As the second-largest country in the world, Canada boasts vast territories and countless scenic landscapes. When it comes to parks, almost everyone living in Canada can name many, from the small neighborhood parks to the national parks in the Rocky Mountains; Canada is truly a "land of parks."
Taking the highest-level national parks as an example, Canada has a total of 47 national parks. Their geographical locations include inland areas, mountain ranges, plains, and lakes, bordering three oceans and even extending into the Arctic Circle, offering distinct scenery throughout the four seasons.
Must-Visit Attraction: Banff National Park
Banff National Park is Canada's first national park and the most classic travel route starting from Vancouver.
Traveling to Banff, you can enjoy the cinematic beauty of the Rocky Mountains along the way, the holy and clear Lake Louise, and stay in a castle hotel to watch the perfect harmony of mountains and water. You might become a philosopher or a poet; in any case, you will find yourself transcending the mundane world.
Worshiping Nature: Nahanni National Park
Nahanni National Park—both its name and its content are magnificent!
With its rushing rivers, deep canyons, naturally formed stone pillars, and tundra-covered mountain peaks, Nahanni National Park makes one feel as if this is the original landscape created by the gods in ancient times.
The most spectacular Nahanni River in North America and the Virginia Falls, which are twice as high as Niagara Falls, will truly give you an "out-of-body" experience when you stand before them. Such beauty is located in high-latitude regions north of 60 degrees latitude, where it is sparsely populated and inaccessible by road, adding to its aloof and exclusive status—you must take a helicopter or seaplane to enter!
Tracking Bears: Wapusk National Park
Canada is a country with excellent ecological protection, where wildlife can be seen everywhere; even in the Greater Vancouver area, there are occasional news reports of "bears appearing." If you want to take your "little cubs" to see more high-latitude wildlife, Wapusk National Park is the top choice.
Wapusk National Park—"Wapusk" itself means "polar bear" in the indigenous language. In summer, you can visit the hidden polar bear dens, which are the places where mother bears wait for their cubs to be born.
In addition, you may encounter wildlife such as moose, wolves, arctic foxes, lemmings, and caribou in the park, and nearly 200 species of birds breed or migrate here.
Gazing at the Starry Sky: Jasper National Park
As Canada's largest national park, Jasper National Park has many attractions that frequently appear on postcards: snow-capped peaks, dense wild pine forests, vast valleys, and adorable animals.
There are two most unique features: first, the ancient icefield under your feet—the Athabasca Glacier, the only one in North America open to the public; and second, the stunning starry sky above, as it is the world's second-largest dark-sky preserve, where you can see the Milky Way as the ancients did.