National parks
The national parks of Canada.
Canada's national parks take you to landscapes where nature and space define the route. Spread across the country are 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves, ranging from easily accessible areas along well-known scenic drives to remote wilderness where the journey requires more preparation. Together, they protect approximately 343,377 square kilometers of nature.
For travelers, the parks are often an important part of a tour of Canada. Walk along the coast of Vancouver Island, drive the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, or venture into the wilderness of the Yukon. Which park suits your trip depends mainly on your route, the season, and how much time you have.
Visiting national parks in Canada
The national parks are scattered across all provinces and territories of Canada. Some can easily be included in a road trip. Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay, for example, are located in and around the Rocky Mountains and combine well with each other.
Other parks require considerably more preparation. In the north, there are several areas without regular road access. A visit there may require transport by boat or plane, a guide, and experience traveling through remote areas.
Therefore, always check current accessibility, opening hours, road and trail conditions, required permits, and overnight accommodation options at Parks Canada before departure.
National Parks in Western Canada
British Columbia
British Columbia combines interior mountains with islands and a rugged Pacific coast. To the east lie Glacier, Mount Revelstoke, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks. These parks fit well into a route through the Canadian Rockies. On the west coast lies Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, known for its beaches, rainforest, and the coast of Vancouver Island.
The national parks and reserves in British Columbia are:
• Glacier National Park
• Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
• Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site
• Kootenay National Park
• Mount Revelstoke National Park
• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
• Yoho National Park
Alberta
For many travelers, an introduction to Canadian national parks begins in Alberta. Banff and Jasper are located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains and are connected by the Icefields Parkway. Along this route lie glaciers, mountain lakes, waterfalls, and hiking trails.
Waterton Lakes lies further south, against the border with the United States. Elk Island, on the other hand, is located a short distance from Edmonton and protects bison habitat, among other things.
The national parks in Alberta are:
• Banff National Park
• Elk Island National Park
• Jasper National Park
• Waterton Lakes National Park
Wood Buffalo National Park is located in both Alberta and the Northwest Territories and is therefore listed once further down in the overview.
National parks in the Prairies
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has two national parks with vastly different landscapes. Grasslands National Park protects prairie, badlands, and one of the largest remaining stretches of natural grassland in Canada. Prince Albert National Park lies further north, where prairie transitions into lakes and forest.
The national parks in Saskatchewan are:
• Grasslands National Park
• Prince Albert National Park
Manitoba
Riding Mountain National Park is situated on a wooded plateau amidst the prairies of Manitoba and is accessible by road. Wapusk National Park on Hudson Bay is a very different story. The remote area consists of tundra and wetlands and is an important habitat for polar bears, among other animals.
The national parks in Manitoba are:
• Riding Mountain National Park
• Wapusk National Park
National parks in Ontario and Quebec
Ontario
Ontario's national parks are situated among the Great Lakes, islands, forests, and wetlands. Bruce Peninsula National Park lies on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, while Georgian Bay Islands National Park consists of dozens of islands. Pukaskwa protects a much more rugged part of the Lake Superior coastline.
Point Pelee is located on a narrow peninsula in Lake Erie and is best known as an important site for migratory birds. Thousand Islands National Park is situated on the St. Lawrence River, close to the border with the United States.
The national parks in Ontario are:
• Bruce Peninsula National Park
• Georgian Bay Islands National Park
• Point Pelee National Park
• Pukaskwa National Park
• Thousand Islands National Park
Quebec
In Quebec, there are three areas managed by Parks Canada as national parks or national park reserves. Forillon National Park is located at the tip of the Gaspésie Peninsula, where forested hills meet the Gulf of St. Lawrence. La Mauricie National Park lies between Montreal and Quebec City and consists of forests and lakes.
Much further to the northeast, Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve stretches along the northern coast of the St. Lawrence. The islands are known, among other things, for their limestone rock formations.
The national parks and reserves in Quebec are:
• Forillon National Park
• La Mauricie National Park
• Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve
National parks in Atlantic Canada
New Brunswick
In Fundy National Park, the forest meets the Bay of Fundy, known for its large tidal differences. On the other side of the province lies Kouchibouguac National Park, with sandy beaches, dunes, lagoons, forests, and salt marshes.
The national parks in New Brunswick are:
• Fundy National Park
• Kouchibouguac National Park
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island National Park follows a portion of the island's north coast. Here you will find beaches, dunes, wetlands, and the red sandstone coastline for which the province is known.
Pituamkek National Park Reserve is located in the northwest of Prince Edward Island. The area was officially designated as Canada's 48th national park in 2024 and protects, among other things, an ecologically important coastal dune area. When planning a visit, please keep in mind that facilities in a new park may still be under development.
