Canada has a breathtaking national parks system, but not all of its jewels are equally well known. Here are some of the most distinctive and visually impactful of Canada's national parks.

Yoho National Park (British Columbia)

Yoho, named for a Cree word expressing wonder and awe is a park of waterfalls, rock formations, and glacial lakes. Whether its exploring the over 400 km of hiking trails, canoeing and sightseeing at Emerald Lake, or paying a visit to Takakkaw Falls, the third highest waterfall in Canada, Yoho National Park stays true to its name of awe and wonder.

Pukaskwa National Park (Ontario)

Pukaskwa’s astonishing beauty is on display in its vistas of Lake Superior and the rugged landscape of the Canadian Shield and northern forest.  Pukaskwa, the only wilderness national park in Ontario, offers challenging hiking along part of the Voyageur Hiking Trail, beautiful rivers, and thousand year old rock structures called Pukaskwa Pits which were created by the original inhabitants of the area.

Bruce Peninsula National Park (Ontario)

The massive cliffs of the Bruce Peninsula National Park are the destination of thousands of visitors every year. Part of the Niagara Escarpment, the park offers visitors many outdoor activities including, bird watching, hiking, and camping.  The ‘Bruce’ contains a vast array of natural habitats from rare limestone alvars, to dense forests and crystal clear lakes.   

Grasslands National Park (Saskatchewan)

One of Canada’s newer national parks, Grasslands represents the Prairie Grasslands natural region, one of the nation’s few remaining areas of grassland. The park is famed for its designation as The Darkest Sky Preserve, containing the richest resource of dinosaur fossils in Canada, and being the home to over 12,000 ancient teepee rings. 

Elk Island National Park (Alberta)

Elk Island protects one of the most endangered habitats in all of Canada. The island is a gorgeous oasis and home to free roaming, plains bison, woods bison, moose, deer, and elk. Whether you visit for the wildlife, the cross-country skiing, or the picnicking and overnight camping, Elk Island has something to offer for everyone. 

Kootenay (British Columbia)

From glacier-clad peaks to semi-arid grasslands, Kootenay National Park is noted for its wide diversity of climates.  The main attractions of the park are the Hot Springs, offering a hot springs pool ranging from 35°C to 47°C. Kootenay offers opportunities for people to experience the Rocky Mountains, learn the natural and cultural history of Canada, and to connect and fully experience nature. 

                        View from Klondike Highway

                 Scenery from the Sea to Sky Highway

                 The Muskokas Highway in Algonquin Park

 The Muskokas, otherwise known as Highway 60, is located throughout Algonquin Park. Highway 60 offers one of the most beautiful sceneries throughout Canada during the autumn. Algonquin Park, one of Canada’s most famous parks, is 7,725 square kilometers consisting of forests, beaches, lakes, bogs, and cliffs. With all this variety of different viewpoints, no wonder driving on this road is such a pleasure. 

 One of the most historical routes in Canada, the Klondike Highway, connects British Columbia with the Yukon ending at the Alaska Highway. Along this route you’ll pass the Carcross Desert, Emerald Lake which is known for its emerald like color, and the Tutshi River. On top of all this, at the beginning of the highway out of Skagway, you have the luxury of enjoying the views of the Esk Glaciers, The White Pass, and The Yukon Route Railway.

 The two lane section of Highway 99 or to many the “Sea-to-Sky Highway” begins to the north of Horseshoe Bay. The bulk of this mountain highway is built into a cliff that overlooks the beautiful Howe Sound Gulf. With absolutely no barrier between you and the edge of the cliff, Highway 99 has been also called the “Drive-to-Die Highway.” The highway crosses both the Pemberton Trail and the Gold Rush Heritage Trail. This Highway travels through 5 different climatic zones including rain forest and the beautiful mountains of Whistler.

                      Terrain seen on the Badlands Trail

  Unlike many of the roads throughout Canada which consist of forests, lakes, and mountains, The Badlands Trail takes you though scenes of sparse and moon-like terrain which in part due was from glacial persistence and water erosion thousands of years ago. The Badlands Trail takes you through Calgary, Medicine Hate, Lethbridge, and Drumheller which is home to some of the most historic dinosaur fossils in the world.