Wondering where the best national parks for hikers are in Canada? Canada’s national parks are a gift to anyone who loves to walk where wild beauty rules the landscape. From the jagged peaks of the Rockies to the windswept Arctic tundra and the crashing surf of the Pacific coast, these national parks hikes are an open invitation to lace up your boots and set off into nature’s playground. They’re not just places on a map - they’re experiences, each trail leading to discoveries that stir your sense of wonder and your connection to the land.
What makes hiking in Canada’s national parks unforgettable is the sheer variety. One week you could be wandering through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers, and the next you might find yourself following a trail along wave-battered cliffs or stepping onto a glacier’s edge. In the east, trails lead you into lush forests and dramatic fjords; in the west, into towering mountains and rainforest. Farther north, the Arctic national parks offer vast, untamed wilderness where the silence itself feels like a rare treasure.
These national parks for hikers have something here for everyone. Families will love gentle boardwalks through wetlands or short loops to waterfalls where kids can splash and play. Casual hikers can choose day trails to scenic lookouts, alpine lakes, or quiet beaches. And for seasoned trekkers, Canada delivers some of the most iconic backpacking routes in the world: multi-day journeys like the Skyline in Jasper, the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, or the remote Akshayuk Pass in Nunavut. These epic trails demand endurance but reward with the kind of wild, soul-shaking beauty you’ll never forget.
But beyond the scenery, hiking in these parks is about connection. It’s about the laughter shared with strangers at a mountaintop, the quiet reflection by a forest stream, or the rush of awe when the landscape suddenly reveals its grandeur in one of the best national parks for hikers in Canada. It’s about slowing down, breathing deeply, and letting the natural world remind you what it means to feel alive.
With over forty national parks across the country, every trail offers its own story. In this guide, we’ll dive into some of the very best national parks for hikers - places where landscapes inspire, trails challenge, and every step brings you closer to Canada’s wild heart on your hiking vacation in Canada.
Gros Morne National Park
Newfoundland & Labrador
Perched on Newfoundland’s rugged west coast, Gros Morne National Park feels like a world carved by giants. Its landscapes tell a story more ancient than almost anywhere else on Earth — towering cliffs, sweeping fjords, and a slice of Earth’s mantle thrust up from deep beneath the crust. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place where geology and beauty walk hand in hand, making every hike not just scenic but awe-inspiring.
Hikers come here to experience trails that reveal both drama and intimacy. One moment you’re standing on the edge of Western Brook Pond, a glacier-carved fjord with cliffs soaring 600 meters straight up from the water; the next, you’re wandering through coastal meadows where wildflowers dance in the Atlantic wind. Gros Morne Mountain is the crown jewel for trekkers — a steep climb to the summit rewards with panoramic views that seem to stretch forever, over fjords, forests, and mountains that tumble into the sea. For those looking for shorter adventures, the Green Gardens Trail leads through boreal forest to basalt cliffs where the waves crash below, while the Tablelands Trail lets you step onto otherworldly rust-colored rock from Earth’s mantle itself.
The magic of Gros Morne is how it blends raw wilderness with a sense of discovery. Each trail feels like a journey through deep time, where ancient geology, vibrant wildlife, and maritime culture all collide in one unforgettable landscape.
Quick Details
Location: Western Newfoundland, near the town of Rocky Harbour
Highlight Trails: Gros Morne Mountain, Green Gardens, Tablelands, Western Brook Pond
Best Time to Visit: June–September for hiking (fewer bugs by late summer)
Good For: Moderate to advanced hikers, geology buffs, coastal scenery lovers
Auyuittuq National Park
Nunavut
In the language of the Inuit, Auyuittuq means “the land that never melts” - a fitting name for this Arctic wilderness dominated by glaciers, fjords, and sharp granite peaks. Located on Baffin Island, this park for serious hikers feels like stepping into another planet, where vertical walls like Mount Thor (the world’s tallest sheer rock face) rise dramatically above sweeping valleys of ice and stone.
