Canadian National Parks

Top 5 National Parks To Explore When You Live In Canada

As the second-largest country in the world, Canada has no shortage of breathtaking landscapes, undisturbed wilderness, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife. During the winter months, the beautiful greenery gets covered in snow. Hence, Canada’s nickname: Great White North.

If you visit Canada, be sure to journey into one of these unforgettable National Parks that’ll leave you awestruck and with great photographic opportunities!

Banff National Park

Location: Alberta
Size: 1,641,027 acres
Fun Fact: Banff is Canada’s oldest National Park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains.

Things To Do. Places To See. Pictures To Take

The Rocky Mountains (Rockies) are a major mountain range situated in Banff park. The Rockies stretch a whopping 4,800 km from Alberta in Canada through to America. The mountains are home to a mixture of habitats, which means you won’t see the same thing twice!

Take the day to explore the adventures that await you in the park. You can enjoy a guided hike through the park which has 1,600 kilometres of hiking trails. You’ll also be assured to see one of the crystal blue lakes that meander through the park. The Banff Museum has a great collection of wildlife exhibits and history. Paddling, mountain biking, cycling and photography are a few of the activities enjoyed during the summer. During the ski season, you can enjoy fun activities like ice walks, snowshoeing, dog sled races and horse sleigh rides. If you visit Canada, don't miss out on the ancient beauty of Banff National Park.

Nahanni National Park

Location: Northwest Territories
Size: 413, 000 acres
Fun Fact: Nahanni National Park is situated in complete undisturbed wilderness. Yes, that means no cell services and you’ll have to take pictures in flight mode.

Things To Do. Places To See. Pictures To Take

For the adventurous spirit! The Nahanni River is what Everest is to mountaineers- remote, breathtaking and mystical. River trips are recommended for skilled paddlers or travelling with a licensed guide. The spectacular Virginia Falls that's twice the height of Niagara is worth the trip to the secluded and remote National Park. A Parks Canada interpreter will give you a briefing about the area and the 42 species of mammals and 180 species of birds found in the park, which include grizzly birds, black bears, moose, mountain caribou and trumpeter swans. What's more, you can plan a canoe, kayak and raft trips that’ll take you through the park.

Jasper National Park

Location: Alberta
Size: 2,774,500 acres
Fun Fact: Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies.

Things To Do. Places To See. Pictures To Take

Summer and winter activities differ in Jasper National Park, but not one is better than the other. If you think sightseeing is impossible in the winter, think again! Here’s a few ‘fun below zero’ activities to partake in when you visit Canada:

• Snap pictures of frozen waterfalls and the majestic mountains covered in a blanket of snow, during sightseeing tours to the most exceptional locations in Jasper Park.
• Trek through the park with a guided heli-snowshoeing tour that takes you through a snow capped valley. Your adventure ends with lunch and a hot chocolate at Hargreaves Cabin.
• Make friends with a team of sled dogs and let them take you on a personal tour of the Canadian Rockies backcountry.

If you visit Canada during the summer, you can look forward to hiking, horseback riding through the mountains, fishing and rafting. You should also be on the lookout for grizzly bears, wolves and moose during guided wildlife tours.

Yoho National Park

Location:British Columbia
Size:318, 519 acres
Fun Fact: Yoho takes its name from a Cree expression of awe and wonder.

Things To Do. Places To See. Pictures To Take

The Yoho park is accessible by road and enjoyable year-round. Give yourself a full day to take in the roadside views and enjoy some easy walking. The Kicking Horse turquoise river makes a fine morning destination, with a stop at Natural Bridge en route.

Head to Trans-Canada 1, catch some lunch in Field, and keep going east to the Yoho Valley Road for a drive to jaw-dropping Takakkaw Falls, the third highest waterfall in Canada and at its best in the late afternoon. Among the spectacular terrain lies years and years of history. The Burgess Shale is a half-billion-year-old rock that holds paleontology's most valuable fossils. The specimens are on display at Yoho Park information centre, when you visit Canada.

Hopewell Rocks During Low Tide	Hopewell Rocks During High Tide

Location: New Brunswick
Size: 50, 900 acres
Fun Fact: The Bay of Fundy has a diverse ecosystem and marine biodiversity comparable to the Amazon Rainforest.

Things To Do. Places To See. Pictures To Take

The Hopewell Rocks - the extraordinary natural feature that attracts people from all around to visit Canada and explore New Brunswick. The Hopewell Rocks stand 40-70 feet tall and the highest tides in the world cover the rocks! You can explore the bay around the rocks when it’s low tide. The Fundy tides have exposed the world’s richest deposits of fossils, among these are the Earth’s first reptiles.

Surrounding Bay of Fundy, are spectacular wilderness features and coastal hiking trails, to ensure the fresh sea breeze fills your lungs while you explore the nature. The diverse marine biodiversity that can be viewed in the Bay of Fundy includes 12 species of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, seabirds and more.