Map National Parks & States. Web Visit website. 1. Nahanni River Expeditions offers some of the best guided rafting trips. Banff National Park is Canada's oldest park, established in 1885, and tends to be everyone's favorite. I Flew in Delta's Revamped Premium Select ClassAnd Actually Got a Good Nights Sleep, How I Travel: Pete Buttigieg Gets to the Airport Later Than Youd Think. Banffs non-identical twin shares many similarities with its southern neighbor. Mornington Peninsula National Park. Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Mount Rainier, an active volcano that is. This national park at the northern end of the island province of the same name is adored for its sandy shores and impressive cliffs. The south coast is more sheltered and secluded harboring beaches and salt marshes where rare ringlet butterflies thrive. Across its mighty territory that spans 1,805 square kilometers youll find a wide array of different terrains, from towering mountains and remote beaches to sparse bogs. All Rights Reserved. An astounding 10,878 square km in size, Jasper is the largest national park in the Rockies. Bridal Veil Falls, Agawa Canyon. See which amazing locales around the globe are ideal for a girls-only vacation. The Columbia Icefields in particular are attractions here that are not to be missed. Come June, canoeing down the Owl River becomes the park's main pastime. 2. 7. The Broken Group Islands consist of over one hundred small islands, perfect for cruising and kayaking. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. Every province and territory can lay claim to a rich selection of epic journeys here's our guide to the best. Another way to experience the tide is to hop in an ocean kayak. While birds and sea mammals dominate the coastal wildlife, porcupine, deer, moose, foxes, and bears inhabit the forested slopes of the park's interior. It includes the beautiful glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls, and mountains. 20. However, the most popular activities in La Mauricie tend to revolve around its abundance of water, from swimming at the bottom of waterfalls to canoeing and kayaking around its many lakes. 268. The park is also home to lots of sulfur hot springs, dense forests, and sloping mountains. For people who are looking for wild nature, remote adventures and world-class national park wildlife viewing, Isle Royale National Park, located in the northwestern corner of Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, is absolute bliss. Yoho National Park is home to many of the classic features of the Canadian Rockies, including stunning lakes, mighty mountains and endless hiking potential. It passes by the Columbia Icefield, the largest ice field in the Rockies. While most visitors come to the park for its geysers, grizzlies and bison, the chance to see moose in the wild is . Apart from hiking the famous Mount Thor, Mount Asgard, and dozens of other peaks, you can try your hand at snowmobiling, dogsledding, and skiing if you visit during winter. Whether you want to get your hands dirty by taking part in one of the parks citizen science projects, savor natures healing powersin four Canadian provinces, visits to national parks can now beprescribed as medicineby doctorsor embark on an adrenaline-fueled backcountry adventure, these are some of the countrys best national parks. 25+ Best Gluten-Free Restaurants in New York City, 3 Days in Dublin: The Perfect Dublin Itinerary, 5 Days in Perth: The Perfect Perth Itinerary, How to Get to Central London from the Airport, How to Buy Tickets to the Blue Lagoon Iceland. Full guides on the top bucket list travel destinations to inspire your wanderlust! Click on individual points to learn a park's name and the year it was established. To soak up the best of this Alberta national park, drive down the famous Icefields Parkway, which is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, this book will inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. 110 miles north-east of Seattle Best place to stay: Goodell creek campground, small and central, along the Skagit river The varied landscape means diversity in wildlife from grizzly bears to moose and wolves, the opportunity of spotting wildlife in its natural habitat are unrivaled here! The easiest way to see both critters is on the self-guided Grassland Ecotur Scenic Drive which incorporates seven points of interests along its 50-mile (80km) course including old homesteader cabins, flat-topped buttes and a couple of short interpretive walks. This majestic expanse of wilderness within the Rocky Mountains of Alberta is a beloved and iconic Canadian landmark. If youre a nature enthusiast, heres a list of the best National Parks in Canada that you dont want to miss. National Parks Beaches. Nestled in the wooded highlands of Manitoba, Riding Mountain National Park beckons to wildlife lovers and hikers. When your feet need a break, head out on the water: RMNP encompasses more than 1,900 lakes. Best national parks ( 39) #1 - Banff National Park Alberta In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Beyond a shoreline backed by irregularly eroded sandstone cliffs, the heavily-wooded park is dotted with pretty waterfalls and braided with trails suited to hiking and biking. From the stunning Moraine Lake to the popular Niagara Falls, here are Canada's best natural wonders. Canadas National Parks are unlike anywhere else in the world. Small pockets of civilization provide temporary comfort among the roughshod natural exhibits. One of the most amazing National parks in Canada, Jasper National Park with an area of about 11,000 km2. Over on the far coast of Canada lies the Pacific Rim National Park, another wonderful destination for fans of untouched seaside scenery. Keep in mind, Wapusk's remote location and harsh terrain makes it best to visit with a licensed tour operator. Situated on the island of Newfoundland, the park stands out for its striking fjords and the Tablelands, where visitors can walk upon the exposed Earth's mantle. Gros Morne's location on the Gulf of St. Lawrence also affords access to impressive coastal scenery, which you can view along the appropriately named Coastal Trail. Nahanni National Park is also a popular destination for multi-day hikes and spotting wolves, grizzly bears, and caribou. