Less popular than their American counterparts, here are the most beautiful national parks to visit in Canada!
Less popular and less well known than their American counterparts, Canada’s great national parks, which will be free to enter in 2017, nonetheless harbor incredible hidden treasures. Shaped over the years by capricious nature and extreme temperatures, Canada is richly endowed for those who love outdoor activities. By kayak, on foot, by bike, on a boat or by car, we offer you a spectacular discovery of the 10 must-see national parks in Canada.
Thousand Islands National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Shroha
Located on Ontario‘s St. Lawrence River, the 1000 Islands Park is a wild, natural and ecological refuge that welcomes many tourists in summer. Of the 1,865 islands, some 20 are integral parts of the park, while the rest are mostly private estates where luxury homes stand side by side with small wooden chalets. Camping, hiking and many other activities are possible, but the best way to get there is by kayak.
Pacific Rim Nature Reserve
Photo credit: Flickr – Pascal
On the west coast, some 50 km from Vancouver, this nature reserve is an ecological paradise, known for its tropical forests and jagged coastline, including Long Beach, one of Canada’s best surfing spots. The Broken Group archipelago is part of the park, with its string of wild islands and the West Coast Trail, a 75-kilometre-long hiking trail!
Banff National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Takakkaw
Probably the best known of all, the famous Banff Park is a symbol of the immensity and beauty of Canada’s rocky mountains. With its turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains and forests, it’s an incredible space of pure nature for walkers, campers, cyclists and canoeists.
Auyuittuq National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – NASA / Michael Studinger
A park at the very edge of civilization, isolated in the territory of Nunavut and made up of glaciers and fjords of icy beauty. It’s the only national park inside the Arctic Circle that has remained totally untouched. The flora and fauna are still in their wild state, and the only means of access is by snowmobile or boat. Access is not easy, but this park and its incredible landscapes are well worth the effort! A magnificent incursion into a place where you really feel far away from it all.
Nahanni National Reserve
Photo credit: Flickr – Mike Beauregard
Located in the Northwest Territories, this majestic reserve is best known for its water-carved canyons and breathtaking waterfalls. Virginia Falls, twice as high as Niagara Falls, is a must-see postcard. A paradise for kayakers and white-water sailors, this park offers thrills for even the most seasoned sports enthusiasts. Hiking trails and other vantage points keep even the most timid visitors busy. Access is only possible by helicopter or seaplane.
Prince Edward Island National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Ryan Tir
Smaller, more accessible and more family-friendly, but just as exotic, this park offers visitors a natural setting of giant dunes, towering cliffs and wilderness areas. Located, as its name suggests, in the province of Prince Edward Island, it also boasts beautiful white-sand beaches inviting you to rest and relax.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – glangille
Often referred to as the place where mountain meets sea, this Nova Scotia park is home to towering cliffs plunging into the ocean and river canyons on a large forest-covered plateau. The Cabot Trail tourist route passes through the park and is one of Canada’s legendary roads that must be travelled at least once.
As in most parks, hiking trails are numerous and well-maintained, offering a fresh perspective on the park. It’s autumn when the colors are at their most impressive, with those distinctive shades of orange, yellow and red carpeting the landscape.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Photo credit: Flickr – Muhammad Ghouri
About a four-hour drive north of Toronto, this park is known for its rugged coastline and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Between Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, this peninsula juts out into the water, welcoming tourists and travellers to its beaches, caves and spectacular hiking trails. Nearby Flowerpot Island, with its large, flowerpot-shaped stone concretions on the water’s edge, also invites discovery. A fabulous natural blend of water, stone and forest, easily accessible by car.
Gros Morne National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Aconcagua
On the island of Newfoundland, this park is named after the island’s second-highest peak, at 806 metres above sea level. More than a hundred kilometers of hiking trails lead through untouched wilderness. From the sea, you can admire the cliffs and fjords sculpted by time and glaciers that open up a striking new perspective. You can also fish, swim, kayak, camp for one or more nights and, in winter, go cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. A change of scenery guaranteed!
Fundy National Park
Photo credit: Wikimedia – Tango7174
On the east coast of the province of New Brunswick, this park is divided into two main parts: on one side, a steep, indented coastline where you can come and admire the highest tides in the world, and on the other, a forested plateau with numerous ravines. This is one of the few parks where, in addition to traditional tents, you can stay in a yurt for a night in the wilderness. Its gently sloping beaches, natural coves and cliffs make for a delightful visit for hikers and visitors alike.
Main photo credit: Wikimedia – Tobias Alt