There are many interesting and beautiful places to visit in Canada. The Great White North is full of things to see, do, and discover. Lots of tourists like to visit Canada’s big towns, like Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa.
But it would be a mistake to miss out on Canada’s beautiful public parks. You should visit these national parks of Canada on your next trip. They have everything from snowy mountain tops to lush green hills along the coast.
List of National Parks of Canada
1. Auyuittuq National Park
The island of Baffin, which is in the Canadian area of Nunavut, is one of the biggest in the world. Auyuittuq National Park is located on Baffin Island and is a beautiful place to visit, known for its arctic scenery, native art, and incredibly long summer days.
Most people who visit Auyuittuq National Park do so in June and July, when the sun never goes down and it’s as bright at noon as it is at midnight. This national park has a lot of guided trips that let you do cool things like sleep in an igloo or go on a guided sled dog tour through the arctic tundra.
2. Prince Edward Island National Park
Prince Edward Island National Park is on Prince Edward Island, which is the only island state that is in the Atlantic Ocean, as the name suggests. Prince Edward Island National Park is on the north shore of the island. It has red sandstone rocks that drop right into the water, making for beautiful views along miles of coastal trails.
You can also sleep out in the park, lay out on the beach, or swim in the water. The park is home to a number of historic sites and museums. Many tourists will want to take the time to tour the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse or the grounds of Green Gables Heritage Place, which was the home that Anne of Green Gables wrote about in the famous children’s books.
3. Riding Mountain National Park
In Manitoba’s Parkland area is Riding Mountain National Park, a wild place where you can camp, hike, and take pictures of nature. There are still some great places to eat and things to do at night in the park because it is also home to the town of Wasagaming.
Because it is so far away, the park was used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II. History buffs may be interested in this fact. You should take the beautiful Loon’s Island Trail in Riding Mountain National Park. Along it, you can see beavers, elk, deer, grey wolves, cougars, white pelicans, and Canadian geese. Near Lake Audy, there is also a wild bison range.
4. Gros Morne National Park
The Gros Morne National Park is on the coast of Newfoundland. The park’s name comes from the Gros Morne, which is its tallest hill. The Long Range Mountains, which rise from the Appalachians, make up a lot of the park. One of the best things about Gros Morne National Park is that you can hike there and see beautiful views from many different spots.
You can also take an organized boat tour on Western Brook Pond during most of the summer to get a different view of the nearby peaks. The Cow Head Lighthouse is another interesting site with a lot of history that you should add to your list.
5. Waterton Lakes National Park
The fact that Waterton Lakes National Park is on the border between the US and Canada is one of its most interesting features. Part of it is in Canada and is called Waterton Lakes National Park. The other part is in the US and is called Glacier National Park. The two parks are called the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park when they are put together.
Red Rock Canyon is one of the most interesting places in the park. Its bright red rocks make it look more like an Arizona desert than a Canadian reserve. The peaceful waters of Cameron Lake and the mighty Blakiston Falls may also be of interest. In the Buffalo Paddock, you can see groups of buffalo in their natural environment.
6. Nahanni National Park
For most tourists, getting to Nahanni National Park in Canada’s Northwest Territories by floatplane is the best alternative. This park is off the main path, which makes it appealing to adventurous nature lovers. One of the best things about the park is the South Nahanni River. You can raft, paddle, or kayak along it until you reach the beautiful Virginia Falls.
People who want to camp overnight or go on multi-day hikes often choose Nahanni National Park. But you can also take a day trip by plane if you just want to see the mountains right on the continental divide, the sulfurous hot springs, or the interesting alpine tundra.
7. Jasper National Park
In the middle of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains is Jasper National Park, a huge and amazing park with climbing trails in the mountains and beautiful glaciers. There are lots of fun things to do outside in Jasper National Park, which is the perfect place to get exercise.
There are a lot of things to do, like hiking, seeing wildlife, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and horseback rides. The beautiful Athabasca Falls, the amazing views from the Jasper SkyTram, and the calm, beautiful water of Medicine Lake are all must-sees in the park.
8. Banff National Park
The Alberta Rockies are home to Banff National Park, which is one of Canada’s most well-known national parks. Canada Place is a great place to start your trip because it has displays and information about the wildlife, history, and culture of the area. Then, go to Cave and Basin National Historic Site and walk the trails to find the hot sulfur springs.
Lake Louise is a beautiful body of water with beautiful views, and the gondolas in the park can give you even better views from above. The park of Banff has something for everyone, whether they like to ski, walk, golf, or watch wildlife.
9. Pacific Rim National Park
You can find Pacific Rim National Park on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. The park is clearly split into three main areas. Long Beach is a part of the park that is on Wickanninish Bay. It is one of the most famous places in the whole country to camp and surf.
There are a bunch of small islands in the area called Broken Group. Some of them are well-known, like Hand Island and Cree Island. The third part is called the West Coast Trail, and it’s a long hiking path that goes on for miles and has views of the Pacific Ocean for most of it.
10. Yoho National Park
The Canadian states of Alberta and British Columbia are split by a continental divide. One side has Banff National Park, which is in Alberta. The other side has Yoho National Park, which is very close and not as crowded.
The busy city of Calgary is only two hours away from Yoho National Park, which is a great place for nature fans to get away. The colors in Emerald Lake make it look like it’s not real, and Lake O’Hara is just as beautiful. There are also great places to visit like the Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls, and Wapta Falls.
