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 considered one of our Canadian nationwide parks. From coast to coast to coast and in all places in between, Canada’s nationwide parks are breathtaking.
Canada has 37 nationwide parks and 10 National Parks reserves. What are nationwide park reserves you ask? Well, 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 now have 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 everywhere, but it’s on my list.”
Best National Parks in Canada
The finest strategy to get to the National Parks in Canada is by automobile. You can take a look at automobile rental comparisons at RentalCars.com. Some of the perfect 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 wished spherical up our experiences in the perfect Canadian National Parks that we’ve seen. You can decide up your National Parks Pass at computer.gc.ca from the National Park Service. A Discovery Pass price $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 National Park – Alberta
Banff is Canada’s most well-known National 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 workers of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Located in Alberta simply 1 hour and half-hour from Calgary, Banff nationwide park is nestled within the coronary heart of the Canadian Rockies.
There is 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 National Park is so stunning, that considered one of its most well-known lakes, Moraine Lake was depicted on Canada’s twenty-dollar invoice.
The solely downfall of visiting Banff National Park is how busy it might get. Try 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. Read extra: A Spectacular Helicopter Tour in Banff
Location: Banff nationwide park is positioned in Alberta within the Rocky Mountains simply 90 minutes from Calgary. Size: 6641 11,000 sq. kilometers
Plan your journey to Banff National Park
2. Jasper National Park
Located simply up the highway from Banff National Park is the most important nationwide park within the Canadian Rockies. Jasper National Park is dare I say barely much less visited than Banff however it’s simply as spectacular.
Nestled within the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park is teeming with an abundance of wildlife together with, grizzly bears and large horn sheep. From turquoise lakes to snowcapped peaks, it has every little thing you can wish to see in a nationwide park. Make your method out to one of the picturesque lakes in Canada, Maligne Lake or hike in Maligne Canyon. In the winter, you’ll be able to see its frozen waterfalls and ice caves after which take a scenic drive to chill out within the Miette sizzling Springs.
Jasper city is positioned inside Jasper National Park and makes for an amazing base to get pleasure from its eating places, retailers, and galleries at evening after you’ve loved its magnificence.
Plan your journey to Jasper National Park
3. Waterton Lakes National Park – Alberta
Located in Southern Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park is usually left off the Alberta journey checklist, however this distinctive nationwide park shouldn’t be missed.
Waterton Lakes National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Peace Park, and a Biosphere Reserved that shares this honor with neighboring Glacier National Park in Montana. While you might be there, it could be a disgrace to not cross the border to see Glacier National Park. Check out all there’s to do there at 16 of the Best Glacier National Park Hikes
With superior backcountry climbing, the well-known purple rocks, and the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Lakes National 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, Middle Waterton Lake, and Lower Waterton Lake.
With over 200km of climbing trails, Waterton Lakes National Park is a hiker’s paradise. Make certain to maintain a watch out for wildlife together with bears, elk, moose bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. When we have 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 Size 505 sq. km Book an evening to recollect on the Prince of Wales
Plan your journey to Waterton Lakes National Park
4. Ivvavik National Park – Yukon Territories
Ivvavik National 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 airplane like a northern bus route earlier than stopping within the city of Inuvik in Northwest Territories for the evening. It was then onward by biplane to camp in the course of Ivavvik National 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 instantly alongside a grizzly bear freeway that you’re smack dab in the course of. Surrounded by the rolling British Mountains, Ivavvik National Park can be residence to Canada’s oldest river.
Location: Far Northern Yukon on the Beaufort Sea – Only method in is by airplane Size: 10,168 sq. km Plan your journey to Ivvavik National Park:
5. Kluane National Park – Yukon Territories
While visiting the Yukon, one other unimaginable Canadian nationwide park will be seen. Located within the southwest nook of the territory, Kluane National Park is a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Site and residential to the most important non-polar ice discipline on the planet spanning 35,233 sq. km (13,600 sq. miles)
The park’s panorama is dominated by the Saint Elias Mountains, which include Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan, standing at 5,959 meters. Kluane National Park additionally homes the world-famous Kaskawulsh Glacier, which is the most important glacier within the park.
