This post was originally published on this site.
From the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to the deep woods of northern Ontario to the prairies where bison still roam, Canada’s national parks span some seriously beautiful and ecologically important terrain. Since I moved to the Great White North more than 20 years ago, I’ve wanted to visit all of the country’s protected areas—and I’m now about halfway through the country’s 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves.
Some of Canada’s most stunning parks are well-known, like Banff National Park, where turquoise lakes, natural hot springs, and miles of mountain hiking trails draw more than four million visitors each year. Others, like Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut’s Arctic wilderness, or Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve in northeastern Quebec, are harder to reach and less trodden—but just as gobsmacking. Below, I’ve spotlighted 11 of the most beautiful national parks in Canada, from coast to coast, to inspire your own travel wish list. See what speaks to you, and I’ll see you on the trails!
