Kwisitis Visitor Centre, Tofino

Condé Nast TravelerSep 4

The Most Beautiful National Parks in Canada, From the Tourist Favorites to the Hidden Gems

Whether you want to paddle across a glacier lake, hike a mountain trail, or spot moose and bison, Canada’s national parks offer stunning settings for numerous outdoor experiences.

Learn about nine First Nations communities in the region.

24 things in this story

West Coast TrailTrailBackpackers navigate over 100 ladders in rainforest.
Long Beach Lodge ResortHotelBest for stylish beach lodgings.
Wickaninnish InnHotelBest for oceanfront luxury.
Pacific Rim National Park ReserveSightNine-mile sand dune is longest on Vancouver Island.
Kwisitis Visitor CentreSightLearn about nine First Nations communities in the region.
Broken Group IslandsSightBest explored by kayak in Barkley Sound.
Black Rock Oceanfront ResortHotelBest for contemporary suites in the rainforest.
Elsewhere
Fairmont Chateau Lake LouiseHotelBanff, CanadaBest for exceptional views of the park's famous lake.
Banff National ParkSightBanff, CanadaMost visited park with aquamarine glacier lakes.
Lake LouiseSightBanff, CanadaHike above shoreline to leave selfie-taking tourists behind.
Fairmont Banff SpringsHotelBanff, CanadaBest for classic opulence.
Mingan Archipelago National Park ReserveSightLongue-Pointe-de-Mingan, CanadaLargest collection of stone monoliths in Canada.
Auyuittuq National ParkSightPangnirtung, CanadaArctic wilderness park, harder to reach, less trodden.
Icefields ParkwaySightBanff, CanadaRoad trip between mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers.
Rimrock Banff, Emblems CollectionHotelBanff, CanadaBest for a wellness getaway.
Yoho National ParkSightField, CanadaMountain park with waterfalls, hoodoos, and emerald lakes.
Wapta FallsSightField, CanadaLargest cascade on the Kicking Horse River.
Takakkaw FallsSightField, CanadaOne of Canada's highest waterfalls.
Burgess ShaleSightField, CanadaUNESCO World Heritage Site with world's oldest fossils.
Emerald Lake LodgeHotelField, CanadaBest for lakeside ambiance.
Cathedral Mountain LodgeHotelField, CanadaBest for a log cabin stay.
Edelweiss VillageHotelGolden, CanadaBest for historic Swiss chalets in nearby Golden.
Gros Morne National ParkSightRocky Harbour, CanadaPark with cliffs, red rocks, boreal forest, wetlands.
Seven Corners projectPlaceRocky Harbour, CanadaHighlights life in communities surrounding the park.

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Kwisitis Visitor Centre

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The Most Beautiful National Parks in Canada, From the Tourist Favorites to the Hidden Gems