From icy glaciers to sun-soaked beaches to lush rainforests, the 44 national parks of Canada provide a protective umbrella for the country’s natural wonders. Canada’s National Parks Service was the first to be created in the world, and now, their national park system is the best on the planet. Since it would take a lifetime to fully explore all that Canada‘s national parks have to offer, OROGOLD is sharing with you our favorite Canadian national parks.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia
Established in 1970, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is backed by the mountains of the Vancouver Island Range, and faces out onto the open Pacific Ocean. The park is split into three parts, the first being Long Beach, a 10 mile strip of undeveloped coastline with a backdrop of lush rainforests and one of the best surf spots in Canada. The second part of the park is the Broken Group Islands, consisting of an archipelago of over 100 small islets, and is accessible only by water. The third of the park’s regions is the West Coast Trail, a 75km hiking trail that winds its way through a rainforest. The trail is also known as the Shipwreck Path, as it was established in 1907 as an emergency rescue path for a ship that ran aground.
Banff National Park, Alberta
The story of Canada’s first national park begins in 1883, when three railway workers discovered natural hot springs on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, leading to Banff National Park being founded in 1885. Located in the heart of the Rockies, the park boasts ancient jagged snow-capped mountains surrounding jewel-like turquoise lakes, and is one of the most unspoiled ecosystems in the world. The park is home to several historic sites, such as the Castleguard Caves, the largest cave system in Canada, as well as plenty of glacier lakes that are fed by the thousands of glaciers around the park. Banff National Park now welcomes millions of visitors each year, who camp in the majestic grounds or stay at one of the six world-class ski resorts.
Auyuittuq National Park, Nunavut
Auyuittuq National Park is the only national park in Canada that lies north of the Arctic Circle, and is certainly off the beaten path when compared to many of Canada’s other national parks. It is a frozen area of land packed with deep valleys and jagged mountain peaks, where the sun either shines throughout the night or the whole region is cast into darkness for days. Established in 1976, the park covers over 19,000 sq km of vastly untouched land, and is home to an abundant array of wildflowers and wildlife, including polar bears, seals, beluga whales and arctic hares. Before entering the park, which is said to be one of the greatest journeys one can complete on earth, visitors must undergo a safety orientation with Parks Canada, after which they are taken over to the park either by boat or snowmobile.
With so much unspoiled natural beauty, Canada is a nature lover’s dream. Whether you brave the region north of the Arctic Circle, or simply relax on the most pristine beach in Canada, OROGOLD highly recommends a visit to Canada’s national parks, as these are some of the best that you will find in the world.
Leave A Comment