Canada has some hidden gems. But some of these exploded overnight, thanks to viral photos & reels that catapulted these places into national and worldwide fame. Here are ten scenic spots in Canada that blew up on social media. Which of these have you visited before & how did it feel being there in real life?
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Abraham Lake, Alberta
Thousands of methane bubbles get trapped beneath the surface at Abraham Lake in mid-winter. These become stacked white globes inside pristine ice. Soon enough, images of those eerie bubbles flooded Instagram reels, and some locals now call it bubble season. Plenty of people visit just to see these bubbles.
Cheltenham Badlands, Ontario
Cheltenham Badlands is a stretch of exposed red Queenston shale in Caledon that became a backdrop for hundreds of Instagram reels. It’s especially popular during the fall, due to the colours. The whole place looks a bit like the surface of Mars. This pushed visitor numbers so high that the local government added boardwalks & access controls.
Joffre Lakes, British Columbia
Essentially, Joffre Lakes are three glacial lakes with intense turquoise blue water. They changed from local secret to “must-see” feed content rather quickly. It’s the sheer beauty of the whole area that really gets people, and it’s one of those places that genuinely has to be seen to be believed. The photos don’t do it justice.
Dundas Peak & Spencer Gorge, Ontario
Once cliff-edge photos started appearing everywhere, Dundas Peak & Spencer Gorge suddenly had many people queuing up. Officials have now introduced reservation systems & crowd limits for fall foliage weekends, with parking also running through the Spencer Gorge lot with timed tickets on busy days.
Teacup Rock, Prince Edward Island
Thunder Cove’s Teacup Rock used to be an offbeat photo spot. After many viral media posts of tourists framing it in waves, it became popular again. Sadly, in January 2022, a winter storm led to the Teacup Rock’s collapse. It had spent years being part of PEI’s viral identity. But now there’s nothing left.
The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
Content creators began tagging photos of The Grotto’s blue pools. It didn’t take long for the site to become packed. Parks opened a timed parking & reservation scheme for the summer to manage the number of visitors. However, it’s not a surprise that the site is so popular, as the water is truly beautiful and the natural arch gives plenty of angles without leaving signed trails.
Johnston Canyon “secret cave”, Banff
A side pocket off the main boardwalk of Johnston Canyon is the hottest place around. After going on a forested hike, you’ll find a cave framing a triangular boulder with waterfall views. Parks Canada later flagged the exact area as restricted. This is due to safety & nesting bird activity, and they posted fines for those damaging the area.
Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto
Anyone who’s scrolled through Toronto tags in summer has seen Scarborough Bluffs. These are steep red cliffs that drop straight to the water. The Bluffs stretch for about 15 kilometres, but most people head to Bluffer’s Park, where there’s a sandy beach & marina. You can park right near the water and walk up to the viewpoints. That’s much better than risking the cliff edges.
Arrowhead Provincial Park, Ontario
Arrowhead Provincial Park is a skating trail near Huntsville that really took off online a few winters back. It’s easy to see why. When the trees are dusted with snow & the lights are glowing, it looks completely unreal, and people travel from all over Ontario to see it. You can also rent skates & helmets on site.
Little Limestone Lake, Manitoba
Not many people had heard of Little Limestone Lake until drone videos started popping up, showing its changing shades of blue. This stretch of water is about 15 kilometres end to end & it literally changes colour as the day warms up. In cooler weather, it’s crystal clear. By afternoon, the water turns cloudy turquoise from calcite in the marl.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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