The arrival of the spring equinox around the 21st March signifies the official arrival of spring in Canada.
While it may not immediately feel like spring everywhere in the Great White North, this is a great time of year to travel Canada.
Most visitors to Canada visit during July and August so March to June is considered a ‘shoulder’ season.
Travelling to Canada in spring is quieter and more affordable. In this comprehensive guide, discover the highlights of visiting Canada in spring as well as top travel destinations and spring travel advice.
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Unique things to do in Canada in spring
Canada is a country with four distinct seasons and spring is particularly cherished for heralding the end of winter.
There is a range of unique things to do in Canada in spring – read on for some of the best seasonal experiences across the nation.
Spring skiing
There are SO many reasons to go spring skiing in Canada. I worked three ski seasons in British Columbia and March was always my favourite time to be on the slopes.
When I think of spring skiing, I think of relaxed bluebird days with corn snow and good vibes.
Here are just a few of my other favourite reasons why spring skiing in Canada is so good:
- Quieter slopes and shorter lift lines
- More daylight
- Warmer temperatures (peel off those layers!)
- Soft, forgiving snow
- Some of the heavier dumps of the season
- Drinks in the sun after skiing
- General feel-good atmosphere
- Great ticket/accommodation deals
Most ski resorts in Canada are open until the start or middle of April, often finishing the season with a ‘Slush Cup’ where participants ski or board into an icy pool of water wearing a costume.
Some of the larger resorts out West (Sunshine, Lake Louise, Whistler) stay open until May. There is still plenty of time to fit in a day or two on the slopes during spring in Canada!
Maple syrup season
With Canada having the largest maple syrup industry in the world, a trip to the sugar shack is a spring tradition for many Canadians.
Harvest time usually runs from mid February into April, location and weather dependent.
A touch of warmer weather is needed to prompt the trees to turn stored starch back into sugar, ready for ‘tapping’ (a surprisingly easy process) by maple syrup farmers.
Maple farms across Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick (plus a scattering across every province) celebrate the start of the season by offering delicious maple-themed breakfasts, maple taffy on snow, sugar-making demonstrations, woodland wagon rides and more.
One of the most unique maple traditions has to be the ‘licherie‘ in Northeastern New Brunswick.
This activity involves dipping a long wooden stick into a boiling pot of maple syrup and then using a smaller stick to scrape off the (rapidly cooling) maple syrup. We tried it at Sucherie Chiasson in Paquetville.
Incredible waterfalls
Spring is an ideal time to go waterfall chasing in Canada.
Melting snow creates raging rivers and thundering waterfalls, unequivocally displaying the power of nature. There’s nothing quite like being deafened by the roar of a waterfall in spring.
Peak run off times vary hugely between provinces and locations.
The sea level waterfalls of Vancouver Island, for example, will start to see a huge boost from March onwards as the warmer temperatures come in. Up in the alpine, however, peak run off won’t come until June.
Due to mist, the terrain around waterfalls can often be slippery. This is especially true during spring, when waterfall flow is higher than normal. Be sure to take these precautions:
- Wear footwear with good grip (no flipflops)
- Stay away from the edge above a waterfall
- Watch where you step
- Don’t climb around waterfalls
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles to keep the wilderness wild
One of my favourite places to visit in Canada in spring is Wells Gray Provincial Park. This protected area in BC has more than 40+ waterfalls!
Spring blossoms
There is no doubt that the first bud of spring is highly anticipated across Canada. Victoria is usually the first city to see spring flowers and blossoming trees.
Two types of spring flowers are particularly coveted in Canada – tulips and cherry blossoms.
As the rainy season finally fades, Vancouverites revel in the city’s beautiful cherry blossom season. The city was gifted 500 cherry trees by Japan in the 1930s as a thank you for the service of Japanese Canadians in WWI.
Vancouver now has over 40,000 cherry trees bursting with pink and white blooms every April and a Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the season. Cherry blossoms can also be seen in Toronto’s High Park.
Planning to book a spring stay in Vancouver?
On a strict budget? I’ve heard great things about the YWCA Hotel. The location is fantastic, being walkable to everywhere downtown. The cheapest rooms have shared bathrooms.
The Moda Hotel is definitely our top pick in Vancouver. We’ve stayed several times and love the central location. The cheapest rooms are a little small but have everything you need for a short stay.
For the most comfortable stay in Vancouver, consider the Fairmont Pacific Rim. The palatial suites have incredibly scenic views of the harbour and surrounding mountains
The world’s largest tulip festival takes place in Ottawa every May. Ottawa’s tulip connection is also related to wartime, with tulip bulbs being gifted to Canada every year since WWII in thanks for sheltering the Dutch Royal Family.
