Canada is world-famous for maple syrup, the Northern Lights and adding gravy and cheese to its French fries. However, our northern neighbors also happen to harbor some of the most stunning national parks in the world.
Canadian National Parks offer more than just stunning vistas; it also provides visitors year-round activities from hiking and biking to canoeing, kayaking and white-water rafting. Canadian National Parks also cater to those who seek to get closer to wild animals, from whale watching off the Pacific Ocean coastline to spotting wild bison, moose and grizzly bears inland.
With such a stunning array of sights and attractions, we decided to shortlist our Top Five Canadian National Parks for you!
Kootenay National Park is located in the southeast of British Columbia and has become a hot spot for those seeking a wellness escape. Surrounded by lush forest and mountainside landscapes, Kootenay National Park’s main attraction is the natural radium hot springs.
These natural, mineral-rich hot springs maintain a water temperature of over 98 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. This family-friendly attraction offers both cool and hot pools, so you can sit back and soak, surrounded by the stunning panoramic views.
Other attractions at this Canadian National Park include the chance to white-water raft down the Kootenay River with Kootenay River Runners, or take a 1.9km hiking tour to the Paint Pots. The Paint Pots are a fascinating set of vibrant, colorful, iron-rich pools, with some great snowshoeing treks in the winter, too.
Book your stay at the Prestige Radium Hot Springs Resort, BW Premier Collection.
The Pacific Rim National Park is the most western selection of our top five Canadian National Parks. Situated on Vancouver Island, the Pacific Rim National Park is split into three regions: Long Beach, Broken Group Islands and West Coast Trail.
For visitors who don’t mind getting their feet wet, sign up for a Majestic Ocean Kayaking tour and kayak or canoe around some of the sheltered waters of its 100+ islands. The most daring amongst you may want to surf some of the Pacific Oceans’ great rolling swells.
Alternative attractions include hiking trails through the unspoiled rainforests, whale watching from this Canadian National Parks’ shoreline, and enjoying the world-class seafood.
Book your stay at the Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort.
Set amongst the lush temperate rain forests in British Columbia, Mount Revelstoke National Park is a family-oriented destination and one of our favorite national parks in Canada.
For summer visitors, explore some of nature’s oldest living trees, as parts of Mount Revelstoke National Park are home to Red Cedar and Hemlock trees that are over 800 years old. If heights don’t phase you, make sure you also head to the world-famous Nels Nelsen Hill, an abandoned ski jumping hill that was Canada’s first-ever permanent ski jump standing approximately 95 m. tall.
Winter visitors can enjoy the parks, head to the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club, and explore this Canada National Parks Snowshoe and Nordic Skiing friendly trails.
Book your stay at the Best Western Plus Revelstoke.
Located within Canada’s oldest national park and part of the world’s first-ever national park formation, Rocky Mountain House has become a historical and archaeological gold mine in the heart of Banff National Park Canada.
Established in 1799, Rocky Mountain House started life as a rural trading post, later becoming one of Canada’s largest fur-trading outlets. Located on the North Saskatchewan River at Brierly Rapids, Rocky Mountain House offers visitors a glimpse back in time, with the original building and nostalgic traditional museum.
Once you’ve learned about the past, take advantage of Rocky Mountain House’s current attractions, including the 7.1km Siffleur Falls Hike, or take in the striking views with a round of 18 holes at the Pine Hills Golf Course.
Book your stay at the Best Western Rocky Mountain House Inn & Suites.
Canadian National Parks are famed for their incredible and varying wildlife, however Point Pelee National Park has some of the most diverse range of animals on display. It is located at the most southerly point of the Canadian mainland and fronts Lake Erie.
A birding hotspot, this Canadian National Park boasts over 390 species of regional and migratory birds and is also a haven for the stunning Monarch butterflies. For the best sightseeing advice, head to Pelee Wings Nature Store to pick up binoculars and hire a kayak to maximize the experience.
The park doesn’t disappoint after dark either, as visitors can explore the park and witness this Canadian National Parks’ Dark Sky Nights. So impressive are the night skies that, since 2006, Point Pelee National Park has been designated a Dark Sky Preserve (DSP) by the Windsor Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).
Book your stay at the Best Western Plus Leamington Hotel & Conference Centre.