6. Wood Buffalo National Park – Northwest Territories / Alberta
While we’re visiting Canada’s Territories, Wood Buffalo National Park is one other considered one of 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 protected to imagine that that is the highest draw. However, there are many issues to do right here from climbing and paddling to having fun with stargazing and trying to find the Northern lights.
It is the most important nationwide park in Canada and it’s also a nationwide historic web site.
7. Fundy National Park- New Brunswick
Home to the world’s highest tides, Fundy National 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 considered one of its seashores, and make a day journey to the Hopewell Rocks and Cape and Rage to essentially see the ability of those excessive tides.
The Bay of Fundy is among the pure wonders of the world at low tide you’ll be able to stroll for miles on the ocean ground and top-of-the-line 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 incredible tenting together with yurts for hire by way of Parks Canada. See extra at: Amazing Bay of Fundy Adventures – Ways to Experience the Highest Tides
Location: New Brunswick between Saint John and Moncton Size 207 sq. km
8. Cape Breton Highlands National Park – Nova Scotia
Home to one of many biggest drives on the planet, Cape Breton Highlands National 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 Trail 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. This is actually a spot to get pleasure from east coast hospitality and the fantastic thing about Canada. Read extra: 22 Incredible Stops on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia
Location: Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia 5 hours from Halifax Size: 949 sq. km
9. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve – British Columbia
Located on Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park is the place you’ll hike the well-known West Coast Trail. The West Coast Trail is a 75 km lengthy trek and takes between 5 to 7 days to hike and is considered one of Canada’s nice hikes positioned alongside the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve additionally contains the Long Beach and the Broken Group Islands.
With paddling at Broken Group Islands or browsing at Long Beach and world-class whale watching, Pacific Rim nationwide park has all of it. Read extra: Kayaking to the Broken Group Islands
In order to hike the West Coast Trail, 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 defend the delicate ecosystem and make sure the security of hikers.
10. Mount Revelstoke – British Columbia
Revelstoke is considered one of 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 folks suppose Revelstoke is in Alberta since it’s nearer to Calgary than Vancouver, however it’s in truth, in British Columbia.
And Revelstoke National Park just isn’t positioned within the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies are 100 km away, however it definitely feels as in case you are within the Canadian Rockies. Mount Revelstoke is positioned inside the Columbia Mountains and the city of Revelstoke is positioned simply outdoors of Mount Revelstoke National Park. It makes for the proper out of doors escape in each summer season and winter. Read extra: The Best Things to do in Revelstoke, BC – Besides Skiing
11. Yoho National Park – British Columbia
British Columbia is blessed with nationwide parks and wide-open areas and Yoho National Park is one other stunning place to go to. Located within the Canadian Rockies, it affords distinctive climbing and biking. The title “Yoho” comes from a Cree phrase that means “awe” or “wonder”, which is a becoming description.
Yoho National Park creates a Rocky Mountain triangle with Kootenay National Park to the south and Banff National Park to the East within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks. Read: The Rocky Mountaineer Experience – Vancouver to Banff
The prime sights to see listed here are the pure bridge, an emerald lake, Wapta Falls, and Burgess Shale Fossil Site. The Burgess Shale, one other UNESCO World Heritage Site, is positioned inside Yoho National Park. It is a fossil deposit that incorporates a number of the oldest and most well-preserved fossils of early animal life on Earth.
12. Kootenay National Park – British Columbia
Another considered one of our nationwide parks in British Columbia is close by Kootenay National Park. Joining Yoho National Park with Banff National Park this trio makes up the UNESCO-designated Canadian Rockies. Located within the city of Radium, it’s snuggled alongside the Alberta border.
It’s identified for its abundance of sizzling springs together with Radium Hot Springs the place you’ll be able to benefit from the sizzling swimming pools in luxurious and abundance of wildlife. A spotlight of Kootenay National Park is Marble Canyon the place you’ll be able to hike by way of the slender gorge.