Hiking here isn’t a casual stroll; it’s an expedition. The legendary Akshayuk Pass, a 97-kilometre route through the heart of the park, is the adventure of a lifetime. Over 7 to 10 days, trekkers pass glaciers spilling into valleys, rivers braided with ice melt, and cliffs so dramatic they defy description. Even for day hikers, the landscapes leave an impression - every view feels like an epic painting of raw wilderness.
The remoteness of this national park for hikers means solitude is almost guaranteed. This is a place for self-sufficient adventurers seeking to test themselves against both terrain and climate. But it’s also a place of profound beauty, where the silence of the Arctic is broken only by the wind and the crunch of boots on stone. Few places on Earth can make you feel so small - and so alive.
Quick Details
Location: Eastern Baffin Island, Nunavut (access via Pangnirtung or Qikiqtarjuaq)
Highlight Trails: Akshayuk Pass trek (multi-day), shorter glacier valley hikes near Pangnirtung Fiord
Best Time to Visit: July–August (brief Arctic summer)
Good For: Experienced trekkers, wilderness lovers, those seeking solitude and challenge
Sirmilik National Park
Nunavut
Farther north, on the northern tip of Baffin Island, lies Sirmilik — a name that means “the place of glaciers.” It’s a park of striking contrasts: sheer cliffs buzzing with seabirds, valleys carved by ice, shimmering glaciers, and the stark openness of Arctic tundra. With 24-hour daylight in summer, hikes here feel surreal — endless horizons bathed in golden Arctic sun, where every step brings new discoveries.
This is prime hiking country for those seeking remote beauty. Trails are not always marked, so routes are more like guided journeys through valleys and ridgelines where you set your own pace. The Bylot Island area offers rolling tundra hikes with stunning views of ice-capped peaks, while Oliver Sound delivers classic fjord landscapes where mountains plunge directly into icy waters. Wildlife is part of the magic: narwhals, seals, and polar bears roam these waters and lands, while millions of seabirds fill the skies above.
Sirmilik National Park is the kind of place that rewires your sense of scale. The landscapes are vast, the skies endless, and the feeling of remoteness complete. It’s hiking stripped to its purest form: you, the land, and the immensity of the Arctic.
Quick Details
Location: Northern Baffin Island, Nunavut (access from Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay)
Highlight Trails: Bylot Island tundra hikes, Oliver Sound fjord routes
Best Time to Visit: July–August (24-hour daylight)
Good For: Adventurous hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, Arctic explorers
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Ontario
Where Georgian Bay meets the rugged limestone cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, Bruce Peninsula National Park feels like a hiker’s playground sculpted by water and stone. This is one of Ontario’s gems, beloved by hikers for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, dramatic cliffs, and lush forests. It’s a place where you can walk from a shaded cedar grove to a cliff-top viewpoint that looks out over waters so bright they could be mistaken for the Caribbean.
The park’s most iconic spot is the Grotto - a cave carved by waves that opens into a pool of blue-green water so vivid it feels almost unreal. But the hiking here extends far beyond that single highlight. The Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, winds through the park, offering cliff-top walks with sweeping views of Georgian Bay. Shorter trails, like Cyprus Lake or Horse Lake, give hikers a taste of the escarpment’s rugged beauty without requiring a full-day trek.
What makes Bruce Peninsula so appealing is its variety. Families can enjoy a relaxed picnic by the lake or an easy loop through the forest, while seasoned hikers can tackle longer sections of the Bruce Trail with its rocky footing and steep climbs. Either way, the reward is always the same: views that take your breath away and the sense of being suspended between sky, forest, and endless water.
Quick Details
Location: Northern Bruce Peninsula, Ontario (near Tobermory)
Highlight Trails: Bruce Trail (sections), Cyprus Lake, Halfway Log Dump, the Grotto
Best Time to Visit: May–October (fall colors are spectacular)
Good For: Families, day hikers, Bruce Trail thru-hikers
Banff National Park
Alberta
Banff is where Canada’s mountain dream begins. Established in 1885, it’s not only Canada’s first national park but also its most famous, and for good reason. The combination of jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, sprawling glaciers, and abundant wildlife makes Banff a hiker’s paradise. It’s a place where every trail seems to lead to a postcard view on your Canadian Rockies hiking vacation.
