Canada from Coast to Coast

Canada is a nation full of natural splendour, encompassing 9,985 million kilometers² and a wide range of ecosystems. Working as a photographer allows me to discover a world of contrasts and great diversity. In this report, I invite you to follow me to some of the places I particularly enjoy visiting. Please note that selecting just a few of my favourite photo destinations was not an easy task – presenting my views of this vast country in just seven photos is an almost impossible mission…

Newfoundland

North Head Trail, St. John’s, Newfoundland

Among my most beautiful fall hikes, the North Head Trail, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, stands out. With a length of just 1.7 km, this elevated trail offers a breathtaking perspective on the city and the panoramas of the Atlantic. For the image I selected, the area was veiled in a very dense fog, and the dramatic view of the “Signal Hill” tower appears within an indescribable atmosphere. The copper mosaic is simply mind-blowing. After a long descent, the sun pierced the foggy horizon. It was as if a landscape at the end of the world was revealed, but this view is from the farthest east end of Canada!

Prince Edward Island

McKenzie Creek Arch, Prince Edward Island National Park

As I crossed McKenzie Creek, an advanced erosion phenomenon caught my eye. The power of the sea literally created a round hole in the escarpment. To access this fascinating maritime landscape, I had to negotiate a cliffside passage. I checked the tide table to see if I could time my photo to capture the best view. The water level was rising and would be at high tide shortly after dusk. I took a chance and walked through the water as the tide receded. It’s worth the effort to see the scene at the most impressive part of the day. I knew as soon as I started this adventure that I was in the ideal location to admire my first sunset in Prince Edward Island, just as the tide started to reach the soles of my shoes.

New Brunswick

Miscou Islands, Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick

On each of my trips to the Acadian Peninsula, I make a point of driving to the end of Highway 113. I discovered a simple parking lot at the lighthouse on Miscou Island. Erected in 1856, this majestic lighthouse overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The variety of views that surround the lighthouse are spectacular and worth a visit. There are winding sandy beaches, salt marshes, bogs, and a forest that resembles the vegetation usually seen further north. These scenes give the Acadian Island a unique character for a Maritime landscape.

Quebec

Phare de l’Ile Verte, (Green Island Lighthouse), Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec

“Built to warn sailors that they are headed for the shore, lighthouses now have a new vocation, that of showing the sea to earthlings,” says Vincent Guigueno, a specialist in the field. Forty lighthouses – the sentinels of the St. Lawrence – punctuate and add their own scenic appeal to the coast of the maritime regions of Quebec. The Phare de l’Ile Verte (Green Island lighthouse) is undoubtedly one of my favorites. Built in 1809, it is the oldest lighthouse in the St. Lawrence region and the third oldest in Canada. Observing the sunrise in these places allows you to treat yourself to a moment of contemplation and gratitude!

Nunavut

Painted Hills Archipelago, James Bay, Nunavut

For a long time, I dreamed of exploring the Painted Hills archipelago. Travelling by boat to the islands, the shrub taiga has given way to a very pronounced Arctic tundra setting. You can even see a caribou swimming from island to island. My guide told me to keep an eye out, I might see a polar bear. As we made the last meters of ascent to the top of the second island, I saw a quartz monument. The famous silver streaks that dot the hills are in fact quartz veins with the appearance of winding rivers. At Arctic sunset, Henry suggested that I put a rock on the monument to testify to my presence. He informed me that the stones in this monument correspond to the number of visitors who have walked these places. Suffice to say that the “Painted Hills” islands are rarely explored…

Alberta

Lac Vermilion, Banff, Alberta

The Canadian Rockies are truly jewels. Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. A few kilometres from Banff, The Vermilion Lakes are among my favourites. At sunset, you are not likely to be alone, because this is a very popular site for photography. Nevertheless, for early risers, at sunrise you have an opportunity to experience a one-on-one encounter with the famous Mount Rundle. With an elevation of 2,948 meters, this singular mountain is characterized by a summit ridge that slopes gradually on one side and steeply on the other. A silhouette is perfectly reflected in the “mirror” waters of Lake Vermilion!

British Columbia

Iceline Trail, Yoho National Park, British Columbia

Takakkaw Falls, the second highest in Canada at 373 metres, is breathtaking. The Iceline Trail is well named, as it puts us in touch with an incredible alpine experience. However, the most phenomenal thing is to measure its progress with a waterfall that at one time seemed to fall from the sky. Now, at the very bottom of the valley, it looks like a stream!

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About the Author

Mathieu Dupuis is the author of 10 best-selling books and collaborator on 20 publications.  In 2017, he became the first Quebecer to sign a photographer and author contract with National Geographic.