the highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains in Canada. But to snap IG pics like a local, it’s hard to beat Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie in Charlevoix.

Set in the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO designation), the park is the place to catch stunning views of glacial valleys, the cascading Malbaie River, lush forest and some of the highest rock cliffs in Eastern Canada. “It’s one of the most beautiful hikes you could do in Quebec,” says Sparks, who especially loves it during the fall as the colours are changing.

MANITOBA

The photographer: Liz Tran, @liz.tran, based in Winnipeg.

The spot: Riding Mountain National Park, Treaty 2 Territory.

“Everybody at Riding Mountain National Park is super friendly and enthusiastic about the outdoors and nature, which is contagious,” Liz Tran says. Here, golden hour seems extra-long (thanks to the ultra-flat land), and you’ll see quiet lakes, grasslands and forests, home to diverse wildlife, including wolf packs, porcupines, moose, white-tailed deer and more.

There’s also the Lake Audy Bison Enclosure, a 500-hectare area with a herd of about 40 plains bison as part of an effort to preserve the region’s natural ecosystem. It’s an important reminder, Tran says, to be respectful of the fragile habitats you’re visiting. Before you travel, the photographer recommends reading up on Leave No Trace principles — which include not veering off trails to grab a better photo.

ALBERTA

The photographer: Paul Zizka, @paulzizkaphoto, based in Banff.

The spot: Moraine Lake, Banff National Park.

There’s a reason Moraine Lake was once featured on the back of the $20 bill. The waters of the glacier-fed lake take on a turquoise hue you have to see to believe, with the colour changing in the summer as the glaciers melt. About a 20-minute drive from Lake Louise, the Moraine sits within the Valley of the Ten Peaks, surrounded by hiking trails, waterfalls and ragged mountains.

The locale is also a dream for photographers, says Paul Zizka, thanks to its awe-inspiring natural geometry, majestic aura, elevated views and its ability to “always be surprising.” “Everyone feels compelled to create something here because it’s so mind-blowingly beautiful,” he says. His advice: Visit really early in the morning or later at night, because the region does fill up with tourists.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

The photographer: Ashley Voykin, @ashvoykin, based in West Kootenay.

The spot: Kootenay Columbia summit, Rossland.

After a long day of shooting at a nearby ski hill, Ashley Voykin likes doing one of the energetic (but not-too-challenging) hikes in the KC trail network — where you’ll see rows of towering trees and alpine flowers in the warmer months — up to the Kootenay Columbia summit to look out over Rossland. The town, known as a mecca for mountain bikers, is a hot spot for a wide range of outdoor sports, including skiing, snowboarding and golfing.

Voykin loves this particular scene on a starry night, and if you’re lucky, you may even see the Milky Way. “When I’m up there, it’s usually quiet, so you’re away from the hustle and bustle of Rossland,” she says. “It’s a great viewpoint to get shots of the town.”

The Star understands the restrictions on travel during the coronavirus pandemic. But like you, we dream of travelling again, and we’re publishing these stories with future trips in mind.