Canada, with its breathtaking landscapes, bustling cities, and welcoming people, is a popular tourist destination that never fails to amaze visitors. As the largest country in North America, Canada is located in the continent’s far north, bordering the Arctic Ocean and the United States. It boasts diverse landscapes, including majestic mountains, stunning coastlines, pristine forests, open grasslands, and icy tundra.
Although many Canadians have ancestry that can be traced back to British and French roots, the country is a patchwork of many different cultures, making it a melting pot of diversity. Visitors from all over the world are drawn to Canada for its wealth of natural beauty and kind-hearted people.
While Toronto is Canada’s largest city and serves as its cultural, commercial, entertainment, and media center, Ottawa is the capital and government seat. Other large urban centers include Montreal, known for its lovely parks; Vancouver, famous for its stunning peaks; and Quebec City, with its charming French colonial buildings.
Canada is renowned worldwide for winter sports such as alpine skiing and ice hockey, as well as cultural events like the Calgary Stampede and the Toronto Film Festival. Outside of the major cities, Niagara Falls, Whistler, and Banff National Park are popular tourist destinations.
But to truly experience Canada’s diverse natural beauty, you must explore its national parks. Here are some of the greatest national parks in Canada, ranging from icy mountaintops to lush coastlines, that you must visit on your next vacation. With Canada’s vastness and beauty, you’ll never run out of places to see and things to experience.
10. Yoho National Park
Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, Canada. Image source: i viewfinder/Shutterstock.com
The Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia are separated by the continental divide. Banff National Park may be found on the Alberta side, whereas Yoho National Park in British Columbia is extremely similar but somewhat less popular.
Located just two hours from the hustle and bustle of Calgary, Yoho National Park is a fantastic destination for those who prefer to be one with nature. Both Emerald Lake and Lake O’Hara are breathtaking, but especially the former due to its surreal hues. Besides these, the Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls, and Wapta Falls are must-sees.
9. Prince Edward Island National Park
Victoria Lighthouse in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Image source: hawkeye978/Shutterstock.com
Prince Edward Island National Park is, as the name implies, situated on Prince Edward Island, the only island province in the Atlantic Ocean. The red sandstone cliffs of Prince Edward Island National Park’s North Shore plunge straight into the ocean, providing breathtaking lookouts along the park’s kilometers of coastline paths.
Besides hiking and exploring, other park activities include lounging on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and overnight camping. The park is home to a number of museums and historic sites, including the Covehead Harbour Lighthouse and Green Gables Heritage Place, the setting for the famous children’s book Anne of Green Gables.
8. Auyuittuq National Park
the mountains in Akshayuk Pass, Auyuittuq National Park, Canada. Image source: Ed Dods/Shutterstock.com
Baffin Island, in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, is one of the world’s biggest islands. Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island is a remarkable location due to its indigenous art, polar terrain, and very long summer days.
Due to the sun never setting in June and July, the park sees a large influx of tourists throughout those months. You may try out some unusual activities, like sleeping in an igloo or going on a sled dog excursion over the Arctic tundra, by signing up for one of the many guided tours offered in this national park.
7. Gros Morne National Park
Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne National Park, Canada. Image source: Curtis Watson/Shutterstock.com
Located in southeastern Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park takes its name from the island’s highest mountain. The Long Range Mountains, which rise above the Appalachians, make up the bulk of the park’s landscape. Hiking is a popular activity in Gros Morne National Park, and for good reason: the park offers endless lookouts over spectacular landscapes.
You may also get a different view of the mountains during the summer by taking a guided boat excursion on Western Brook Pond. There is a lot of history and intriguing displays to see at Cow Head Lighthouse, so be sure to include it on your schedule.
6. Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, Canada. Image source: Russ Heinl/Shutterstock.com
Riding Mountain National Park is a natural refuge perfect for camping, hiking, and nature photography in the Parkland region of Manitoba. But because the town of Wasagaming is also located inside the park, you can still enjoy some fantastic local cuisine and a small selection of entertainment venues.
Visitors interested in WWII may be interested to learn that the park served as a POW camp. Riding Mountain National Park is home to a wide variety of animals, including beaver, elk, deer, grey wolves, cougars, white pelicans, and Canadian geese, all of which may be seen along the beautiful Loon’s Island Trail. Moreover, Lake Audy is close to a natural area inhabited by bison.
5. Waterton Lakes National Park
A breathtaking view of Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada. Image source: Jason Patrick Ross/Shutterstock.com
The fact that Waterton Lakes National Park lies on both the Canadian and American sides of the border is one of its most unique aspects. The Canadian part of the park is called Waterton Lakes National Park, while the American side is called US Glacier National Park. Waterton Glacier International Peace Park refers to the combined park areas.
Red Rock Canyon is one of the park’s most recognizable features due to its vivid red rocks, which are more reminiscent of an Arizona desert than a Canadian reserve. Cameron Lake, with its tranquil waters and lush surroundings, and Blakiston Falls, with its tremendous cascades, may also pique your attention.
4. Pacific Rim National Park
A beautiful beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Canada. Image source: Chase Clausen/Shutterstock.com
There are three main parts of the Pacific Rim National Park on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. Located on Wickanninish Bay, the Long Beach part of the park is renowned as one of the best places to go camping and surfing in all of Canada.
The Broken Group is a cluster of smaller islands, some of which are more well-known than others (Hand Island and Cree Island, for example). The third segment, the West Coast Trail, is a lengthy hiking trail that runs parallel to the coast for kilometers and offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
3. Nahanni National Park
A breathtaking aerial view of Nahanni National Park Reserve, Canada. Image source: GeGiGoggle/Shutterstock.com
For most tourists, the best way to get to Nahanni National Park in Canada’s Northwest Territories is by floatplane. This park’s remote location makes it enticing to those who value adventure above all else. Rafting, canoeing, or kayaking down the South Nahanni River is a feature of the park, and it leads to the breathtaking Virginia Falls.
Day excursions by aircraft are conceivable if you merely want to view the mountains directly on the continental divide, the sulfurous hot springs, or the interesting alpine tundra, but overnight camping and multi-day treks are why most visitors visit the Nahanni National Park.
2. Jasper National Park
A serene view of Spirit Island in Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Canada. Image source: Stas Moroz/Shutterstock.com
Jasper National Park, located in the heart of the Alberta Rocky Mountains, is a massive, spectacular park that has everything from mountain hikes to breathtaking glaciers. There is no lack of exciting outdoor activities to partake in when visiting Jasper National Park.
There are a wide variety of things to do, including hiking, animal watching, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and riding horses. The stunning Athabasca Falls, amazing vistas from atop the Jasper SkyTram, and the gorgeous, quiet waters of Medicine Lake are just a few of the park’s must-sees.
1. Banff National Park
An iconic view of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, Canada. Image source: puttsk/Shutterstock.com
