Canada by Rail: a Backpacker´s Guide

Train travel is the safest and most environmentally friendly mass transportation available. In Canada, it’s also the best way to explore the country’s history, culture and landscape. Canada was built around the railroad, and unless you’re in a canoe it’s the most characteristically Canadian way to travel. As a bonus to backpackers, it can also be very inexpensive.

VIA Rail, Canada’s primary passenger train service, offers two exploration packages: the regional Corridor Pass for southern Ontario and Quebec, and the national Canrail Pass.

The Corridor Pass

This ten-day pass offers unlimited travel between Toronto, Niagra Falls, Ottawa, Montréal and Quebec City. It costs about 175 euros for seniors, passengers under 25 and passengers with ISIC cards, and about 195 euros for adults.

Toronto is the most metropolitan city in Canada. A multicultural Mecca, it has districts representing many cultures (and cuisines). It also has great shopping, live music and theatre. There’s plenty of parkland, most notably on Toronto Island, and the city is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto International Film Festival, Canada’s Wonderland and the CN Tower, the world’s largest free-standing structure. Book accommodation in Toronto with Hostelsclub.

Six million cubic feet of water pour over Niagra Falls each minute. This spectacle alone make the city worth visiting, and a huge tourist infrastructure surrounds it. Most of it’s kitsch, including wax museums, haunted houses, a casino, IMAX theatre and a Hard Rock Café, but some Niagra Falls attractions are unique. Check out the butterfly conservatory, and journey to the base of the falls on the Maid of the Mist. Niagra is a wine-producing region, and their ice wine is some of the best in the world. Book your accommodation in Niagra Falls with Hostelsclub.

Ottawa, the nation’s bilingual (French and English) capital, counts the National Gallery of Canada, Museum of Civilization, funky Byward Market and beautiful gardens at Rideau Hall among its many attractions. Rideau Canal is a World Heritage Site, which in winter becomes the world’s largest skating rink. There’s nothing cooler than watching Ottawa’s white collar crowd skate to work every morning, and in February the Canal is the site of Winterlude, North America’s biggest winter festival. Book your accommodation in Ottawa with Hostelsclub.com.

Montréal, also bilingual, is the largest Francophone city outside of Paris. Though famed for its vibrant nightlife, its island geography, architecture and cultural attractions are just as impressive. Home of Cirque de Soleil and Just for Laughs, Montréal has a thriving entertainment scene. Its architectural spirit shows in attractions like the Biodome and Notre Dame Basilica, and in the living arrangements of its citizens. Montréal is the center of Quebec’s rail system, gateway to the naturally and culturally distinct Gaspé region and to the Maritime Provinces. Book your accommodation in Montréal with Hostelsclub.

Quebec City is the only walled city in North America. It was the center of the nation’s fur trade and the site of the battle of the Plains of Abraham, where France and England battled for dominance over North America. Be sure to visit Quebec’s beautiful historic center, take a river cruise and soak up the unique francophone culture in one of the city’s characteristic sidewalk cafés.

The Canrail Pass

This pass gives you twelve days of unlimited travel in Canada in a 30 day period. During peak season (June 1 to October 15) it costs about 490 euros for seniors, passengers under 25 and passengers who have ISIC cards, and about 547 euros for adults. In the off-season, the pass costs 307 euros and 341 euros respectively, including overnights. Here are a few of the 450 communities accessed by Canrail Pass:

Halifax, Nova Scotia. This beautiful university city is famed for its arts and nightlife. Most attractions are within walking distance, including the Citadel, Point Pleasant Park, Pier 21, Public Gardens, Titanic graveyards and historic downtown. Take time to explore the Lighthouse Route, which follows Halifax’s south shore through fishing villages and rugged coastline, including world-famous Peggy’s Cove and postcard-perfect Lunenberg village. Book your accommodation in Halifax with Hostelsclub.

Churchill, Manitoba. Churchill has three seasons: bird, bear and beluga. This subarctic paradise is the world polar bear capital and these majestic animals can be seen in their natural habitat through October and November. Summers are for viewing (and diving with) migrating Beluga whales, and hundreds of bird species visit throughout the year. Churchill is one of the best accessible places to watch Aurora Borealis in full glory, and it’s a great place for dogsledding, snowmobiling and other northern adventures.

Jasper, Alberta. Over 350 km from the nearest international airport, Jasper is a hidden gem of the Canadian Rockies. With over 1200 km of trails for hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking and evening strolls, Jasper is a playground of peaks, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, tours, a world-class ski resort, hot springs, glaciers and almost 11 000 km of pristine habitat for thousands of species including grizzlies, wolves and caribou. The municipality of Jasper is a sleepy village where wildlife roams the streets. Its primary industry is tourism, but isolation has kept it relatively inexpensive and uncrowded, making it a favorite for backpackers, families and travelers with work visas.

Vancouver, British Columbia. BC is called Canada’s Left Coast for its geography and politics. Filled with hippies, IT yuppies, punks and artists, Vancouver is the country’s epicenter of environmental and social activism. Be sure to visit Stanley Park, and walk the seawall or hang out at the Lost Lagoon. Spend an afternoon on Granville Island exploring the colorful markets, hit the beach at English Bay and check out both Gastown and Chinatown. Vancouver is the gateway to Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and Seattle. Book your accommodation in Vancouver with Hostelsclub.

Tips for Rail Travel in Canada

Shop First. VIA offers two types of food on most trains: dining car fare and tuck shop food. Both are overpriced and neither is especially good, so pack lots of groceries.

Relax. A common complaint among rail travelers, especially Europeans, is the inefficiency of Canadian rail service. This complaint extends to most of the country’s sparse infrastructure, and the best locals can do is smile apologetically and wonder what the big deal is. Sometimes the train (bus, taxi, airplane, letter…) is late, so be it. Most railway stations are in the hub of their communities, and a few hours extra here and there only give you more time for discovery.

Take Advantage. On the train, visit the panoramic sky car and watch breathtaking landscapes unfold, count wildlife or check out the sunrises and sunsets. Meet other travelers in the lounge cars, listen in on the programmer’s historical lectures, ask questions about your next destination, initiate a card game with your seatmate or check out a movie screening in the café car. Rail travel in Canada is as much about on-board experience as it is about ‘getting there’ so get up, stretch your legs and check it out.