Canada's National Parks: What to explore on your Canadian Working Holiday

Canada is turning 150 years old this year!

Canada; from coast to coast it’s your natural beauty that keeps us coming back for more. Your mountains, lakes, prairies, forest and world class metropolitan cities inspire adventure and exploration. To celebrate Canada’s upcoming 150^th Birthday Parks Canada is offering FREE admission to all Parks Canada locations. With 46 National Parks and National Park Reserves in Canada, there is more to discover than you can squeeze into your 24 month Canadian working holiday, so we have selected one National Park to visit in every Province and Territory.

Newfoundland and Labrador : Gros Morne National Park

Shaped by colliding continents and grinding glaciers it has a diverse eco system of beaches & bogs, forests and barren cliffs. It has been classed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of this ancient landscape. Explore by hiking, biking, camping, kayaking and more!

Prince Edward Island : Prince Edward Island National Park

Love the beach? Then this is the park for you! Located on the beautiful north shore of the province it features white and red sand beaches that make it a very popular summer destination. Whether you chill on the beach or explore the park on its many hiking or cycling trails.

Novia Scotia : Cape Breton Highlands National Park

Canyons, endless forests, cliffs, lakes, rivers are all your to discover at this National Park. This park stretches across Cape Breton Island and is where the mountains meet the sea. Keep your eyes peeled for moose, bald eagles or watch the sea for pilot wales breaking the waves in the Atlantic.

New Brunswick: Fundy National Park

Experience the world’s highest tides, as waters rise up to 12 metres or more. Walk the seafloor at low tide and paddle the coastline at high tide. It’s not just about the water as it boasts over 75 miles of hiking trails that take your through the mountains, into the valleys and past numerous waterfalls.

Ontario : Bruce Peninsula National Park

Sitting on the blue waters of Georgian Bay, this National Park offers amazing bouldering for the rock climbing enthusiasts and also sports great camping and hiking. The National Park is a Dark Sky Preserve making it one of the best spots to enjoy a starry sky.

Quebec : La Mauricie National Park

Found half way between Montreal and Quebec City this park sits in the rolling hills of Laurentian Mountains. Popular for its mountain biking, canoeing, hiking and camping as 93% of the park is covered by forest and the rest taken up by lakes…this park has it all.

Manitoba : Wapusk National Park

If you are hoping to see a polar bear while in Canada this might just be the spot for you. This National Park is one of the largest polar bear denning areas in the world! Don’t forget about the artic foxes, artic heares, caribou, wolves and even wolverines that call this park home.

Nunavut : Auquittuq National Park

Filled with glaciers, rugged mountains with granite peaks, and rivers this rugged National Park offers challenging terrain for hikers and skiers. It also has the world’s highest vertical drop, at 4,101 feet that can be found on Mount Thor.

Saskatchewan : Grasslands National Park

Experience the wide open grassy plains under clear blue skies that prairies are known for at this amazing National Park. Bison herds roam freely making it the ideal place to do a prairie safari. Do some camping an enjoy the stars, as it is a Dark Sky Preserve.

Northwest Territories – Wood Buffalo National Park

Bigger than the country of Switzerland, this is Canada’s largest National Park at over 17,300 square miles. Home to the world’s largest beaver dam, roaming bison as well as the endangered whooping crane there is loads to explore.

Alberta – Banff National Park

This is the first designated National Park and is one of the most-visited in all of Canada. In the park you will find glaciers, forest, rivers, valley and some of the most beautiful mountains in all of Canada. Home to famed Lake Louise and its stunning turquoise blue waters, this place is on everyone’s bucket list.

Yukon – Vuntut National Park

Located in Canadas Far North, near the Article Circle this National Park only receives 25 visitors annually. Accessible only by plane, this National Park is for those who want to get off the beaten track for adventure. You can paddle under the midnight sun and marvel at the Northern Lights, not to mention see some of the 150,000 Caribou that migrate through the park.

British Columbia – Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Boosting 197 square miles of beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, cliffs and rocky islands this National Park captures the quintessential Pacific Northwest. Explore the old growth forests and learn of the mythology of the First Nations people. Whether you hit the beach or the hiking trail this park is a Canadian gem.

Explore Canada on your working holiday

If you are inspired to explore Canada’s National Parks on a working holiday IEP can help! We have a variety of supported gap year programs to make your move easy, eh!