Go Here: Adventure in 10 of Canada’s Least-Visited National Parks
Adventuring through Canada’s National Parks doesn’t have to be overwhelming and crowded. Avoid the masses by planning a visit to Canada’s least-visited National Parks.
Maybe you’re a well-travelled explorer in need of a challenge, or maybe you’re due for some quiet R&R in the woods. In these secluded locations, you can have your views and see them, too (because they aren’t being blocked by other humans, cars and massive RVs).
1. Auyuittuq National Park:
Nunavut
Visitors: 709
When you should visit: May to August
Why you should visit: Get the complete Arctic experience in Auyuittuq, Inuktitut for “Land that Never Melts.” Travel through natural corridors created by landscapes of towering rock, across tundra valleys and beside steep-walled shimmering glaciers. Keep an eye out for narwhal, Canada’s unicorn of the sea.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
2. Gwaii Hanaas National Park & Haida Heritage Site:
British Columbia
Visitors: 3,316
When you should visit: Summer
Why you should visit: Who could resist the “Islands of Beauty”? Here, you can splash through isolated, pristine waters and catch humpback whale sightings from the beach. Then, venture on over to Anthony Island to observe the remains of a Haida village with plenty of secrets hidden in its ancient cedar houses.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
3. Torngat Mountains National Park:
Newfoundland & Labrador
Visitors: Unknown
When you should visit: August
Why you should visit: Home to the Inuit and their ancestors, this park is filled with powerful stories, spirits and unique traditions. Located at continental Canada’s northernmost tip, this breathtaking part of Nunatsiavut is free from crowds and full of some of Earth’s oldest rocks.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
4. Nahanni National Park:
Northwest Territories
Visitors: 1,302
When you should visit: Summer
Why you should visit: Explore the park on a leave-no-trace camping or river trip. If you’re not confident in your backcountry skills, you can enjoy the beauty of this isolated park with “flight experiences” that take you to Náįlįcho (Virginia Falls), the Ragged Range and Glacier Lake.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
5. Wapusk National Park:
Manitoba
Visitors: 162
When you should visit: Summer to Fall
Why you should visit: Navigate the permanently frozen ground and see all the wonders this park has to offer. Enjoy river canoeing, aerial helicoptering, and you may even spot polar bear cubs walking on ice for the first time!
Read more: pc.gc.ca
6. Ivvavik National Park:
Yukon Territory
Visitors: 119
When you should visit: Summer
Why you should visit: Who needs crowds of people when you can have the entire gorgeous deep canyon backcountry to yourself? Hike along the park’s open terrain and be ready with your fishing gear—the park is home to Dolly Varden char and arctic grayling.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
7. Quttinirpaaq National Park:
Nunavut
Visitors: 33
When you should visit: May to August
Why you should visit: Only a select few can say they’ve experienced Quttinirpaaq, Inuktitut for “Land at the Top of the World.” The landscapes is dominated by a polar desert, creating massive mountain peaks made of ice and rock. It’s worth the airfare to explore this hidden gem.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
8. Wood Buffalo National Park:
Northwest Territories
Visitors: 4,162
When to visit: Spring to early Fall
Why you should visit: Canada’s largest national park and the second largest protected area in the world, Wood Buffalo National Park was established in 1922 to protect the last remaining herds of bison in northern Canada. Wander through salt plains formed by ancient seas, swim in a natural sinkhole and spot the largest beaver damn in the world (it’s even visible from space!).
Read more: pc.gc.ca
9. Pukaskwa National Park:
Ontario
Visitors: 14,114
When to visit: Summer to early Fall
Why you should visit: Overshadowed by its provincial cousins, you’d never think to take in the views of Lake Superior like this. Hike along rocky shores, walk across the suspension bridge that sways 23 metres above Chigamiwinigum Falls and join a geocaching treasure hunt.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
10. Sirmilik National Park:
Nunavut
Visitors: 494
When to visit: Mid-October
Why you should visit: From the mountain peaks to the endless winter nights and 24-hour summer days, everything about visiting this park is intense. With both cultural and natural sites, you can listen to the stories of the Inuit and Thule or to the exhales of narwhal and beluga whales.
Read more: pc.gc.ca
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Related content on explore-mag.com:
6 Awesome Quebec Parks Worth Planning your Vacation Around
Why Nahanni National Park Reserve Should Be Your Next Bucket-List Adventure
These Are Canada’s Loneliest National Parks
