by Jennifer Mitchell
There’s something about the reaching the highest point in a city, a province or a country that draws you in (and up). Whether you’re an active peak-bagger looking for a national bucket list, or a trivia buff adding to your store of knowledge, this list of the tallest point in each Canadian province and territory will have you thinking about which ones you might have the legs to summit. Happy climbing! [Image credit: iStock.com/bjuerges]
Not only is P.E.I. Canada’s smallest province, it also registers at the bottom when it comes to maximum elevation. At only 142 metres, the province’s high point is located in a farmer’s field near Glen Valley, and it’s certainly no mountain. A relatively short hike will get you top, no climbing gear required.
Next up is the highest peak in Nova Scotia: White Hill, which comes in at 532 metres tall. This peak (ok, let’s call it a bump) is located within the popular Cape Breton Highlands National Park. While the elevation isn’t all that impressive, it's extremely remote and far from maintained hiking trails. People do climb it, but it takes quite a bit of planning and bushwacking to get there.
Ishpatina Ridge is located within Lady-Evelyn Smoothwater Wilderness Park, and at 693 metres tall, it's the highest peak in Ontario. As the name suggests, this isn’t a distinct peak, but rather part of a series of rolling rock formations. The Ellis Fire Tower sits at the top of the ridge and provides a view of the surrounding wilderness. Getting there involves either a couple of days of canoeing, or a long day hike from a logging road.
Mount Carleton Provincial Park is home to New Brunswick’s highest peak, Mount Carleton. At 817 metres tall, this peak is the highest in all of the Maritimes. On a clear day, it’s said that visitors can see a whopping 10 million trees from the top of the mountain. There are a couple of established hiking trails that will get you to the top so you can count them for yourself!
A mountain in Manitoba? At 832 metres tall, Baldy Mountain may not be quite what you envision when you think “mountain”, but it is the highest peak in the province. It’s located in Duck Mountain Provincial Park and has a 3km trail that lets adventurous hikers get the view from up high.
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For the jokes about Saskatchewan being a flat rectangle, its highest point comes in at an impresive 1,438 metres. Apparently that’s not impressive enough for the peak to get a name, but it’s still higher than all the places we’ve covered so far. It’s located in the Cypress Hills mountain range in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Heading back east, we come to the highest peak in Newfoundland and Labrador, Mount Caubvick. This peak is 1,652 metres tall, and it lies on the border with Quebec, within Torngat Mountains National Park. Getting to the mountain, let alone to the top, requires a float plane or a 400km boat ride from the nearest village. Once you’re there, there are a few routes to the top, but this is not a leisurely hike. Unless you’re an experienced mountaineer, it’s best to join a tour expedition.
In Quebec, Mount Caubvick is known by a different name: Mont D’Iberville. The provincial boundary runs right over the summit, so you can bag two provincial peaks in one trip if you head up here!
At 2,616 metres tall, Barbeau Peak is the highest point in Nunavut. It’s located within Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island in the far-north of the territory. Since this area is so remote, it’s rarely explored, making it a dream destination for adventure travellers.
Officially, the highest peak in the Northwest Territories is unnamed, but unofficially, it’s called Mount Nirvana. This peak is 2,773 metres tall and is located within the Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada. Getting to the top involves a long canoe trip or a float plane ride, followed by some serious moutaineering. A similar-looking nearby range of mountains is referred to as the “Cirque of the Unclimables”, to give you an idea of what you’d be up against.
We’re getting to the big ones now! Located on the border between Alberta and British Columbia, Mount Columbia is Alberta’s tallest peak at 3,747 metres. It’s located within Jasper National Park, an 11,000 sq. km. wilderness park. While there are routes to the top that are considered “non-technical,” this is still a huge mountain and it’s not a simple jaunt to the top.
At 4,663 metres, Mount Fairweather is the tallest peak in British Columbia. It’s part of the St. Elias Mountain range, which starts in the north-west of the province and extends into Alaska. This peak is very remote and prone to bad weather, which makes it a challenge for climbers.
And here we have it: Canada’s tallest peak is Mount Logan, standing 5,959 metres high and located in the Yukon. You’ll find it within Kluane National Park and Reserve, but climbing this one requires more than just the skills and will to do so. Climbing parties can apply to visit this massive peak between mid-April and mid-June.
From Mount Logan in the west to Mount Caubvik in the east, Canada’s tallest peaks are calling your name. Climb one, or climb them all – now there’s a challenge!
