to the deep woods of northern Ontario to the prairies where bison still roam,
’s national parks span some seriously beautiful and ecologically important terrain. Since I moved to the Great White North more than 20 years ago, I’ve wanted to visit all of the country’s protected areas—and I’m now about halfway through the country’s 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves.
Some of Canada’s most stunning parks are well-known, like
, where turquoise lakes, natural hot springs, and miles of mountain hiking trails draw more than four million visitors each year. Others, like Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut’s Arctic wilderness, or Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve in northeastern Quebec, are harder to reach and less trodden—but just as gobsmacking. Below, I’ve spotlighted 11 of the most beautiful national parks in Canada, from coast to coast, to inspire your own travel wish list. See what speaks to you, and I’ll see you on the trails!
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia
Dense temperate rainforest backs the wide sandy beaches of this west coast park that hugs the Pacific Ocean between the
town of Tofino and quieter Ucluelet. Ride the waves just offshore or wander along the nine-mile sand dune that’s the longest on Vancouver Island. A paved cycling path meanders in and out of the forest, and in the park’s Kwisitis Visitor Centre, you can learn more about the nine First Nations communities who have lived in this region for generations. Also in the park are the Broken Group Islands in Barkley Sound, best explored by kayak, and the challenging West Coast Trail, where backpackers navigate more than 100 ladders and cross multiple rivers on an ambitious rainforest adventure.
Where to stay near Pacific Rim National Park Reserve:
The Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec
The largest collection of stone monoliths in Canada gives this island park in the Gulf of St. Lawrence an almost prehistoric feel. Cruise beneath the limestone cliffs and curiously shaped rock formations, or hike through the boreal forest among the Arctic plants. Gray seals, harbor porpoises, and even minke whales feed in the surrounding waters, and you might spot eagles, osprey, or seabirds like Atlantic puffins and black guillemots. Most excursions to the archipelago depart from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan or Havre-Saint-Pierre on Quebec’s Côte-Nord, northeast of
Where to stay near Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve:
Best for overnighting in a teardrop-shaped glamping pod:
Established in 1885, Canada’s first national park—now the country’s most visited—wows travelers with its aquamarine glacier lakes, rocky canyons, and craggy mountains. At brilliantly blue
, hike above the shoreline to leave the selfie-taking tourists behind, or canoe the peaceful waters beneath ice-topped Mount Victoria. Come in the fall when the larch trees shimmer gold and the peaks are dusted with early-season snow, or enjoy the quieter winter months, when you can tackle the mountain trails on a fat-tire bike, ice-climb the frozen cliffs, or snowshoe through evergreen forests. Follow the Icefields Parkway north between mountains, cascading waterfalls, and ever-present glaciers toward
, another marquee Canadian Rockies destination, for one of Canada’s most stunning road trips.
Best for exceptional views of the park’s famous lake:
On the western slopes of the Canadian Rockies, with more than 30 peaks that rise to nearly 10,000 feet, this mountain park lures nature lovers to its waterfalls, unusual hoodoo formations, and emerald lakes. A moderate
takes you to Wapta Falls, the largest cascade on the Kicking Horse River, while Takakkaw Falls (accessible only during the warmer months) is one of Canada’s highest waterfalls. Be sure to book a
, that contains some of the world’s oldest fossils, dating back more than 500 million years.
Cliffs that drop down to glacier-carved fjords, the eerie red rocks of the Tablelands, and a diverse environment of boreal forest, wetlands, and freshwater
stretch across western Newfoundland, protected in this sprawling national park. Roughly 2,000 moose call it home, and it’s a place of stories, too. The
, held in seven different locations, highlights life in the communities surrounding the park, with exhibits and tales told by locals that illuminate the region’s cultural landscape.
Among the world’s largest Dark Sky Reserves, this 350-square-mile parkland encompasses badlands filled with dinosaur fossils and vast prairies where a herd of nearly 400 plains bison now roams. Prairie rattlesnakes and other reptiles reside here, as do burrowing owls, and numerous migrating birds pass through its wide-open skies. Another reason to visit this exceptionally beautiful spot, particularly amid the clamor of today’s world? Grasslands has been designated one of the
Best for cozy lodgings, morning meals, and artist retreats:
Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories
No roads cross these seven million acres of Arctic wilderness, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with waterfalls twice the height of
’s, plus spiky granite spires and elaborate limestone caves. The park’s main attraction is Nahʔą Dehé, the South Nahanni River, where rushing whitewater slices through deep canyons, offering matchless canoe adventures for experienced paddlers. Those who prefer a bird’s-eye view can go flightseeing over the crests of the Ragged Range and observe the turquoise waters of Glacier Lake from above. Keep in mind, since most people visit this park on an
(typically the canoe adventures or flightseeing tours mentioned above), there are limited accommodations in the area.
This east coast park sits on a forested plateau above the Atlantic Ocean, with steep cliffs and deep river canyons enhancing its maritime scenery. You can often spy pilot, minke, and humpback whales offshore, particularly from the lookout at Mount Mackenzie, while snowshoe hare, black bear, and moose make their homes on land. About a third of the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton’s iconic 185-mile roadway, runs through the park, with numerous stops for hiking or for taking in the
Where to stay near Cape Breton Highlands National Park:
Sursă: https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-most-beautiful-national-parks-in-canada