10 National Parks Every Canadian Needs to Visit

 

10 National Parks Every Canadian Needs to Visit (msn.com)

10 National Parks Every Canadian Needs to Visit

10 National Parks Every Canadian Needs to Visit

Daniel Reid, readersdigest.ca  10 hrs ago

 

1/11 SLIDES © Photo: Brian A Jackson / Shutterstock.com

The Most Iconic National Parks Across Canada

What’s your idea of “the great outdoors”? Whether it’s a dense forest, a snow-capped mountain peak, or an endless stretch of sandy beach, you’ll find that ideal escape in at least one of Canada’s national parks.

Here are 10 national parks that offer outstanding examples of our country’s spectacularly diverse natural landscapes and pristine wildlife habitats, preserved for generations to come.

2/11 SLIDES © Photo: ​​© Parks Canada / Scott Munn

 

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia

Situated on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has a way of making you realize just how small you really are in this vast, wonderful world. Whether you’re witnessing the spectacular waves at South Beach, marvelling at massive old growth forests along a coastal trail, or spotting humpbacks during their seasonal migration, the beauty and might of our natural environment is on full display at this gem of Canada’s national parks.

You don’t need to be a seasoned hiker to enjoy the sights either: the park is ripe for exploration for visitors of all activity levels, featuring hikes through lush temperate rainforests, over soft sand beaches, past stunning coastal cliffs and around tidal pools teaming with sea life. If you’re feeling brave (and well-rested) you could also strap some camping gear to your back and try the daunting West Coast Trail. This 75-kilometre, multi-day trek winds through paths first established by Indigenous peoples and later followed by survivors of the estimated 80 ships that floundered on these shores over the past 200 years.

Explore 25 essential attractions on Vancouver Island.

 

3/11 SLIDES © Photo: © Parks Canada / Zoya Lynch

Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff National Park isn’t just Canada’s most popular national park. To many, Banff is Canada; the picture-perfect wilderness of blue, glacier-fed waters and soaring Rocky Mountain peaks.

More than three million visitors come to Banff each year to admire those beautiful lakes and mountains on scenic drives, horseback tours, and over 1,600 kilometres of breathtaking hiking trails, many of which are accessible from the Town of Banff and the village of Lake Louise. While you’re quietly watching the sunrise during a riverside walk or stopping to feel the chill of the glaciers in the alpine, you might even be lucky enough to spot bears, elk, wolves and foxes.

The park also offers a variety of other activities, including seasonal skiing and skating, as well as soothing soaks in the geothermally-heated, mineral-rich waters of the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

Explore more of Canada's awe-inspiring natural wonders.

 

4/11 SLIDES © Photo: © Parks Canada

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

Planning a visit to Grasslands National Park? Be sure to pack your camping gear: This is the type of place that offers attractions around the clock, and you won't want to miss a minute of the action. During the day, you can admire wild plains bison on a hike through the wide open prairie or drive along the Badlands Parkway in the East Block to look for evidence of our prehistoric past. You never know what you might find in one of Canada’s most dino-rich regions: this is where Saskatchewan paleontologists recently uncovered the fossil of a large, snake-like marine reptile called a prognathodon, also known as the "T-Rex of the sea."

Grasslands is also one of the country's largest (and darkest) Dark Sky Preserves, which means, at night, under a canopy of dazzling stars, you can marvel at faraway galaxies and enjoy the beauty of the night sky like you’ve never seen it before.

Discover the best stargazing spots across Canada.

LikeComments|6

 

---

Kitchener, Ont., man pleads guilty to threatening prime minister at 2021 campaign…

Afghan man charged in killing of 2 Muslims in Albuquerque