Often nicknamed ‘America’s best idea’, the National Parks preserve some of the continent’s wildest and most spectacular landscapes. From the rugged Atlantic seaboard of Acadia in Maine to Hawaii’s volcanic tropics, the 63 National Parks showcase soaring mountains, sculpted canyons, windswept shores, expansive grasslands, and towering forests. Spanning shore to shore, their 85 million acres encompass 150,000 miles of rivers and streams, as well as more than 21,000 miles of trails.
The success of the national park movement inspired countries around the world to protect their own natural treasures. Canada was amongst the earliest adopters, establishing Banff National Park just over a decade after Yellowstone National Park was created. Today, Canada’s 37 National Parks protect approximately 132,580 square miles of landscapes ranging from mountains and prairies to boreal forests, tundra, lakes, and glaciers.
Captivating and awe-inspiring, each park boasts a variety of unique landmarks, scenic viewpoints, and incredible wildlife. Visitors are drawn year after year to explore these extraordinary settings, whether by scenic drive, guided excursion, or hiking trail. Cascading waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and ancient forest will cause you to stop in your tracks simply to admire the naturally occurring wonder, where their beauty is a credit to the efforts to preserve the spaces for generations. Often considered North America’s best-kept secret, the National Parks offer an unparalleled escape into nature’s grandeur and tranquillity. Read on to discover our top picks and the extraordinary landscapes which define them.
“No temple made with human hands can compete with Yosemite”, wrote John Muir, whose crusading led to the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890. Home to North America’s highest waterfall and iconic rock formations including the spectacular Half Dome and the sheer face of El Capitan, the park’s crowning jewel is the magnificent Yosemite Valley. Stretching nearly eight miles long and one mile wide, this glacier-carved valley is one of the wonders of the natural world, frame by granite walls more than twice the height of the Empire State Building. During mid to late February, hundreds gather in Yosemite Valley to witness the natural ‘firefall’ at Horsetail Fall, where the setting sunlight streams through the thin sliver turning it molten orange. With over 750 miles of trains to explore, one of the best ways to experience Yosemite is by taking a hike. Its majestic scenery freely lends itself to both outdoor adventure and sightseeing, providing the perfect setting for cycling, stargazing, and taking in breathtaking views across one of America’s most celebrated landscapes.
Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park, spans 2.2 million acres across Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Its craggy peaks, alpine lakes, deep forests, and vast grasslands are home to a wealth of wildlife including bison, bears, moose, and wolves. Renowned for its geothermal activity, follow boardwalks and trails to witness nearly 60% of the world’s geysers, including the legendary Old Faithful, erupting approximately every 90 minutes, shooting water 100–180 feet into the air. For over 10,000 years before its national park status, Yellowstone was a place of profound significance for Native American communities, who lived, hunted, quarried obsidian, and used its thermal waters for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Today, at least 27 tribes maintain historic and modern ties to these lands, unfolding a rich cultural dimension to one of North America’s most iconic wilderness destinations.
Set on the rugged shores of Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park captures the essence of Canada’s wild west coast. A place of wandering beaches, emerald rainforests, and mist-draped mountains, the park is a natural sanctuary and an ideal complement to a stay in Tofino. Encompassing nearly 200 square miles across three distinct regions, Pacific Rim protects temperate rainforest, rugged shoreline, and unspoilt west coast beauty. Renowned for its raw beauty, the park draws surfers, hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, and beachcombers alike. Among its most memorable sights is Long Beach, where few people forget the first time they walk onto the seemingly infinite sands of this 10-mile stretch of golden coastline. The Wild Pacific Trail showcases the dramatic, windswept shoreline on a series of hikes, with the chance to spot the abundant sea life that lives along the shoreline, where quite often a lazy group of sea lions lie atop the rugged rocks soaking up the sun as eagles soar above on the lookout for their next catch. From February to October, migrating grey whales gather in the nutrient-rich waters of Clayoquot Sound, creating a spectacular sight for those watching from the shoreline.