Readers’ choice awards: National parks
A roundup of your favourite Canadian national parks
In our 2010 Readers’ Choice Survey, we asked you to pick your favourite national park overall. It’s obvious that you love your parks from coast to coast to coast. You voted for 31 different ones-everything from Gwaii Haanas in the west to Gros Morne in the east, and from Point Pelee in the south to Quttinirpaaq in the north. But in the end, Banff—our very first national park—was the clear winner. Here’s how the voting broke down for the top 10 parks.
Banff, AB 25%
Jasper, AB 14%
Pacific Rim, BC 9%
Gros Morne, NL 4%
Gwaii Haanas, BC 3.5%
Nahanni, NT 3.5%
Yoho, BC 3%
Bruce Peninsula, ON 2.5%
Waterton Lakes, AB 2.5%
Cape Breton Highlands, NS 2%
“I love Gros Morne National Park. It has breathtaking mountainous beauty, serenity, undisturbed nature, wildlife and the finest hospitality. It has something for everyone. It’s a little piece of heaven.”
-Alice Et
Best eastern
We asked you to pick your three favourite national parks in Eastern Canada. This was one of the closest races in the survey. But in the end, Cape Breton Highlands-home to part of the world-famous Cabot Trail-won by a nose.
Cape Breton Highlands, NS 32%
Gros Morne, NL 31%
Fundy, NB 28%
Prince Edward Island, PE 20%
Kejimkujik, NS 11%
Torngat Mountains, NL 9%
Terra Nova, NL 6%
Kouchibouguac, NB 5%
“Banff not only has the spectacular scenery but it offers year-round adventure. From hiking, boat tours and horseback riding during the spring and summer months to skiing, snowboarding and dog- sledding in the winter months, it truly offers adventure for everyone.”
-Kim Mathison
Best central
We asked you to pick your three favourite national parks in Central Canada. Ontario parks topped the list here, and the Bruce Peninsula-with its combination of the Niagara Escarpment and clear Georgian Bay waters-was voted number one.
Bruce Peninsula, ON 31%
Georgian Bay Islands, ON 27%
Point Pelee, ON 9%
St. Lawrence Islands, ON 11%
Pukaskwa, ON 10%
Riding Mountain, MB 9%
Forillon, QC 8%
La Mauricie, QC 6%
Wapusk, MB 4%
Mingan Archipelago, QC 3%
“To me, Jasper just seems to have all of these stunning backpacking trails. Whenever I start dreaming up a trip, Jasper is the place I look to first. Take out the glitziness of Banff, and you have a winner. “
-Steen Bray
Best northern
We asked you to pick your three favourite national parks in Northern Canada. It was another close race between two awesome parks, with the Northwest Territories’ Nahanni just edging out the Yukon’s Kluane.
Nahanni, NT 20%
Kluane, YT 19%
Wood Buffalo, NT 10%
Auyuittuq, NU 5%
Ivvavik, YT 3%
Quttinirpaaq, NU 3%
Sirmilik, NU 3%
Aulavik, NT 2%
Tuktut Nogait, NT 2%
Vuntut, YT 2%
Ukkusiksalik, NU 1%
Wildlife
We asked you to pick the best national park for wildlife. Jasper finally beat out its better-known neighbour-the only time that Banff did not top the poll.
Jasper, AB 31%
Banff, AB 28%
Point Pelee, ON 10%
Gros Morne, NL 7%
Wood Buffalo, NT 7%
Wapusk, MB 3%
Waterton Lakes, AB 1.5%
Quttinirpaaq, NU 1%
Aulavik, NT 1%
Pacific Rim, BC 1%
Adventure
We asked you to pick the best national park for adventure. This was a tight competition, but eventually Banff took it. Interestingly, Pacific Rim-home of the West Coast Trail-came in second.
Banff, AB 22%
Pacific Rim, BC 19%
Jasper, AB 18%
Nahanni, NT 14%
Gros Morne, NL 8%
Kluane, YT 6%
Gwaii Haanas, BC 5%
Ivvavik, YT 2%
Pukaskwa, ON 2%