Several indoor and outdoor downtown locations are transformed into tulip-inspired spaces, celebrating the vibrant return of spring. Harrison, BC, also has a popular tulip festival.
Spectacular ice break-up
Canada’s spring ice break-up is dramatic and beautiful, especially on the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, believe it or not, it is so cold in parts of Canada that the ocean actually freezes!
In the Bay of Chaleur in Northeastern New Brunswick, the ocean is frozen for around four months.
The snow-covered ice reaches as far as the eye can see, reminiscent of the salt plains in Utah.
When the weather warms, the ice starts to separate and form floating platforms, almost like an ocean jigsaw. It’s a unique sight and a definitive reminder that spring is finally approaching.
It is not just Canadian oceans and lakes that see impressive ice break up. The Yukon River thawing is a subject of vigorous betting in Dawson City, with break-up dates ranging from late April to late May.
The anticipation is understandable. After the pedestrian ice bridge melts and until the river is clear, there is no easy access to the community of West Dawson on the other side of the river.
The return of hiking season
For outdoor adventure lovers, the arrival of spring in Canada is the signal that hiking season is back.
Of course, timing and hiking opportunities vary across the country but in general, most sea-level hiking in the provinces should be snow-free in May. Add another month for the Territories.
In the alpine, trails may not be clear until well into July.
With warmer-than-average temperatures, British Columbia is my go-to province for spring hiking. Nova Scotia is a close second, with the ocean breezes keeping temperatures warmer here than elsewhere in the Maritimes.
Keep in mind that mud, slush, slippery rocks and the occasional patch of snow are unavoidable hazards for spring hiking anywhere.
With this in mind, here are some suggestions for spring multi-day hiking in Canada:
- Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island
- Cape Scott Provincial Park, Vancouver Island
- Sunshine Coast Trail, British Columbia
- Cape Chignecto Trail, Nova Scotia
Whale watching
As the temperatures on land start to warm, so do the ocean waters. And the warmer temperatures bring whales to Canada’s shoreline.
This is most apparent in Tadoussac, Quebec, where up to eleven species of whales return to the area in spring (in addition to the two that stick out the winter here).
Whale-watching tours in Nova Scotia begin in May, with humpbacks being commonly seen from June onwards.
Tofino in British Columbia has a particularly long whale-watching season, with tours starting as early as March.
The region is best known for the grey whale migration, when over 20k swim past British Columbia’s shores on the way to Alaska.
Whale watching in spring offers quieter tour boats and fewer boats on the water in general. There may be fewer whales however and you’ll need to wrap up warm! It is always colder on the ocean than on land.
Wine touring in the Okanagan Valley
Touring wineries is a great activity to do at any time of year but spring is a particularly good time in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.
This beautiful area is Canada’s second-largest wine-producing region and also one of the country’s warmest. Spring starts early here, with temperatures reaching 28c as early as May.
The Okanagan Valley is home to over 200 vineyards and counting. One particularly beautiful area, the Naramata Bench, has over 40 boutique wineries easily accessible from one 20km stretch of road.
Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of sunny days, quiet tasting rooms and just released vintages. A cool glass of Sauvignon Blanc on a sun baked Okanagan patio overlooking the lake is definitely a spring treat!
Victoria Day
Besides Easter, the major Canadian holiday in spring is Victoria Day.
Always held on the last Monday before 25th May, Victoria Day is a federal holiday commemorating Queen Victoria’s birthday.
For many families, Victoria Day is traditionally the first weekend to go camping.
For others, it simply means an extra day off and a sign that summer is around the corner. And, of course, it’s an excuse for a drink or two! Some cities (such as Toronto) and towns put on fireworks displays.
Victoria Day has been observed in Canada since at least 1845 and is designated a holiday in one way or another in every province and territory except Quebec. In the latter, National Patriots’ Day is observed.
Where to go in Canada in spring
Canada has some fantastic opportunities for spring travel, from coast to coast to coast. Here are a few of my favourite destinations:
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia – One of my favourite spring destinations, Vancouver Island has exceptionally mild (OK, and sometimes wet) spring weather. Head to Victoria for a genteel stay by the sea, Tofino for a spot of surfing or into the rainforest to meet giant trees
- The Rockies – Don’t put the skis away just yet! It is still possible to get on the slopes at Lake Louise and Sunshine Village until May. Look out for some great ticket and accommodation package deals
- Quebec – Home to more than 200 sugar shacks (and 72% of the world’s maple syrup production!), you can’t go too far in Quebec without finding a maple syrup farm. Many are easy day trips from Montreal and Quebec City
- Okanagan Valley, British Columbia – Warm spring weather is the perfect accompaniment to hiking, paddling, climbing and wine touring in the Okanagan Valley. Spring comes earlier here than almost anywhere in Canada – embrace it!