The national parks and reserves on Prince Edward Island are:
• Prince Edward Island National Park
• Pituamkek National Park Reserve
Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Highlands National Park is located along the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island. The road runs here between forested highlands and the Atlantic coast and provides access to various hiking trails.
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site protects forests, lakes, and rivers and has a strong cultural connection to the Mi'kmaq. Sable Island National Park Reserve is located approximately 290 kilometers off the coast of Nova Scotia. Due to its remote location and fragile nature, a visit requires much more preparation than a regular park visit.
The national parks and reserves in Nova Scotia are:
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
• Sable Island National Park Reserve
Newfoundland and Labrador
Gros Morne National Park is a logical stop during a tour of Newfoundland. Fjords, mountains, and the bare rocks of the Tablelands lie relatively close together here. Terra Nova National Park is located on the east side of the island and combines a rocky coastline with sheltered bays and forest.
The two parks in Labrador are much more remote. Torngat Mountains National Park is located in the far north and has no regular road access. Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve also has no road connection. This
The reserve covers approximately 10,700 square kilometers and consists of mountains, forest, rivers, coast, and tundra. Discuss an itinerary with Parks Canada in advance if you wish to visit this area.
The national parks and reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador are:
• Akami-Uapishkᵁ-KakKasuak-Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
• Gros Morne National Park
• Terra Nova National Park
• Torngat Mountains National Park
National parks in Northern Canada
Anyone wishing to visit a national park in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, or Nunavut should be prepared for longer distances and fewer amenities. Several parks have no road access. Check well in advance of departure how to reach the park, which local carriers or guides are active, and which permits or reservations are required.
Yukon
Kluane National Park and Reserve is located in the southwest of Yukon and protects a landscape of high mountains, ice fields, and glaciers. The park is relatively accessible from the region around Haines Junction. Ivvavik and Vuntut are located much further north and require more preparation.
The national parks and reserves in Yukon are:
• Ivvavik National Park
• Kluane National Park and Reserve
• Vuntut National Park
Northwest Territories
Some of Canada's most remote national parks are located in the Northwest Territories. Nahanni National Park Reserve protects a large part of the South Nahanni River and the surrounding mountain landscape. Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve borders it.
Thaidene Nëné is situated around the East Arm of Great Slave Lake. Aulavik and Tuktut Nogait are located even further north, in the Arctic regions of Canada.
Wood Buffalo National Park is an exception if you want to reach a park in Northern Canada by road. The park stretches across the Northwest Territories and Alberta and is the largest national park in Canada.
The national parks and reserves in the Northwest Territories are:
• Aulavik National Park
• Nahanni National Park Reserve
• Nááts'įhch'oh National Park Reserve
• Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve
• Tuktut Nogait National Park
•Wood Buffalo National Park
Nunavut
All five of Nunavut’s national parks are located in the Canadian Arctic. Don’t expect a classic road trip here: most destinations are reached first by plane via a northern community, and then by local transport or an organized tour.
Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island consists of glaciers, wide valleys, and steep mountain walls. Sirmilik lies further north and includes glaciers, mountains, coastal areas, and islands. Quttinirpaaq is located on Ellesmere Island, far above the Arctic Circle, and is one of the northernmost protected areas in the world.
The national parks in Nunavut are:
• Auyuittuq National Park
• Quasuittuq National Park
• Quttinirpaaq National Park
• Sirmilik National Park
• Ukkusiksalik National Park
Which national park suits your trip through Canada?
You don't have to tick off as many national parks as possible during a road trip. Focus instead on which parks logically fit into your route.
If you are traveling through Western Canada for the first time, Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay form a logical combination. On Vancouver Island, add Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to a route along the west coast.
For Atlantic Canada, the Cape Breton Highlands, Fundy, Prince Edward Island, and Gros Morne are obvious choices, depending on the provinces you visit. Those traveling further north face greater distances, limited transport, and fewer amenities. There, planning often begins months before departure.
Wildlife spotting
Wildlife is an important part of many trips through Canada, but you don't necessarily have to enter a national park for that. Also along the coast, in provincial parks and other
You may encounter animals in nature reserves. Which species you see depends on the region, the season, and the landscape.
In Western Canada, you can find black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, and bighorn sheep, among others. Along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, you can spot whales in various locations during a boat trip. In the north, you can find polar bears, caribou, and musk oxen. Keep in mind that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
If you encounter animals along the way, observe them from a distance and follow local guidelines. Do not stop at an unsafe spot along the road and never feed wild animals. Parks Canada provides information for each national park regarding the animal species present, current warnings, and safe behavior in areas where bears, for example, live.
Admission and parking passes
Planning your visit to a national park
Just before departure, check the Parks Canada website for up-to-date information on accessibility, reservations, entrance fees, permits, campgrounds, roadworks, trail conditions, and any temporary closures. This way, you will know what to expect along the way and which national park best fits your itinerary.
