Canada: National Parks, History and Nature

EdgeWalk at the CN Tower is an outdoor walk that Guinness World Records certified on November 8, 2011, as the world’s highest on a building. At 356 metres (1,168 feet), EdgeWalk is higher than SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge.

Canada’s national parks also showcase the country’s diversity: Canada has 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves. Its landscapes range from mountains and plains to boreal forests, tundra, lakes and glaciers. This variety gives an idea of just how different nature experiences in the country can be.

History and experiences at special places

The Rideau Canal is the best-preserved slackwater canal in North America. Recreational boaters and paddlers use its locks. Scenic roads, cycling routes and hiking trails along the canal provide land access to the lock stations. This offers different ways to experience the locks and canal, both on the water and on land.

At Cave and Basin, the hot springs set in motion a development in 1883 that led to the creation of Canada’s first national park. Visitor offerings include interactive exhibits, short films and seasonal activities. The Cave and Basin National Historic Site’s Xplorers Club activity booklet contains a dozen fun activities for children.

Journey Behind the Falls also has a long history: the first staircase into the Niagara Gorge at the attraction was built in 1832.

National Parks, Routes and Hikes

The Rocky Mountain peaks and glacial lakes come together in Banff National Park. The park is home to 53 mammal species, including grizzly bears, wolves, cougars and wolverines. Its landscape and wildlife shape the park in equal measure.

The 232-kilometre Icefields Parkway passes through some of the most dramatic landscapes in the Canadian Rockies. It connects Lake Louise in Banff National Park with the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park.

Gros Morne National Park protects some of eastern Canada’s most spectacular landscapes and wildlife. More than 100 kilometres of hiking trails range from half-hour strolls to challenging day hikes. The network therefore caters to a wide range of time commitments and ability levels.

One particularly challenging option is the hike up Gros Morne Mountain: it is a 17-kilometre day-long loop. The flat summit, the highest point in Gros Morne National Park, lies in a rugged yet beautiful arctic-alpine environment. Snowshoe hares, rock ptarmigans and arctic-alpine plants can be found there.

At Lobster Cove Head, visitors can enjoy coastal adventures and seaside walks. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse.

Discover more destinations: Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Cleveland, Sheenboro, Montreal, Yukon, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Nunavut.

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