If you still haven’t heard the news, entrance to Canadian National Parks will be free in 2017! This is in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday! To celebrate, here is a guide to five of our favourite Canadian National Parks! Hopefully, this will encourage you to go on a roadtrip in Canada next year and hit up not only these five national parks but all 46 of them if possible! Are you up for the challenge?
Banff National Park
Where is it?
It is in the province of Alberta about 110-180 kilometres west of the City of Calgary.
What you must know!
Canada’s first national park (and the world’s third!) was born out of serendipity when three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers discovered a cave with hot springs on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in 1883.
What you’ll see!
There will be valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows, rivers, hot spring, and of course the quaint, picturesque Town of Banff.
What’s there to do?
Take a dip in the hot spring! Go hiking in the summer and skiing or snowboarding in the winter!
Bonus tip!
If you have time, make sure to visit Lake Louise as well! It is only a 40-minute drive from Banff.
Other national parks nearby are the following:
Kootenay National Park is about 40 kilometres south of Banff
Yoho National Park is about 85 kilometres west of Banff
Jasper National Park is about 180 kilometres north of Banff
What travel blogger Luke Marlin has to say…
“I spent two months working on a summer camp outside of Calgary, Alberta. A regular activity we would take to campers was hiking, and we would go out into Kananaskis Country for a day and climb a mountain for a few hours. Kananaskis Country is in the foothills of Banff National Park and while these hikes are very accessible and doable by kids (and adults) without any fitness training the views can be incredible. Banff National Park is my favourite because it’s just so beautiful. There are hiking trails, mountains, and beauty everywhere and it includes Lake Louise, one of my favourite places in the world.”
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Where is it?
Bruce Peninsula National Park is in the province of Ontario.
What you must know!
The park covers an area of 156 square kilometres and is considered one of the largest protected areas in southern Ontario.
What you’ll see!
There will be black bears, different species of birds, massassauga rattlesnakes, wild orchids, ancient cedar trees, different types of ferns, and wetlands.
What’s there to do?
Nature enthusiasts of all skill levels will be delighted to know that hiking, camping, and bird-watching are some of the many outdoor activities one can do at Bruce Peninsula National Park!
Other parks nearby are the following:
Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada is about 15 kilometres away
MacGregor Point Provincial Park is about 120 kilometres away
Georgian Bay Islands National Park is about 225 kilometres away
What travel blogger Cynthia Lee has to say…
“Bruce Peninsula National Park is one of my favourite places in Canada. There are a variety of activities you can do here from hiking along the stunning Bruce Trail, visiting the spectacular ‘flowerpot’ rock formations on Flowerpot Island, gazing at the Milky Way with the naked eye, or simply enjoying the beautiful clear, turquoise water. This park is located within a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Niagara Escarpment, and is home to thousand-year-old cedar trees. One place that should not be missed is the Grotto, a large cave carved out by the waves of Georgian Bay. It is an incredible sight and even has an underwater tunnel that, when illuminated by sunlight, is absolutely magical. To see the notable ‘flowerpot’ rock formations, you can take a short boat cruise to Flowerpot Island. Some companies have a glass bottom vessel and offer the option to pass by shipwrecks along the way. My most memorable experience here was undoubtedly camping at Cyprus Lake Campground. This had been my first time camping — as well as my then-81-year-old grandma’s! With almost no light pollution here, I saw the Milky Way for the first time, along with thousands of other stars. It was such an incredible experience!”
Fundy National Park
Where is it?
Fundy National Park is located on the Bay of Fundy, near the village of Alma in the province of New Brunswick. The Bay of Fundy actually separates the two provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
What you must know!
This is where one can experience the world’s highest tides! The park covers an area of 207 square kilometres and is home to more than 25 waterfalls.
What’s there to do?
There are numerous activities depending if it’s high tide or low tide. When the tides are high, one can go kayaking and when the tides are low, one can walk on the ocean floor and get a closer look at different sea creatures. Hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and tobogganing are also some of the other activities that are available for visitors.
Other points of interest nearby are the following:
Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site of Canada is about 115 kilometres away
Kouchibouguac National Park of Canada is about 190 kilometres away
Roosevelt Campobello International Park is about 300 kilometres away
Bonus tip!
Be sure to look across the Bay of Fundy to get a glimpse of the northern Nova Scotia coast!
What travel blogger Kevin Wagar has to say…
“The Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick is an amazing location, and definitely a must for anyone visiting Canada’s East Coast. The Bay of Fundy is a UNESCO World biosphere reserve and is home to the World’s highest tides, and nowhere are the tides more evident than in Fundy National Park, the home to the iconic Hopewell Rocks, that at low tide sit dry amidst the sandy bottom of the bay, while at high tide the bay fills up reaching up an incredible 53.5 feet almost touching the trees that sit on top of these iconic rocks.
One of our favourite activities in an East Coast adventure is running out through the arches of Hopewell Rocks. Our kids collect shells and scour the pools of water for trapped fish before being chased by the fast moving tides back up the cliffs to safety. The tides come in six hour cycles, so if you are looking to walk out onto the floor of the bay make sure to check the tide times so that you don’t get there when the water is at its highest.