- City breaks – A Canadian city break in spring is always a good idea. There’s always something going on in Canada’s cities and spring is no exception. Festivals range from comedy (Halifax) and documentaries (Toronto) to comics (Calgary) and, of course, flowers (Vancouver and Ottawa)
- Iceberg Alley, Newfoundland – The height of Newfoundland’s iceberg-watching season is in May. The easiest way to watch is from shore but it is also possible to go on a boat or kayaking tour. Use the Iceberg Finder to keep track of the iceberg situation
- Nascisse, Manitoba – This may sound like a strange suggestion, but visiting the Narcisse Snake Dens is a popular spring activity in Manitoba. Located about an hour’s drive north of Winnipeg, thousands of red garter snakes gather in the snake dens to perform mating rituals
Canada’s spring weather: A regional breakdown
Canada is a huge country and, as such, as the weather has fairly big regional weather variation in spring. It also depends on the year.
In general, however, spring is considered sprung across the country around May. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect:
Western Canada
The Pacific Ocean helps spring come early in Vancouver, Victoria and Vancouver Island. Warm temperatures can be felt as early as March.
British Columbia’s interior is a similar story, though snow will still be found in the alpine and further north until May.
Winter continues to hold for much longer in the Rockies, with snow still falling in April and the famed glacial lakes often frozen until late May.
The Prairies
Winters are incredibly harsh in the Prairies (Saskatchewan, Manitoba and most of Alberta). Average April temperatures hover around 5-8c in southern areas of the Prairies.
Spring really starts in May but is also unaccompanied by a lot of slush! Something to keep in mind, however, is that the Prairie provinces receive plenty of sunshine.
Central Canada
Quebec and Ontario are huge provinces with corresponding huge variations, but spring generally comes in May to the populated areas in the south.
Wind chill and dense fog from the Great Lakes can keep things fairly chilly prior to this in Ontario.
Atlantic region (Coastal Quebec, Maritimes and Newfoundland)
The harsh winter weather starts to get milder in April and May in the Atlantic region, though short periods of heavy snowfall are still possible throughout spring.
The Atlantic Ocean generally keeps temperatures low with cool winds, but plenty of sunshine is common. Nova Scotia usually has a slightly earlier spring than the rest of the Atlantic region.
Northern Canada
Spring tends to be fairly short in the most populated (and visited) areas of Canada’s northern territories, with winter moving pretty promptly over to summer around mid-May.
The long hours of daylight after the spring equinox surely help, with Whitehorse in Yukon receiving as much as 16 hours of sun by 1st May.
Travelling Canada in spring: What you need to know
There are many perks to travelling Canada in spring but there are a couple of travel quirks you should be aware of before booking a trip. Keep these essential tips in mind when planning your spring trip to Canada:
- Accommodation and transport are usually more expensive around the Victoria Day long weekend. Some hotels and campgrounds require a booking of at least three nights at this time. Be sure to book in advance to secure accommodation – I like to use Booking.com
- Weather can be variable across Canada in spring. When making your itinerary, it is a good idea to have backup activities in case of difficult weather conditions. In many cities, this is easy to organise. Ottawa, in particular, has so many great indoor activities on offer
- Dress for the weather, not the season. While it can be tempting to think ‘spring’ and put away all of your winter clothes, remember that the weather does not always cooperate. Check the weather forecast before leaving for your trip and bring appropriate clothing (layers!)
- Road conditions can be challenging in some areas of Canada. The snow melt can cause flooding and slides. The arrival of spring often reveals extensive road damage and potholes. Long traffic delays are possible due to road maintenance. Don’t forget to buy extra windshield washer fluid
- Some services will not be open. In some areas of Canada (most notably the Maritimes), the main tourism season is very short. Some attractions, activities, accommodation and even roads will not be open until June or even July. Research first and don’t assume what will be open during your visit
- Spring comes late in the Rockies. Thinking of visiting Jasper and Banff in April and May? No problem, just be aware that the beautiful glacial lakes (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake et al) are often still frozen until late May. Some hikes will be closed and tent camping is only for the truly hardy at this time
What are your travel plans for spring in Canada?
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One half of the Canadian/British couple behind Off Track Travel, Gemma is happiest when hiking on the trail or planning the next big travel adventure. JR and Gemma are currently based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada