Canada is blessed with open areas and there’s nothing higher than hopping in a canoe to discover its freshwater lakes or climbing by way of the forest in one among our Canadian nationwide parks. From coast to coast to coast and in every single place in between, Canada’s nationwide parks are breathtaking.
Canada has 37 nationwide parks and 10 Nationwide Parks reserves. What are nationwide park reserves you ask? Nicely, they’re handled and managed like a nationwide park however they’ve a number of Indigenous land claims. These nationwide reserves are protected by Parks Canada and we’ve had the privilege of exploring lots of our biggest protected lands. We haven’t seen all of them but, however because the saying goes, “I haven’t been in every single place, nevertheless it’s on my record.”
Finest Nationwide Parks in Canada
One of the best ways to get to the Nationwide Parks in Canada is by automotive. You may try automotive rental comparisons at RentalCars.com. Among the finest nationwide parks in Canada can solely be reached by airplane as lots of Canada’s nationwide parks are in distant areas of the nation. That makes them much more fascinating to see!
To encourage you to select up a nationwide parks move this yr, we needed spherical up our experiences in one of the best Canadian Nationwide Parks that we’ve seen. You may decide up your Nationwide Parks Go at laptop.gc.ca from the Nationwide Park Service. A Discovery Go value $145 per household (as much as 7 folks) and offers entry to 80 parks for 12 months. Or you should purchase a single move: Adults $72.25 and Seniors $61.75
1. Banff Nationwide Park – Alberta
Banff is Canada’s most well-known Nationwide Park and never solely that it’s the oldest nationwide park within the nation. Banff was designated as a nationwide park in 1885 after the invention of its sizzling springs by staff of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Situated in Alberta simply 1 hour and half-hour from Calgary, Banff nationwide park is nestled within the coronary heart of the Canadian Rockies.
There’s a purpose everybody flocks to Banff, Alberta. With snowcapped mountains, glacier lakes, and world-class four-season actions, it’s Canada’s out of doors playground. Banff Nationwide Park is so stunning, that one among its most well-known lakes, Moraine Lake was depicted on Canada’s twenty-dollar invoice.
The one downfall of visiting Banff Nationwide Park is how busy it might probably get. Attempt to go to within the shoulder season or in winter. With snowboarding at Lake Louise, Dogledding, backcountry snowboarding, and snowshoeing there’s something for everybody. Plus, the snow capped mountains of Canadian Rockies are at their most stunning in winter. Learn extra: A Spectacular Helicopter Tour in Banff
Location: Banff nationwide park is positioned in Alberta within the Rocky Mountains simply 90 minutes from Calgary. Dimension: 6641 11,000 sq. kilometers
Plan your journey to Banff Nationwide Park
2. Jasper Nationwide Park
Situated simply up the highway from Banff Nationwide Park is the most important nationwide park within the Canadian Rockies. Jasper Nationwide Park is dare I say barely much less visited than Banff however it’s simply as spectacular.
Nestled within the Rocky Mountains, Jasper Nationwide Park is teeming with an abundance of wildlife together with, grizzly bears and massive horn sheep. From turquoise lakes to snowcapped peaks, it has all the pieces you could possibly wish to see in a nationwide park. Make your manner out to one of the crucial picturesque lakes in Canada, Maligne Lake or hike in Maligne Canyon. Within the winter, you’ll be able to see its frozen waterfalls and ice caves after which take a scenic drive to calm down within the Miette sizzling Springs.
Jasper city is positioned inside Jasper Nationwide Park and makes for an incredible base to get pleasure from its eating places, retailers, and galleries at night time after you’ve loved its magnificence.
Plan your journey to Jasper Nationwide Park
3. Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park – Alberta
Situated in Southern Alberta, Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park is usually left off the Alberta journey record, however this distinctive nationwide park shouldn’t be missed.
Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, an Worldwide Peace Park, and a Biosphere Reserved that shares this honor with neighboring Glacier Nationwide Park in Montana. When you are there, it will be a disgrace to not cross the border to see Glacier Nationwide Park. Try all there’s to do there at 16 of the Finest Glacier Nationwide Park Hikes
With superior backcountry climbing, the well-known crimson rocks, and the historic Prince of Wales Lodge, Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park has all of it. Plus, you’ll be able to see a wild herd of bison right here. Waterton Lakes isn’t named after lakes for something, take a ship tour on Waterton Lake, Center Waterton Lake, and Decrease Waterton Lake.
With over 200km of climbing trails, Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park is a hiker’s paradise. Ensure to maintain a watch out for wildlife together with bears, elk, moose bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. After we had been climbing at Waterton Lakes, there was a cougar on the path which made everybody very excited.
Location: Alberta – 2 hours and 40 minutes south of Calgary Dimension 505 sq. km E-book an evening to recollect on the Prince of Wales
Plan your journey to Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park
4. Ivvavik Nationwide Park – Yukon Territories
Ivvavik Nationwide Park is as distant because it will get. We flew to Whitehorse, Yukon, after which onward by way of little cities in Northern Canada as we picked folks up on a small aircraft like a northern bus route earlier than stopping within the city of Inuvik in Northwest Territories for the night time. It was then onward by biplane to camp in the midst of Ivavvik Nationwide Park within the far north of the Yukon Territories the place we made a base to seek for grizzly bears.
Parks Canada has a base camp arrange immediately alongside a grizzly bear freeway that you’re smack dab in the midst of. Surrounded by the rolling British Mountains, Ivavvik Nationwide Park can also be residence to Canada’s oldest river.
Location: Far Northern Yukon on the Beaufort Sea – Solely manner in is by aircraft Dimension: 10,168 sq. km Plan your journey to Ivvavik Nationwide Park:
5. Kluane Nationwide Park – Yukon Territories
Whereas visiting the Yukon, one other unimaginable Canadian nationwide park could be seen. Situated within the southwest nook of the territory, Kluane Nationwide Park is a delegated UNESCO World Heritage Web site and residential to the most important non-polar ice discipline on this planet spanning 35,233 sq. km (13,600 sq. miles)
The park’s panorama is dominated by the Saint Elias Mountains, which comprise Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan, standing at 5,959 meters. Kluane Nationwide Park additionally homes the world-famous Kaskawulsh Glacier, which is the most important glacier within the park.
6. Wooden Buffalo Nationwide Park – Northwest Territories / Alberta
Whereas we’re visiting Canada’s Territories, Wooden Buffalo Nationwide Park is one other one among our stunning and distant nationwide parks in Canada. Sharing a border with Alberta, this nationwide park was established in 1922. It was designed to guard one of many final surviving herds of Bison so you might be secure to imagine that that is the highest draw. Nevertheless, there are many issues to do right here from climbing and paddling to having fun with stargazing and looking for the Northern lights.
It’s the largest nationwide park in Canada and it’s also a nationwide historic website.
7. Fundy Nationwide Park- New Brunswick
Dwelling to the world’s highest tides, Fundy Nationwide Park in New Brunswick is a pure marvel. With greater than 100 km of climbing trails, it’s a place to spend days. Take a drive to the excessive lookouts overlooking sea cliffs that roll alongside the Bay of Fundy, have a picnic on one among its seashores, and make a day journey to the Hopewell Rocks and Cape and Rage to actually see the ability of those excessive tides.
The Bay of Fundy is likely one of the pure wonders of the world at low tide you’ll be able to stroll for miles on the ocean ground and probably the greatest locations to try this is at Hopewell Rocks. At excessive tide you’ll be able to go kayaking round these unimaginable formations.
Fundy NP has improbable tenting together with yurts for lease by way of Parks Canada. See extra at: Wonderful Bay of Fundy Adventures – Methods to Expertise the Highest Tides
Location: New Brunswick between Saint John and Moncton Dimension 207 sq. km
8. Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park – Nova Scotia
Dwelling to one of many biggest drives on the planet, Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park in Nova Scotia is the place the place the mountains meet the ocean. It’s residence to Canada’s most stunning sea cliffs. The Cabot Path runs inside the nationwide park, so it’s straightforward to drive from one spectacular view after one other.
Go whale watching, climbing or tenting in an oTentik. That is actually a spot to get pleasure from east coast hospitality and the fantastic thing about Canada. Learn extra: 22 Unimaginable Stops on the Cabot Path in Nova Scotia
Location: Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia 5 hours from Halifax Dimension: 949 sq. km
9. Pacific Rim Nationwide Park Reserve – British Columbia
Situated on Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim Nationwide Park is the place you’ll hike the well-known West Coast Path. The West Coast Path is a 75 km lengthy trek and takes between 5 to 7 days to hike and is one among Canada’s nice hikes positioned alongside the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Pacific Rim Nationwide Park Reserve additionally contains the Lengthy Seaside and the Damaged Group Islands.
With paddling at Damaged Group Islands or browsing at Lengthy Seaside and world-class whale watching, Pacific Rim nationwide park has all of it. Learn extra: Kayaking to the Damaged Group Islands
With the intention to hike the West Coast Path, hikers should get hold of a allow from Parks Canada and are required to attend an orientation session previous to beginning the path. The variety of hikers allowed on the path is restricted annually to be able to shield the delicate ecosystem and make sure the security of hikers.
10. Mount Revelstoke – British Columbia
Revelstoke is one among our favourite locations to go to in British Columbia. It is part of a number of mountain nationwide parks working by way of BC and Alberta. Many individuals assume Revelstoke is in Alberta since it’s nearer to Calgary than Vancouver, however it’s in truth, in British Columbia.
And Revelstoke Nationwide Park shouldn’t be positioned within the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies are 100 km away, nevertheless it actually feels as if you’re within the Canadian Rockies. Mount Revelstoke is positioned inside the Columbia Mountains and the city of Revelstoke is positioned simply exterior of Mount Revelstoke Nationwide Park. It makes for the proper out of doors escape in each summer time and winter. Learn extra: The Finest Issues to do in Revelstoke, BC – In addition to Snowboarding
11. Yoho Nationwide Park – British Columbia
British Columbia is blessed with nationwide parks and wide-open areas and Yoho Nationwide Park is one other stunning place to go to. Situated within the Canadian Rockies, it provides distinctive climbing and biking. The identify “Yoho” comes from a Cree phrase that means “awe” or “marvel”, which is a becoming description.
Yoho Nationwide Park creates a Rocky Mountain triangle with Kootenay Nationwide Park to the south and Banff Nationwide Park to the East within the UNESCO World Heritage Web site, the Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks. Learn: The Rocky Mountaineer Expertise – Vancouver to Banff
The highest sights to see listed here are the pure bridge, an emerald lake, Wapta Falls, and Burgess Shale Fossil Web site. The Burgess Shale, one other UNESCO World Heritage Web site, is positioned inside Yoho Nationwide Park. It’s a fossil deposit that incorporates a number of the oldest and most well-preserved fossils of early animal life on Earth.
12. Kootenay Nationwide Park – British Columbia
One other one among our nationwide parks in British Columbia is close by Kootenay Nationwide Park. Becoming a member of Yoho Nationwide Park with Banff Nationwide Park this trio makes up the UNESCO-designated Canadian Rockies. Situated within the city of Radium, it’s snuggled alongside the Alberta border.
It’s identified for its abundance of sizzling springs together with Radium Sizzling Springs the place you’ll be able to benefit from the sizzling swimming pools in luxurious and abundance of wildlife. A spotlight of Kootenay Nationwide Park is Marble Canyon the place you’ll be able to hike by way of the slender gorge.
13. Pukaskwa Nationwide Park – Ontario
Pukaskwa Nationwide Park is positioned alongside the north coast of Lake Superior and is within the coronary heart of Ontario’s untamed wilderness. It is likely one of the finest nationwide parks for epic climbing. Climbing alongside its coast reminds you of being on the East Coast of Canada as its rolling rocky shoreline climbs excessive above the inland sea of Lake Superior.
There’s backcountry tenting and it homes probably the greatest hikes in Canada that really takes you on a wilderness expertise. We got here head to head with a mama moose and her calf which we assume was spooked by a close-by black bear after seeing its contemporary paw prints within the mud beneath. See our expertise: The Wild Coastal Path of Pukaskwa Nationwide Park
14. Thousand Islands Nationwide Park – Ontario
Situated alongside the St. Lawrence River Thousand Islands Nationwide Park is one among Canada’s smallest nationwide parks with an space of solely 24.4 sq. km and most of that’s water. It is a excellent spot to go paddling to discover the islands between Kingston and Brockville. Make sure to cease in at Mallorytown Touchdown on the 1000 Islands Parkway to get all the data it’s essential to discover the primary nationwide park in Jap Canada. Learn extra: 25 Day Journeys from Toronto to Escape the Metropolis
15. Bruce Peninsula Nationwide Park
Bruce Peninsula Nationwide Park in all probability has essentially the most wow issue landscapes in Ontario. With sea cliffs and flowerpots, it’s a must-visit. Watch the panorama change earlier than your eyes as you head north the place evergreen forests give method to the rocky Canadian defend. That is the center of cottage nation so there are actions for the entire household with climbing trails, boat excursions, biking and tenting. Learn extra: Epic Issues to do in Ontario
Situated on Georgian Bay Bruce Peninsula Nationwide Park homes one of the crucial wow locations in Ontario. The Grotto is a secluded sea cave that sits on the shores of Lake Huron. The view from above is gorgeous and you’d swear that you’re within the Caribbean reasonably than Canada. Be ready to scramble all the way down to the water the place it’s essential to squeeze by way of a gap to enter.
The Grotto is extraordinarily busy in the summertime and you should e-book entry prematurely. A parking allow have to be bought forward of time and entry is blocked in four-hour slots for timed entry. You may verify with Park’s Canada for particulars to e-book your time slot.
16. Prince Edward Island Nationwide Park – PEI
Dwelling to Anne of Inexperienced Gables, Prince Edward Island Nationwide Park homes Inexperienced Gables and the nationwide historic website, Dalvay by the Sea positioned at Dalvay Lake. Make sure to go for a stroll alongside the boardwalk taking you throughout the marshland to the sand dunes.
With different climbing trails, and a really lengthy sandy seaside, that is the proper cease on a PEI highway journey. Get extra info: Issues to do in Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Location: Prince Edward Island (PEI) – half-hour north of Charlottetown. Dimension: 27 sq. Km
17. Prince Albert Nationwide Park – Saskatchewan
Okay, that is taking us manner again into the vault. Years in the past, I sang in a present in Prince Albert Saskatchewan referred to as P.A.Boys. It was throughout that point that I had the possibility to discover a little bit of the province within the north. The year-round vacation spot encompasses a boreal forest, grasslands, lakes and rivers. At 3,874 sq. kilometres, it’s a giant one! Learn extra about Saskatchewan: 15 Finest Issues to do in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Location: Saskachewan – 1 hour north of Prince Alberta Dimension: 3874 sq. km
18. Gaspésie Peninsula – Quebec
Visiting the Gaspésie Area of Quebec provides the possibility to go to 4 Nationwide Parks in Canada of assorted landscapes and exeriences. If you wish to see woodland caribou within the wild, Gaspésie Nationwide Park is the place to do it. It was designated to guard the Gaspésie Caribou. Apparently it’s the solely place you’ll be able to see caribou south of the St. Lawrence (and I imply, actually, simply south of the St. Lawrence).
Situated inland within the Appalachian Mountains, it’s a wonderful panorama of rolling hills. For the dramatic sea cliff views of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, head to, Forillian and l’Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé. And Miguasha Nationwide Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Web site for its 370 million yr previous fossils. For sure, it is a excellent spot to spend a summer time trip.
Location: Quebec – 8 hours North of Quebec Metropolis within the Gaspé Peninsula.
19. Wapusk Nationwide Park – Manitoba
Dwelling to the Polar Bear Freeway, Wapusk Nationwide Park is positioned in a distant area of Manitoba on the Hudson Bay. We stayed on the sting of it when looking for polar bears with Churchill Wild at each Seal River Heritage Lodge and Nanuk Lodge. They act as bookends to the park!
When flying over this slice of the Arctic we noticed a minimum of a dozen polar bears strolling alongside the coast. You may’t go to this park by yourself, however you’ll be able to e-book polar bear excursions with expert guides in distant lodges to witness the unimaginable wildlife of the north. It’s not simply polar bears that you just’ll see, we noticed black bears, wolves and arctic fox. So cute! Learn extra: Strolling with Polar Bears
Location: Manitoba – South of Churchill on the Hudson Bay reached by aircraft. Dimension: 11,745 Sq. km
20. Using Mountain Nationwide Park – Manitoba
A extra accessible nationwide park in Manitoba is Using Mountain Nationwide Park. Established in 1929, and it covers an space of over 3,000 sq. kilometers. The park is residence to a number of historic websites, together with the Gray Owl Cabin, which was as soon as inhabited by the well-known conservationist Archibald Belaney, also called Gray Owl.
Using Mountain nationwide park is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Winnipeg and one of the simplest ways to get there’s to drive. For those who don’t have a automotive, you’ll be able to lease one. Automobiles going into any of Canada’s nationwide parks require a allow. You may decide one up from Parks Canada on the gate, or get a nationwide park move prematurely.
21. Gros Morne Nationwide Park – Newfoundland
Gros Morne nationwide park has been on our bucket record. We’ve had a few plans to see it, however life acquired in the way in which. Hopefully, this yr will lastly be our yr. Gros Morne Nationwide Park is understood for its excessive fjords and distant panorama and one of many must-do actions in Gros Morne Nationwide Park is a ship tour of the Western Brook Pond Fjord by way of towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls.
Gros Morne Nationwide Park can also be residence to a singular geological characteristic referred to as the Tablelands. This is likely one of the finest locations to hike alongside its flat-topped mountain plateau which rises greater than 700 meters above sea degree.
And at last, I do know what you might be considering, why isn’t Torngat Mountains, Nationwide Park? Nicely, it like Gros Morne Nationwide Park, it too is in Newfoundland and we’ve but to go to so it must wait. However as soon as we do, this house proper right here shall be reserved for the Torngat Mountains.
And these are one of the best nationwide parks in Canada. There are nonetheless a number of extra on our bucket record and we will’t wait to get exterior and discover extra of wonderful Canada.