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. If youre searching for a one-off, all-encompassing park experience, its a toss up between hiking the harsh 10-mile (16km) Gros Morne Mountain Trail or taking a bracing boat tour of Western Brook Pond, a land-locked fjord with billion-year-old cliffs. Perhaps the best known of the national parks in Canada is Banff National Park, which is located in the Alberta Rockies. By World_Traveller_838. The cold Atlantic Ocean lashing rocky coastlines and the confetti of summer wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains. Discover the top options with our list of the best national parks in Canada. In the winter, Nipika Mountain Resort on the edge of the park offers a serene off-grid retreat surrounded by cross-country ski trails. Pacific Rim National Parkis located along the pearly Vancouver Islands west coast and here youll find old-growth rainforest trails, stunning beaches as well as picturesque coastal scenery. Extend your visit by making the hour-long drive north along the Icefields Parkwaywhere the road is hugged by glaciers and milky-blue riversto neighboring Jasper National Park. From the pristine Emerald Lake, spectacular Wapta Falls, stunning Lake O'Hara, and towering Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park is filled with beauty. As such, viewing polar bears is a popular activity here. It is also located north of the world-famous Banff National Park. Its possibly one of the best Canadian National Parks if you love nature and is home to the largest marked hiking trail in Canada, Bruce Trail. Its no secret that one of the main reasons people visit Canada is for the chance to explore the countrys gorgeous, untouched wilderness. In addition to the different outdoor activities available here, its also possible to learn more about life for local Inuit through various cultural activities. Shenandoah National Park is conveniently located less than 2 hours from Washington DC. 1. Situated in an unassuming corner of southwestern Alberta, Waterton Lakes borders Montana's Glacier National Park and offers visitors jaw-dropping views of waterfalls, mountains, wildflowers and wildlife. Amidst the sea of wind-carved grasses and rolling hills, travelers can visit tipi rings, vision quest sites, medicine wheels, and bison drive lanes. Make your home base in the nearby seaside town of Tofino, where surfers can ride the swells year-round (wet suit required) and in the winter, oceanfront lodges like Pacific Sands Beach Resort offer storm watchers a cozy setting to contemplate the moody sky and thrashing sea. The route can be hiked or skied depending on the time of year, but outside of nine bare-bones shelters that dot the trail, there is nothing in the way of amenities so only experienced backpackers should tackle this adventure. The Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek campgrounds are outfitted by Parks Canada with rustic A-frame cabins, known as oTENTik, equipped with electricity, sleeping platforms, and a picnic table. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Covering 27 square kilometers around the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward Island National Park is mostly made up of beaches, sand dunes, and wetlands. Nahanni National Park Reserve is a raw, unbridled landscape of sky-scraping granite spires, white-water rapids, and bottle-green forests. The park is found on Baffin Island in the territory of Nunavut and covers 21,470 square kilometers of raw Arctic landscapes. One of eastern Canadas most beloved parks, Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. The name Wapusk comes from the Cree for polar bear, which makes sense, as the park is considered one of the best places in the world to spot wild polar bears. Moraine Lake, Banff National Park. As Kluane is close to the American border, this park is well paired with a figure-eight driving route through Alaska too (check our route recommendation here ). The world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, and in 2020, it . To decide the best of the best, U.S. News considered scenic beauty, accessibility, expert opinions and traveler sentiment to determine the best national parks in Canada. Bordering Banff National Park, this national park in British Columbia was established all the way back in 1886, just one year after Banff. The mountain paradise fondly known to Virginians as Shenandoah National Park, is situated high in the Blue Ridge Mountains where old stand of trees, craggy cliffs, and plenty wildlife make their home. The park was established in 1936 and covers 949 square kilometers across the northern end of Cape Breton Island. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. Almost 300 miles northwest of Toronto, the Bruce peninsula consists of a limestone outcrop at the northern end of the Niagara Escarpment that juts out into the Great Lakes separating the cooler waters of Georgian Bay from warmer Lake Huron. Banff is an iconic national park that is on almost every world traveler's bucket list - and for a . 12 Best National Parks in Canada worth exploring! The best way to get there is to fly a charter plane into the small quaint town, which is the main reason why the park gets only a hundred visitors a year. Banff National Park, Alberta. You'll also find plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching, scenic drives and winter sports. BC is a hiker's paradise and opportunities abound. Their system, administered by Parks Canada, continues to evolve and expand. Jasper National Park Another of the more famous national parks associated with the Canadian Rockies is Jasper National Park in western Alberta. As Canada's oldest national park (founded in 1885), Alberta 's Banff National Park set the stage for the rest of the country's preserved natural wonders. Glacier Bay National Park - Alaska. Much of Canada's brilliant landscape can conveniently be found in the confines of its incredible national parks, offering the opportunity to get up close and personal with natural wonders ranging from glaciers to granite peaks. Pukaskwa National Park, ON. Kejimkujik was awarded its National Historic Site designation in 1995 because of its ties to the Mi'kmaw people (descendants of the Mi'kmaq First Nation who have inhabited the site for more than 4,000 years). Situated on the northern tip of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Highlands National Park is often called the area "where the mountains meet the sea" by Canadians. Find the top spots for couples planning elopements and destination weddings. The park was established in 1970, stretching over 500m from Port Renfrew in the south to Tofino in the north. As this park is located on Vancouver Island (separated by the Strait of Georgia from the city of Vancouver) the park can be reached by ferry or float plane from mainland British Columbia, or by flying straight into Victoria and then driving. 