Canada’s landscapes change within 100km along the highway.
They are vast and varied landscapes and include a small handful of northern deserts and sand dunes.While there are relatively few deserts or desert-like areas in Canada, some of those few are huge in terms of area.
Canada has small deserts to visit, massive shoreline sand dunes, and those deserts in between; each offers unique or exotic flora and fauna, excellent nature photography, and wildlife viewing. In some cases, the sand dunes are part of public beaches, too.
Carcross Desert, Yukon
When: year-round
Where: Klondike Hwy., Carcross, YT
How much: free
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Osoyoos Desert, British Columbia
Part of the northern edge of the Great Basin Desert, Southern BC’s Osoyoos Desert Centre is a 67-acre nature interpretive facility filled with a unique shrubland ecosystem, or “pocket desert.” The Desert Centre offers many ways for visitors to make the most of their time at the mini pocket desert, including a 1.5km boardwalk through the desert region. The trail is open for self-guided and guided walking. The Centre will also host events throughout their open season.
When: April-October
Where: 14580 146 Ave, Osoyoos, BC
How much:
Adults – $12
Seniors (65+) / Youth (ages 6-17) – $10
Children (5 and under) – Free
Athabasca Sand Dunes, Saskatchewan/Alberta
While not the easiest to access desert or sand dune scenery on this list, the Athabasca Sand Dunes are certainly worth a visit for those with the means. The dunes stretch about 100km on the south shore of Lake Athabasca and are the largest active sand surface in the country.
It is recommended that those who take the effort to visit have experience with wilderness camping and backcountry hiking.
The protected park and dunes are only accessible by float plane and there are no services within the park. The dunes cover a remote part of Alberta and Saskatchewan’s northern Lakeland areas.
When: May-September
Where: fly-in access only; south shore of Lake Athabasca
Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park, Saskatchewan
Athabasca Dunes Ecological Reserve, Alberta
Great Sand Hills, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan’s Great Sandhills cover 1,900km2 and are much easier to see or access than those in Athabasca. This ever-changing landscape is in the province’s southwest and offers places for interpretive hiking. The dunes are not all sand, however, with greenery popping up in random places from below. While following the trails, watch for deer or antelope, and the dozens of bird species. The Great Sandhills Museum & Interpretive Centre can offer guests all they need to know before hiking the Great Sandhills.
When: spring-fall
Where: south of Leader in southwest Saskatchewan
How much: free
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Sandhill Park, Ontario
The name for this park in southern Ontario’s Norfolk County is quite literal. The park is on a sandy stretch of Lake Erie shoreline where massive sand hills surround the water with some sand formations over 100m tall. And at the bottom of those hills is Sandhill Park, where visitors can use the sand as a beach. The park also operates a campground with a playground, a shuttle, and various sports fields.
When: May 1-Thanksgiving each year
Where: 86km SE of London, 930 Lakeshore Rd., Port Burwell
How much: $12 per person daily admission
Sand Banks Provincial Park, Ontario
Sandbanks PP in southern Ontario is about halfway between Kingston and Oshawa on Lake Ontario’s north shore. The park’s sand formations are considered the world’s largest baymouth barrier dune formation! These formations also make the place one of the top-rated beaches in all of Canada. A visit here could mean relaxing on the beach all day, exploring the trails on the dunes, watching for wildlife, swimming, fishing, cycling, camping, and comfort cottage camping.
When: Open year round, summer: April 24, 2026 to October 26, 2026
Where: 3004 County Rd 12, Picton, ON
How much: $21, Vehicle Pass
La Dune de Bouctouche/Irving Eco-Centre, New Brunswick
La Dune de Bouctouche in eastern New Brunswick is about 45 minutes north of Moncton on the coast. The dune, located at the Irving Eco-Centre (which help protect and preserve the area), stretches 12km out into Bouctouche Bay. The Eco-Centre provides visitors with 800m of boardwalk trail to make the dunes easier to access. The scenic area is easy to explore with the help of the Centre, which offers public guided tours and motorized tours for those with mobility issues.
When: open daily
Where: 65km north of Moncton;
How much: free