Discovery collection

Best National Parks for Wildlife

From plains bison and polar bears to humpback whales and woodland caribou — Canada's headline wildlife encounters.

RockiesUNESCO

Alberta

Banff National Park

Canada's first national park — and still the one against which the rest are measured.

Fam 9/10Gem 2/10Photo 10/10

RockiesUNESCO

Alberta

Jasper National Park

The wilder, quieter, darker-skied sibling of Banff.

Fam 9/10Gem 4/10Photo 10/10

Pacific

British Columbia

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Surf-pounded sand, rainforest cathedrals, and the West Coast Trail.

Fam 9/10Gem 4/10Photo 10/10

BorealUNESCO

Alberta / Northwest Territories

Wood Buffalo National Park

Canada's largest national park — and the world's largest dark-sky preserve.

Fam 6/10Gem 10/10Photo 9/10

Arctic

Newfoundland and Labrador (Labrador)

Torngat Mountains National Park

Inuit homeland of jagged peaks, fjords and polar bears.

Fam 4/10Gem 10/10Photo 10/10

NorthernUNESCO

Northwest Territories

Nahanni National Park Reserve

Virginia Falls — twice as tall as Niagara — and the legendary South Nahanni River.

Fam 4/10Gem 10/10Photo 10/10

Arctic

Nunavut

Sirmilik National Park

Floe-edge narwhal and the cliffs of Bylot Island.

Fam 3/10Gem 10/10Photo 10/10

RockiesUNESCO

British Columbia

Yoho National Park

'Yoho' is a Cree expression of awe — and the park earns it.

Fam 7/10Gem 7/10Photo 10/10

RockiesUNESCO

Alberta

Waterton Lakes National Park

Where the prairie meets the peaks — abruptly and beautifully.

Fam 9/10Gem 6/10Photo 9/10

Rockies

British Columbia

Glacier National Park

131 glaciers, the wettest mountain weather in Canada, and the storied Rogers Pass.

Fam 6/10Gem 8/10Photo 9/10

PacificUNESCO

British Columbia

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

A co-managed Haida homeland of moss, sea otters and ancient totems.

Fam 5/10Gem 10/10Photo 10/10

Prairies

Alberta

Elk Island National Park

Free-roaming plains and wood bison on Edmonton's doorstep.

Fam 10/10Gem 6/10Photo 9/10

Other collections

Best National Parks for Camping Best National Parks for Families Best National Parks for RV Travel Best National Parks for Photography Best Hidden Gem National Parks Best National Parks for Hiking National Parks by Province