1. While the national park itself is not large, it squeezes in a lot of attractions into its 59 sq miles (154 sq km). For an added dose of adventure, the roiling rapids of the Tatshenshini River offer some of the best white-water rafting in the country. Canadas most iconic national park is also its oldest, founded in 1885. This national park is the gem of the Southern California desert. Theres an elemental, end-of-the-continent feel on the precipitous north coast where cliff-top trails are well ventilated by blustery winds. Found in central Saskatchewan a bit north of the city of Prince Albert, the national park covers 3,874 square kilometers of forest and lakes. This park is filled with beautiful lakes, tall stunning mountains, glaciers, and beautiful waterfalls. Prince Edward Island National Park is also home to some noteworthy historical landmarks, such as the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse and a 19th century farm that inspired the famous Anne of Green Gables novels. Photo by Lindsay Davies. Despite the unforgiving shift in climate, youll find thousands of different species of plants and animals that have braved all odds to create a thriving ecosystem here. Exploring Forillon, youre treated to everything from sand dunes and coastal cliffs to lush forest and salt marshes. From cascading waterfalls and roaring tides to the dense wilderness and rich wildlife,Fundy National Parkis undoubtedly the only scene that sums up all the major highlights found in New Brunswick. km. While hiking is indeed popular here, theres just as much fun to be had off the coast, with activities like stand-up paddleboarding and whale watching. This is one of the best parts of Victoria due to its natural beauty with plenty of hiking trails and scenic views. Spend the day on one of many beautiful red-sand beaches or take a trip back in time and visitGreen Gables, a 19th-century farm made famous by the novel Anne of Green Gables. Gros Morne is by far the most captivating natural feature found in Eastern Canada. Experience this rugged country for yourself on these wonderful hiking trails. Theres no shortage of crowds in Banff, so consider visiting during the fall shoulder seasons, when youll get to see the forest aflame with the brilliant yellow of larch trees. Located in Nova Scotia, this park is one of the rare ones where you'll get vast ocean and high-reaching mountains in one landscape. Theres an ethereal "grotto" (water-filled cave) to explore, plentiful kayaking opportunities and ample chances to swim in either warm Lake Huron, or cold but clear Georgian Bay. Understandably, many visitors take to this whitewater river for adventure activities like rafting and kayaking. In the winter, the town of Banff is the ultimate ski destination, with world-class skiing at three resorts and an aprs scene that is just as good. Licensed tour operators run polar bear-themed tours in November, February and March. Another of the more famous national parks associated with the Canadian Rockies is Jasper National Park in western Alberta. Although most people gravitate towards the bustling cities in Canada, there is much more to explore if you dare to venture further into the wilderness. Summertime beckons hikers with the renowned West Coast Trail, kayak-in campgrounds, and sunset picnics around a beach fire. In addition to incredible opportunities for hiking and biking, Waterton Lakes National Park offers visitors a great balance between nature-filled activities and a bustling fun-filled town. [Travis / Flickr] Regulations and high price tags keep most national park visitors from taking an aerial tour, but for Park Service pilots it's all in a day's work. You can explore the cusp of the park and glimpse a few of its supersized wonders from the Alaska and Haines Highways starting just north of the BC-Yukon border. This 145-year-old National Park is covered with pristine lakes and dramatic peaks. Yoho National Park is famed for its breath-taking scenery, epic hiking trails, over 28 peaks standing over 3000 m, plus its host to the second-highest waterfalls in Canada. Learn More About Exploring National Parks in the USA. They aim to preserve Canada's natural heritage. The latter were successfully reintroduced into the park in 2005. Road-tripping is how most people absorb the primordial land-meets-ocean scenery of Cape Breton courtesy of the Cabot Trail Scenic Travelway, a 185-mile-long (298km) "ring road" that circumnavigates the islands northern reaches dipping into tiny Acadian fishing villages en route. To get here you either have to take a chartered plane or an expedition cruise. Paddling the Nahanni River is the trip of a lifetime, combining exciting white water with Indigenous cultural experiences. One of the best options for all levels is the Stawamus Trail in Squamish. 19,089 km2 (7,370 sq mi) Northern Davis region. Banff National Park is the best known and most visited national park in Canada, so it should be no surprise to see the park at the top of this list. The Akshayuk Pass is a 60-mile-long corridor that follows a glacial valley through jagged mountains and glittering icefields. When the days over, set up a camping tent to enjoy a tranquil night in the peaceful park.

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