Sunset along Lake Ontario
Blog home / Where to Catch a Great Canadian Sunset
By Robin Esrock
Around the world, people often spontaneously burst into applause at sunset. It's a fitting reaction to a magnificent performance, and as the golden yolk dips below the horizon, the curtains close for the night. All the while, skies light up in the rich shades of stone fruit – all plums, peaches and apricots. Streaks of silver clouds, shimmering skies, glimmering waters - every sunset is a spectacle full of wonder and awe, especially when enjoyed in the Canadian outdoors. Here's a round-up of some of my favourites:
Lake Louise
There's a reason Lake Louise gets packed at sunset. It's easy to get to, and the viewing patio in front of the iconic resort is perfectly positioned for the bright turquoise waters and snow-capped peaks to spark up with the setting sun, inspiring countless photos. It's even better in the late spring or early fall when the crowds are thinner, and you don't have to work too hard to find a good spot. The sunset over Lake Louise is spectacular regardless of when you visit and is especially rewarding after the roundtrip hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House.
Meadows in the Sky Parkway, Mt Revelstoke National Park
A few kilometres outside of Revelstoke is a paved 236-kilometre road to the summit of Mount Revelstoke. Here, a historic fire tower and wooden viewing deck look over summer wildflowers, sub-alpine forest, panoramic views of the Monashee Mountains, and a renowned mountain sunset. While we cover some of the trails that start at the base of the summit's Balsam Lake, Mount Revelstoke is the only summit in the entire Canadian parks system located just a short walk from an easy-to-access parking lot.
The Okanagan
The Okanagan Valley has several ingredients for a perfect sunset cocktail: warm summers, large lakes, rows of vineyards, and no shortage of patios, beaches and views. Before kicking off our Kettle Valley Rail ride in Kelowna, head to Mission Hill Winery for an elevated sunset view over the sparkling Lake Okanagan, which you can enjoy with a glass of sparkling red or white wine. In Penticton, locals are known to pedal a short distance out of town on the KVR for the gorgeous summer sunsets over the lake. Another popular sunset view in Penticton is looking west over Skaha Lake from the sandy beach.
St John's and the Avalon Peninsula
Sunrises and sunsets are so epic in this part of the world that you must find time to observe them from the East Coast Trail. Watching the sunrise over the continent at Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site is well worth the short drive out of St John's. If you're concluding your East Coast Trail at Cape Spear, the sunset is arguably just as significant. The ECT tracks the coast of the Avalon Peninsula, with no shortage of sunset vistas along the way. Join thousands of seabirds at the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, or add a fetching lighthouse into the mix with the view in Ferryland. If you're in St John's, the harbour at the nearby community of Bauline delivers sunsets with saltbox homes and fishing boats. Further out the city, locals rave about the panoramic sunset views at the Placentia Bay Lookout, a short drive outside of Arnold Cove. But you can also stay in St John's, watching the late afternoon sunshine light up the bright colours of Jelly Bean Row or the clapboard houses and fishing pier at Quidi Vidi and Petty Harbour.
The Bruce Peninsula
Crystal coastline water and pristine terrain are some highlights awaiting hikers on the Bruce Trail. Daily sunset magic is another. The aptly named Sunset Point Park in Collingwood is popular with photographers for sweeping views over Georgian Bay. On the other side of the peninsula is the long sandy beach of Sable Beach, which gets rave reviews for the sunsets over Lake Huron. On our Bruce Trail itineraries, we visit the town of Lion's Head to enjoy hikes in the area, including the Lion's Head Lookout with its fantastic sunset views of Georgian Bay. If you take the opportunity to visit the quaint little town of Tobermory, catch the sunset from the Big Tub lighthouse or the rocks adjacent to the docks.
Magdalen Islands
The archipelago in the Gulf of St Lawrence has epic sunsets over sweeping sandy beaches, red sandstone cliffs and endless horizons. Sky colours are particularly vivid during the short, busy summer. The treeless island of Havre-aux-Maisons, one of the stops on our Magdalen Islands Haven Walk itinerary, is a popular sunset destination for both locals and visitors, particularly from the cliff-perched Borgot Lighthouse. Golden hour sunsets boost the colours of the colourful fishing boats, red cliffs, green hills and blue waters in the gulf, making it a particularly great time for photographs.
Prince Edward Island
When it comes to sunsets, PEI can't help itself. We'll start on the island's north shore along the red sands of North Rustico Beach, located on one end of the Gulf Shore Parkway in Prince Edward Island National Park. The harbour and wharf of North Rustico have working fishing boats and wooden boardwalks and are perennial sunset favourites. Over in Anne of Green Gables country, Cavendish Beach bids the sun adieu with lovely views of the Gulf of St Lawrence. Rolling dunes meet a big sky and the ocean breeze. In Victoria-by-the-Sea, the westward-facing harbour and village are perfectly positioned for sunsets, lighting up the calm harbour waters. On the island's westernmost tip, West Point Lighthouse is renowned for its unobstructed sunset horizon, visible from a dramatic perch atop a red sandstone cliff. Whether hiking, biking, camping, or enjoying a meal on a patio, sunsets tend to find you. They're certainly a lot easier to catch than sunrises and tend to close out the day with moments of reflection, tranquillity and camaraderie. Bear in mind that sunsets are impacted by clouds, air quality, climate and your natural surroundings. Like fingerprints, no two sunsets are the same. And regardless of whether the sun appreciates your applause or not, you're guaranteed an encore in 24 hours.