The United States’ National Park System tends to steal the North American spotlight when it comes to the most well-known nature preserves — the U.S. is home to many easily accessible parks, and offers many opportunities for adventure within the continent’s incredible natural areas and protected wildernesses. But set your sights to the Great White North and you’ll find Canada pulls its weight, too, when it comes to incredible national parks to explore.
Parks Canada manages the country’s 37 national parks and 10 national park reserves, which are managed in a similar way to national parks but subject to Indigenous land claims. Overall, Parks Canada protects and manages more than 200,000 square miles of Canada’s most beautiful places — the best national parks in Canada. Its national parks are found all across the country, from the northernmost regions in the Canadian Arctic province of Nunavut to the southernmost national park in the country, Point Pelee National Park in Ontario (south of Detroit, as the crow flies, on Lake Erie). Some of Canada’s parks are incredibly remote and difficult to reach, like Nunavut’s Quttinirpaaq National Park, the second-most northerly park on the planet, accessible only via chartered aircraft. Others are within surprisingly easy access of Canada’s most metropolitan areas.
Read on for ideas for five of the best Canadian national parks to visit on your next trip north.
Tips For Visiting Canadian National Parks
Because Canada is located so far north, you’ll want to pay close attention to the best time of year to visit the particular national park you’re interested in. Many of the best Canadian national parks, although not all, can be enjoyed year-round. And while summer is the obvious choice for outdoor fun in the northern latitudes, some parks offer their own appeal even during the darkest and coldest months of winter (when there is no bad weather, only bad clothing, as the saying goes).
Planning to visit several national parks in Canada? Consider purchasing an annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass, which lets you skip lines at park entrances and gets you into more than 80 destinations across the country for one year. If you’re planning a road trip to a Canadian National Park, the family version of the pass is valid for up to seven people traveling in the same vehicle and can be a more affordable option for groups. Youth 17 and under always get free admission to parks and reserves within the Parks Canada system, and seniors 65 and older are eligible for discounted entry.
Before your visit, be sure to download the Parks Canada app and use it to map out your time in the park. It’s a particularly handy resource for independent travelers, loaded with maps as well as things like podcasts detailing park history and wildlife, self-guided tours with GPS-triggered stops (so you know exactly where to pull over and explore), and even quizzes perfect for passing time on the road.
Ready to get out there? Read on for some of the best Canadian national parks just waiting to be explored.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Accessible by BC Ferries from mainland Canada or an ultra-scenic seaplane flight, Vancouver Island is a surprising wilderness located within easy reach of bustling metropolitan Vancouver. On the west coast of this wild island, you’ll find long swaths of sandy beaches, plus a multitude of islands you can hop between by kayak. Amazing adventures await visitors at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, located in the traditional territories of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. The park is best known for being home to the West Coast Trail, a rugged path that runs along the coast. Winding through temperate rainforests, the trail covers roughly 46 miles and is considered among the most beautiful hiking routes in the world.
Thousand Islands National Park
Within easy reach of both Toronto and Montreal, Thousand Islands National Park is one of the most well known national parks in Canada, despite being one of its smallest. Actually inclusive of only 20 islands, this park is a joy to explore by boat or kayak. The park, famous for great fishing, occupies a stretch of the Saint Lawrence River that is dotted with islands that you can paddle ashore by boat to explore. Hikers gravitate to the trails of Jones Creek in Mallorytown, Ontario, where you can spend a few minutes or all day traversing pathways through the tall pines and past rugged boulders.
Banff National Park
One of the most spectacular parks in the land and one of the best national parks in Canada, Banff National Park is located just 1.5 hours west of Calgary. It is famous for its snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks stretching to dizzying heights and its turquoise-hued glacial lakes that glow like gems at their bases. This is Canada’s first national park, and one that promises to take your breath away in equal measure whether you visit to ski during the winter, go leaf-peeping in autumn, or lake-hopping in summer. The best part? Your adventure options here range from relatively easy hikes along Lake Louise to more adventurous mountain trails, soaking in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, driving the scenic Icefields Parkway, and dog sledding tours in the Canadian Rockies. For more information on Banff, check out this detailed guide on things to see and do in Banff, and this overview on the best times to visit Banff.
Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
Few experiences in nature inspire the moment of awe that comes while watching a whale surface to exhale a powerful breath of air within close proximity to you. Moments like that are par for the course when you venture into Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec, where 13 species of whales — including minke whales, humpback whales, beluga whales, and blue whales — can be seen migrating through the park’s waters. You can whale watch right from the shore or head out on whale and dolphin watching tours that leave from the scenic coastal town of Tadoussac, right at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord.
Jasper National Park
North of Banff National Park in Canada’s Alberta province, Jasper National Park beckons to winter visitors braving the cold for incredible views, and to those drawn for the park’s spectacular summer wildflowers and shimmering lakes. Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and is also home to one of the biggest dark sky preserves in the world, making it ideal for stargazing. It’s also a great place to see the Northern Lights, which often appear above Jasper National Park during the darker months.
For more exciting Canadian adventures, check out this informative article on Ontario’s Georgian Bay, this handy checklist of fun things to do in the Canadian Rockies, or this overview of some of Canada’s most amazing natural wonders.