13. Pukaskwa National Park – Ontario
Pukaskwa National Park is positioned alongside the north coast of Lake Superior and is within the coronary heart of Ontario’s untamed wilderness. It is among the finest nationwide parks for epic climbing. Hiking 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 top-of-the-line hikes in Canada that actually 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 recent paw prints within the mud under. See our expertise: The Wild Coastal Trail of Pukaskwa National Park
14. Thousand Islands National Park – Ontario
Located alongside the St. Lawrence River Thousand Islands National Park is considered one of Canada’s smallest nationwide parks with an space of solely 24.4 sq. km and most of that’s water. This is a superb place to go paddling to discover the islands between Kingston and Brockville. Be certain to cease in at Mallorytown Landing on the 1000 Islands Parkway to get all the data you should discover the primary nationwide park in Eastern Canada. Read extra: 25 Day Trips from Toronto to Escape the City
15. Bruce Peninsula National Park
Bruce Peninsula National 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 strategy to the rocky Canadian defend. This is the center of cottage nation so there are actions for the entire household with climbing trails, boat excursions, biking and tenting. Read extra: Epic Things to do in Ontario
Located on Georgian Bay Bruce Peninsula National Park homes one of the 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 quite than Canada. Be ready to scramble right down to the water the place you should squeeze by way of a gap to enter.
The Grotto is extraordinarily busy in the summertime and you could e-book entry prematurely. A parking allow should be bought forward of time and entry is blocked in four-hour slots for timed entry. You can examine with Park’s Canada for particulars to e-book your time slot.
16. Prince Edward Island National Park – PEI
Home to Anne of Green Gables, Prince Edward Island National Park homes Green Gables and the nationwide historic web site, Dalvay by the Sea positioned at Dalvay Lake. Be certain 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: Things to do in Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Location: Prince Edward Island (PEI) – half-hour north of Charlottetown. Size: 27 sq. Km
17. Prince Albert National Park – Saskatchewan
Okay, that is taking us method 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 prospect 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 an enormous one! Read extra about Saskatchewan: 15 Best Things to do in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Location: Saskachewan – 1 hour north of Prince Alberta Size: 3874 sq. km
18. Gaspésie Peninsula – Quebec
Visiting the Gaspésie Region of Quebec affords the prospect to go to 4 National Parks in Canada of assorted landscapes and exeriences. If you wish to see woodland caribou within the wild, Gaspésie National 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).
Located inland within the Appalachian Mountains, it’s a stupendous 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 National Park is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its 370 million yr previous fossils. Needless to say, this can be a great spot to spend a summer season trip.
Location: Quebec – 8 hours North of Quebec City within the Gaspé Peninsula.
19. Wapusk National Park – Manitoba
Home to the Polar Bear Highway, Wapusk National Park is positioned in a distant area of Manitoba on the Hudson Bay. We stayed on the sting of it when trying to find 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 not less than a dozen polar bears strolling alongside the coast. You can’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 simply’ll see, we noticed black bears, wolves and arctic fox. So cute! Read extra: Walking with Polar Bears
Location: Manitoba – South of Churchill on the Hudson Bay reached by airplane. Size: 11,745 Square km
20. Riding Mountain National Park – Manitoba
A extra accessible nationwide park in Manitoba is Riding Mountain National 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 Grey Owl Cabin, which was as soon as inhabited by the well-known conservationist Archibald Belaney, often known as Grey Owl.
Riding Mountain nationwide park is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Winnipeg and one of the simplest ways to get there’s to drive. If you don’t have a automobile, you’ll be able to hire one. Vehicles going into any of Canada’s nationwide parks require a allow. You can decide one up from Parks Canada on the gate, or get a nationwide park move prematurely.
21. Gros Morne National Park – Newfoundland
Gros Morne nationwide park has been on our bucket checklist. We have had a few plans to see it, however life received in the best way. Hopefully, this yr will lastly be our yr. Gros Morne National Park is understood for its excessive fjords and distant panorama and one of many must-do actions in Gros Morne National Park is a ship tour of the Western Brook Pond Fjord by way of towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls.
Gros Morne National Park can be residence to a singular geological characteristic referred to as the Tablelands. This is among the finest locations to hike alongside its flat-topped mountain plateau which rises greater than 700 meters above sea stage.
And lastly, I do know what you might be pondering, why isn’t Torngat Mountains, National Park? Well, it like Gros Morne National Park, it too is in Newfoundland and we now have but to go to so it must wait. But as soon as we do, this area proper right here will likely be reserved for the Torngat Mountains.
And these are the perfect nationwide parks in Canada. There are nonetheless a number of extra on our bucket checklist and we are able to’t wait to get outdoors and discover extra of wonderful Canada.