Stunning, must-see hidden swimming holes in Canada

The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula National Park, ON - It takes a 30-minute hike through the park, past fields of rare flora, to reach the grotto. Lower yourself through a natural rock chimney into the mesmerizing pool below and, if you're hungry for more, try swimming through a sunlit tunnel out to the bay.

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Little Manitou, SK - Often called the Dead Sea of Canada, this peaceful saltwater lake allows swimmers to float effortlessly along its surface.

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Jean-Larose Waterfall, QC - Situated at the bottom of Mont-Sainte-Anne, this 224 ft waterfall features varied cascades, basins for swimming, and ledges to use for those perfect cannonballs.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Jean-Larose Waterfall, QC - You'll work up the perfect sweat on the scenic hike and hundreds of stairs it takes to get there, so the cool water will be a welcome treat.

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Sooke Potholes, BC - Formed during the last ice age, when melting boulders scraped deep holes into the bedrock, this series of natural pools in Sooke Potholes Provincial Park offers the chance to swim in some of nature's cleanest and clearest waters.

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Sooke Potholes, BC - Though it's not far from Victoria, these hidden pools feel worlds away from city life. And while it's a popular spot, there are so many potholes and waterfalls that it won't be difficult to find a private pool (for you skinny dippers).

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Horseshoe Lake, AB - Situated in Jasper National Park, this horseshoe-shaped lake is only a 1.5 km hike from the trail-head and offers a secluded experience, as it's nestled amongst high cliffs and thick forests.

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Horseshoe Lake, AB - It's an exhilarating location for cliff jumpers, with cool, clear, cerulean-coloured water that is just too beautiful to experience from the shore.

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Raggedy Ass Falls, NB - Yes, that's a real name that is actually on the map! Raggedy Ass Falls features four cascades, each with a deep pool at its base. This one's for the adventurous type that savours the feeling of a good full-body cold-water shock.

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Elora Quarry, ON - A short two-hour drive from Toronto, this two-acre quarry features breathtaking turquoise water and cliffs reaching 40 ft.

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Elora Quarry, ON - Though it looks like a hidden paradise, the quarry is now a wildly popular spot that charges an entrance fee and gets very busy in the summer. Bring an inflatable tube to escape the crowded beach!

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Takhini Hot Springs, YT - Steam away your worries at these natural hot springs located just outside the city of Whitehorse, far from responsibilities and chin-deep in therapeutic waters.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Katherine Cove, ON - The waters of Lake Superior collect in deep depressions in the cove's rocky surface, creating the shallow, warm swimming holes of the appropriately named Bathtub Island.

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Cascade Ponds, AB - This family-friendly swimming hole in picturesque Banff National Park has shallow water, access to picnic tables, a small beach area, and walking trails.

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Liard River, BC - The long river flows through northern British Columbia as well as the Yukon and Northwest Territories, but what you want to dip your limbs into is the secluded hot spring—the second-largest in the country—located in Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park.

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Kraus Hot Springs, NT - Treat yourself to the quiet rock pools nestled in vast Nahanni National Park, which are heated by geothermal energy to an impossibly perfect temperature.

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Thunder Cove, PEI - If you can make it out early enough, this secluded beach with reddish sand and unique rock formations catches the sunrise perfectly.

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St. Marys Quarry, ON - The country's largest outdoor freshwater swimming pool has been filled with swimmers every summer since the 1930s, and though it's hardly a secret, there are some added benefits of its popular nature, like a diving board, a water trampoline, volleyball nets, paddle-board
rentals, and a snack bar.

(Photo: Flickr)

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Lynn Canyon, BC - Lynn Canyon Park has several swimming holes, some as large as 30 ft. The clear water is inviting, but brace yourself—it's cold year-round!

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Lynn Canyon, BC - While you're there and swimming through the lowest points of the canyon, make sure to check out the park from a higher vantage point by braving the suspension bridges.

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Mystery Lake, BC - If you need a little intrigue in your life, visit this secret oasis in Mount Seymour Provincial Park, which is sheltered from the wind and provides ample picnic space.

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Mystery Lake, BC - It's an easy 3 km hike loop to get there, and the park offers adventure of all levels.

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Chedoke Falls, ON - This well-kept secret is located on the Niagara Escarpment, in Hamilton, by the Bruce Trail.

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Hot Springs Cove, BC - An oasis only accessible by air or boat, Hot Springs Cove is located in Maquinna Provincial Park and is completely free to visit.

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Hot Springs Cove, BC - There's no better way to end a 30-minute hike through luscious, dense forest than soaking in naturally-heated pools of mineral-rich water.

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Quarry Lake Park, AB - If cold water deters you from swimming in Canada's natural pools, try the water at Quarry Lake Park, where the pools are fed by warmer underground springs.

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Quarry Lake Park, AB - A little over an hour from Calgary, the breathtaking mountain backdrop will set the scene for a deeply tranquil day.

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Stunning hidden swimming holes in Canada - Leave the swimming pools behind this summer and treat yourself to a dip in one of Canada's most stunning natural swimming holes.

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The Grotto, Bruce Peninsula National Park, ON - Some call it Cyprus Lake Grotto or the Georgian Bay Grotto, but whatever its name, it's one of the best hidden swimming holes on the continent.

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