Fundy National Park is a huge area, more than 207 square kilometres, but the accessible areas feature amazing coastal walks and viewpoints for every skill level, as well as over 25 waterfalls. The nearby Alma Village is a quaint escape where you can see the colourful fishing boats that, during low tide sit dry on the bed of the bay.
Fundy National Park offers camping, including a few available yurts for rent that overlook the Bay of Fundy (book well in advance). In the winter, the park is available for cross-country skiing, hiking and sledding. It’s well worth the adventure at any time of the year!”
Jasper National Park
Where is it?
It is located in the province of Alberta about 315 kilometres west of the City of Edmonton. It is also found north of Banff National Park.
What you must know!
It is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies! The park was established in 1907 and covers an area of 10,878 square kilometres but almost 97 per cent of it is protected wilderness. It is also home to the world-famous Columbia Icefields! For those of you who may not know, the Columbia Icefields “is one of the only Icefields in the world that is accessible by road.”
What you’ll see!
There will be mountain goats, elks, caribous, black bears, beavers, grizzly bears, Rocky Mountain pikas, wolverines, mountain lions, and a lot more! Be careful out there!
What’s there to do?
Definitely go on a hike to see lakes, waterfalls, and mountain vistas! Also check out the newly-built Glacier Skywalk.
Other national parks nearby:
Yoho National Park is about 130 kilometres away
Kootenay National Park is about 160 kilometres away
Banff National Park is about 180 kilometres away
Elk Island National Park is about 355 kilometres away
Waterton Lakes National Park is about 540 kilometres away
What travel blogger Cherri Megasko has to say…
“My husband and I rarely visit the same destination more than once, so it speaks volumes when I tell you we’ve been to Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta five times in five different years! We just can’t stay away! And although I love both parks, if I have to choose…I choose Jasper National Park as my favourite.
One of my strongest travel passions is wildlife viewing and Jasper National Park lives up to my lofty expectations every time. We’ve seen grizzly bears along the Icefields Parkway, moose at Maligne Lake and bighorn sheep and mountain goats at Disaster Point. Heck – we see so many black bears that by the third day – we lose count! Porcupines, bald eagles, and caribou are just icing on our wildlife adventure cake!
My husband and I have travelled together to dozens of countries spanning five continents, but I find myself constantly recommending Jasper National Park to anyone interested in wildlife. Hint: We love to go in May when the bears are just beginning to wake up.”
Waterton Lakes National Park
Where is it?
Waterton Lakes National Park is found in the southwest corner of the province of Alberta. It is three hours south of Calgary or 1.5 hours southwest of Lethbridge.
What you must know!
It is the only national park which holds all of the following three titles: UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Peace Park, and Biosphere Reserve. Waterton Lakes National Park is the smallest out of all the Rocky Mountain parks which only covers an area of 505 square kilometres. The park is considered Canada’s fourth national park and was established in 1895. The park’s busiest time of the year is in the summer months of July and August. The park is also near the US border of Montana!
What to see?
Since it is not as famous as Banff National Park or Jasper National Park, there are not a lot of tourists which means you’ll see more wildlife than people! One will also get to see lakes, waterfalls, grasslands, forests, alpine tundras, and a beach!
What’s there to do?
Like all the rest of the national parks mentioned above, hiking and wildlife-watching are some of the activities one can do. Soaking up the sun on the beach is also fun during the summer! Water sport activities are also recommended!
A point of interest nearby:
Glacier National Park in Montana, USA is about 110 kilometres away
Bonus tip!
It can get quite windy in the summer so be prepared!
What travel blogger Justine Kimoden has to say…
“Waterton Lakes National Park is not only my favourite summer destination but is so far my favourite Canadian national park as well. It is such a quiet place and I felt like Mother Nature and I were having a great bonding moment when I went there because it was not crowded by people. We saw deers roaming around town. The view from the Prince of Wales Hotel overlooking a lake was just breathtaking although it was quite windy when we went there. Being a water baby, I also love that there are a lot of water activities available! My family and I picked a spot near the water to eat our picnic lunch! After lunch, we played with the cutest gophers near the beach. I couldn’t really explain how beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park is, you just have to go and see it for yourself!”
The question now is: Where will you go first? 🙂
Also check out a fellow blogger’s “Only in Canada eh!” to learn more about Canada 🙂
YAY awesome post, Justine!! This is the first collab post I’ve been a part of 🙂 I love how how you incorporated our thoughts with more detailed info about the park. I’ve actually been to Fundy National Park too — though I didn’t know it was a national park until just now. Ahh I want to go to Waterton Lakes next! Mostly because I’ve never seen a gopher before and I want to see them haha!!
Cynthia recently posted…16 Inspiring Travel Quotes to Encourage You to Plan Your Next Adventure Right Now
awww thank you Cynthia! That actually warms my heart to know that you liked this collab! Thank you so much for contributing 🙂 Until next time?