10 Canada National Parks that Need to Be on Your Radar

Summer travel in the United States is almost synonymous with visiting one of the many gorgeous national parks. If you’re up for a little bit of an adventure, why not visit Canada and see some of their natural beauty too? Here are 10 of the best Canada National Parks you should visit on your next vacation.

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How Many National Parks are in Canada?

Canada is home to over 40 national parks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and others so beautiful they look just like a postcard. With all of the outdoor activities there’s never been a better time to explore Canada’s national parks. Why not take a Canadian road trip and explore more than one? Here are ten national parks in Canada that need to be on your radar.

Must See Canadian National Parks

Fundy National Park

Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, is unique in that it is home to the world’s highest tides, but the fun doesn’t end there. The park has over 75 miles of hiking trails that pass through beaches, dense forests, lakes, and waterfalls. Head to nearby Hopewell Rocks to walk on the bottom of the ocean at low tide. Rent a kayak and return later when the tides are 35 to 50 feet higher. Seeing the change will blow your mind.

About an hour away is the Fundy Trail Parkway which offers spectacular scenic view points, a suspension bridge, waterfalls, and secluded beaches. Everything in the park is worth a visit. For more information on New Brunswick with kids, don’t miss our New Brunswick road trip post.

Prince Edward Island National Park

Prince Edward Island is one of Canada’s eastern Maritime provinces and the island is known for its red sand beaches and of course, “Anne of Greene Gables”.

The province also has a beautiful 65 acre national park that is made up of three distinct sections: Cavendish-North Rustico, Brackley-Dalvay, and Greenwich. The three are separated by bays and unfortunately, not connected directly by highways. All of them have wind swept sand dunes, popular beaches, and trail ways to explore. There are multiple historic sites and lighthouses throughout the park.

Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, located in Alberta, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Many people visit Canada specifically for the renowned hiking in Jasper. Home to grizzly bears, moose, and caribou, it is known for being one of the most “wild” of the mountain national parks and with over 10,000 square kilometers. Expect to see wildlife on your visit.

Jasper National Park is also home to the Columbia Icefields, the only icefields accessible by car. The lakes in Banff are gorgeous and worth a trip on their own. Jasper National Park is one of the best places in the WORLD to stargaze – if you visit in October, don’t miss the Dark Sky Festival! (Read more about Spectacular Things to Do in Jasper and the rest of Alberta’s National Parks).

Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park is unique because it’s located where the Alberta prairie meets the Canadian Rockies, offering an immense diversity of landscape and nature. There’s a stunning red rock canyon, waterfalls, wildlife (including bison), and alpine lakes.

It’s one of several parks considered UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but is also a designated biosphere reserve and a US-Canada peace park. It’s a great park to use as a home base for a weekend getaway – the actual town of Waterton sits right on the lake! (Read more about Waterton in this post from Crazy Family Adventure)

Riding Mountain National Park

Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba is relatively small, but it’s one of the best places in the country to spot wildlife, including bison, bears, moose and elk. The park is just over 1,100 square kilometers but there’s an incredible amount of diversity in its aspen forests and prairie meadows. The most popular thing to do in Riding Mountain National Park is take one of the many trails, which range from short and easy to full-day hikes.

Banff National Park

No list of must-visit national parks in Canada would be complete without mentioning Banff National Park in Alberta. If you’ve seen a picture (especially on a postcard) of the Canadian Rockies, there’s a good chance it was taken at Lake Louise.

Banff is one of the most popular national parks in Canada, but for good reason – it’s absolutely stunning! In the summer try hiking, fishing, or take a paddle board out on the lake. There are plenty of things to do in Banff in winter, including hit the slopes, tubing, and cross country skiing. If the weather is good, you can visit both Banff National Park and Jasper National Park by taking the scenic Icefields Parkway road trip.

WANT TO FIND MORE NATIONAL PARKS KIDS WILL LOVE? CLICK HERE!

Pacific Rim National Park

Pacific Rim National Park in British Columbia is broken into three parts – the West Coast Trail, Long Beach, and the Broken Group Islands. The West Coast Trail, a 5 to 7 day hike that roughly follows an old First Nations trading route, is a bucket list item for many hikers and primarily accessible only to experienced hikers. Casual hikers can enjoy any of the many short trails throughout the park.

Another major draw for the Pacific Rim National Park is all of the cultural activities as the area is still important to the Nuu-chah-nulth people. First Nations guest speakers often visit the park and all guests are encouraged to stop by the Kwisitis Visitor Center or take a walk along the Nuu-chah-nulth trail.

If you plan on staying in the area, be sure to check out these things to do in Port Renfrew near the southern entrance of the park.

Ivvavik National Park

Located in the Yukon, the Ivvavik National Park was created as a result of an aboriginal land claim agreement. Today part of the park is still protected as calving grounds to a caribou herd. Ivvavik is for those looking for an Arctic adventure, with multi-day Arctic adventures available as well as the opportunity to whitewater raft down Canada’s oldest flowing river to the Arctic Ocean. It’s not the easiest national park in Canada to reach, and you’ll probably find more wildlife than people, but it’s a worthy adventure!

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

There are so many things to do in Nova Scotia, including Cape Breton Highlands National Park. One-third of the famous Cabot Trail runs through this national park on Cape Breton Island, providing striking views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

There is plenty of wildlife in this Canadian national park, from bears to bald eagles, and even whales to be spotted offshore. The 60 miles of hiking trails take visitors through rugged canyons, highlands, and sea views, not found in other Canadian national parks. (Want to read more? Check out this post from Tips for Family Trips)

Saguenay Fjord National Park

Saguenay Fjord National Park is located in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec. The area that was named for Lac St Jean and the Saguenay River meet together here and flow into the nearby fjord.

The Saguenay fjord is one of the longest in the world (146 miles). It is rare in that it sends water into an estuary rather than an ocean. There is plenty of wildlife in Saguenay Fjord National Park from seals to peregrine falcons to beluga whales!

Those looking to hike can explore over 55 miles of trails on foot or take a kayak or boat cruise through the fjord. The charming village of Tadoussac is the embarkation point for many whale-watching tours through the fjord.

Looking for other places to visit in Canada? Don’t miss these articles: Things to Do in Quebec City, Things to Do in Winnipeg, and Things to Do in Fredericton, New Brunswick.