The 8 Best National Parks in Canada

When you’ve exhausted Zion and Yosemite, it’s time to go north.

interior parks might be “ America ’s best musical theme , ” but that idea — and the vast swaths of epic nature it preserves — doesn’t end at the border . Just a bit northward of places likeAcadia , Yellowstone , orNorth Cascades , Canada ’s reach of land is just as immense and mindblowing .

You ’ve get white - capped mountains over turquoise lake , moose - laden forests , tough coastline , turquoise body of water , ancient glaciers , and fjord . The 48 home parks of the Great White North are epical in proportion , traverse 174,000 square nautical mile — and they ’re well-heeled to beat back to from the US .

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization - recognized Canadian Rockies might have the just density of jaw - throw away nature , but there are heroic spots to see coast - to - coast either one at a time or on a slap-up Canadian Road Trip with a $ 55Parks Canada Discovery Pass . Here ’s your guide to the very in force .

Jasper

Jasper National Park gives the US a run for its money.|Jeff Penner/EyeEm/Getty Images

Banff

If you Google “ Canada nature , ” you ’ll see picture ofBanff National Parkin the Rocky Mountains — and for good reason . Canada ’s oldest and most pop interior park is Mother Earth at its goddam - little girl - you - lookin - ok sexiest . Anywhere you look , there are jagged peaks sprinkled with fluffy powder , bluer than blue frosty lake , and imperial wildlife include bears ( ignominious and grizzly ) , elk , wolf , and fox .

Despite being meddling year - rotund , Banff is big enough that you could discover something to do without being shoulder joint - to - shoulder with tourists ( well , except perhaps if you ’re waiting forthatphoto of Lake Louise ) . Some options include hiking nearly 1,000 miles of trails , aqualung diving event in Lake Minnewanka , ski atSunshine Village , or sipping tea at the swankyFairmont Banff Springs Hotel .

Bruce Peninsula

Ontario is know for a few things : cities , trucker convoy , and Drake . But turquoise urine , shipwrecks , rock column , and underwater caves ? Nah . As an Ontarian myself , I definitely would n’t say so , and yet those are all on display atBruce Peninsula National Park , located a few hours from Toronto , five from Detroit , and 11 from New York .

At the northerly point of the park , chequer outFathom Five National Marine Park , which has 20 wreck that you could dive to , including the three-fold - dump passenger steamer clam City of Grand Rapids that sank in 1907 . Fathom Five also has flaky - looking ocean stacks on Flowerpot Island and a central townsfolk of Tobermory Charles Frederick Worth meandering around . From town , walk the fabled Bruce Trail , where you ’ll see cedars a millennium old and limestone cliffs galore .

Forillon

Quebec ’s southeastern Gaspesie peninsula above Maine is like if the stony - shorelined Maritimes state and dark-green - afforest Quebec had a baby — andForillon National Parkjutting out into the sea is like if that baby had the prettiest comforter ever . With potent waves crash into epic cliffs and seafowl beat through the mist , Forillon feel like you ’re at the sharpness of the world .

Have a child’s play or stroll on the pebble beach while gaze at the cliff ( they kind of look like wrinkly faces if you look real intimately ) . The Mungo Park has over four hours deserving of tramp trail , guided sea kayaking tours , andpaddle dining table for rip . Keep an eye on the water where you might be able to recognize the setback of fin hulk , humpbacks , and perhaps even a blue whale — the public ’s largest mammal . At the south ending of the car park , you could visit Fort Péninsule , a naval battery where Allied force-out bury German uranium - boats during World War II .

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Grasslands

Saskatchewan is perhaps Canada ’s most underrated province , andGrasslandsnorth of Montana is perhaps its lesser - known internal park — but it should n’t be . Hiking across Grasslands ’ plains or driving its 50 - sea mile scenic drive will make you feel so , so modest in the immenseness of this country .

Before sunset , dress up camp wherever you need under flickering stars — Grasslands is Canada ’s moody dark - sky preserve . But the good part about Grasslands is its furry bison herds , which were re-introduce to the park in 2005 .

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Gros Morne

Home to Canada ’s friendliest multitude and perhaps its harshest climate , Newfoundland is also where you ’ll findGros Morne , one of the area ’s finest and most tough internal parks . With plenty of trail and waterfalls , some of which throw away 2,000 feet , Gros Morne is a tramper ’s paradise . It ’s also a great place to get a line about the story of our planet .

Back 1,200 million years ago when the Pangea supercontinent broke aside , magma from ooze out solid ground fracture cooled into the rocks that we can see today in Grose Morne ’s Western Brook and Ten Mile ponds . The park as we see it today spring over the last two - million years of repeated glaciation , deglaciation , and associated sea - level changes . After your hike , meat eaters can stop by a restaurant in the green ’s Ithiel Town and give a moose Warren Earl Burger a try .

Jasper

After visiting Banff , take the Icefields Parkway — one of the world ’s most scenic drives with more than 100 ancient glaciers — up to Jasper . One of Canada ’s prettiest and idle national green , Jasperis monumental at 4,247 satisfying air mile , making it the largest interior ballpark in the Canadian Rockies . And it ’s a great plaza to spot wildlife .

Here , you ’ll get an even better chance of understand bears and red deer than in Banff , specially if you go off - grid and stay in a hike- or ski - in backcountry inn or hostel . Do n’t miss theJasper SkyTramup Whistlers Peak and taking a dip in a natural blistering give .

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Cape Breton

With rolling green hills and shimmer blue water teeming with lobsters , fin , minke , humpback , and pilot whales , Cape Breton Highlands National Parkis a Canadian treasure .

Take the 185 - mile Cabot Trail around the island for some striking views ( elf power point if you do it by bike ) , or hops in a kayak and get personal with the marine lifetime . The Skyline trail is one of Canada ’s most popular hikes and will give you a near chance at recognize a European elk .

Auyuittuq

Up in Nunavut , Canada ’s most northern and newest district , Auyuittuq National Parkis for theadventurous explorersout there . brood a removed area of more than 8,000 miles , Auyuittuq is a land of cragged granite cliff , glacier , tundra valleys , and steep - fence fjords populated by amazing beast like polar bears and polar fox .

Dress warmly and bosom your inner Thor for a acclivity up the 4,000 - human foot peak of Mount Asgard , or go on a thwartwise - country skiing adventure up 1,500 infantry to Summit Lake . alas , vanliferswill have to leave their car behind for this one , as the only direction to get into Nunavut is by air .

Banff