The iconic hikes here are as legendary as the park itself. The Plain of Six Glaciers and Lake Agnes trails both start from the shores of Lake Louise and deliver some of the most rewarding alpine scenery in the Rockies. The Johnston Canyon trail winds past waterfalls through a narrow limestone gorge, while Sunshine Meadows offers a burst of wildflowers in summer that looks like something out of a fairytale. For those craving challenge, summiting Cascade Mountain or trekking into the backcountry around Skoki Lodge brings solitude and grandeur in equal measure.
Banff is wildly popular, and it’s easy to see why. Yet even with its popularity, you can find quiet moments: an early morning walk along Moraine Lake’s shoreline, or a sunset hike above Tunnel Mountain. Whether you’re here for a gentle wander or an all-day climb, Banff delivers unforgettable hiking experiences in spades.
Quick Details
Location: Canadian Rockies, Alberta (access via Banff and Lake Louise)
Highlight Trails: Plain of Six Glaciers, Lake Agnes, Johnston Canyon, Sunshine Meadows
Best Time to Visit: June–September (snow-free trails)
Good For: All levels — from casual strollers to serious mountaineers
Related Tours:
7 Day Banff Camping Tour
12 Day Rockies Hiking Tour
7 Day Banff Inn Based Hiking Tour
Jasper National Park
Alberta
Jasper feels like Banff’s wilder, quieter sibling - larger in size, but less crowded, with a more rugged and untamed vibe. It’s the biggest national park in the Canadian Rockies, and hiking here brings a sense of space and solitude that’s hard to match. With glaciers, hot springs, deep canyons, and endless peaks, Jasper is an adventurer’s dream and one of the top national parks for hikers in Canada.
The Skyline Trail is the crown jewel of Jasper hiking - a multi-day trek where two-thirds of the route is above the treeline, with sweeping alpine views at nearly every step. For day hikes, Maligne Canyon offers dramatic waterfalls and sheer limestone walls, while the Valley of the Five Lakes enchants with gem-colored waters. Edith Cavell Meadows is another classic, where you’ll stand face-to-face with a hanging glacier and a landscape studded with wildflowers in summer.
What sets Jasper apart is its sense of wildness. Trails feel expansive and remote, wildlife sightings are common (from elk and bears to mountain goats), and the night skies are some of the darkest in the world, perfect for stargazing after a day on the trail. It’s a park that rewards hikers with both challenge and tranquility, often in the same day.
Quick Details
Location: Canadian Rockies, Alberta (access via Jasper townsite or south from Banff)
Highlight Trails: Skyline Trail, Maligne Canyon, Edith Cavell Meadows, Valley of the Five Lakes
Best Time to Visit: July–September for alpine hiking
Good For: Backpackers, alpine hikers, wildlife lovers
Waterton Lakes National Park
Alberta
Tucked against the U.S. border where it meets Montana’s Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes is often described as a hidden gem of the Rockies and one of Canada’s best parks for hiking. It’s smaller than Banff or Jasper national parks, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in diversity and charm. Here, prairie grasslands roll into steep mountains, glacial lakes sparkle in the valleys, and wildlife roams freely across a mosaic of habitats.
The Crypt Lake Trail is the park’s most famous - a full-day adventure that includes waterfalls, a steel ladder, a tunnel through the mountain, and finally, a pristine alpine lake ringed by cliffs. It’s often ranked among the best hikes in the world, and for good reason. Other highlights include Bear’s Hump, a short but steep climb to panoramic views over Upper Waterton Lake, and the Carthew-Alderson Trail, a rewarding ridge walk with sweeping mountain vistas.
Waterton has a charm that feels more intimate than some of its larger cousins. Trails are close to the lakeside village, wildlife is often spotted right from the trailhead, and there’s a sense of warmth and community among hikers. It’s the kind of park where you can spend a few days and feel like you’ve discovered a secret corner of the Rockies.
Quick Details
Location: Southwestern Alberta, bordering Montana’s Glacier National Park. Access from Calgary.
Highlight Trails: Crypt Lake, Bear’s Hump, Carthew-Alderson Trail
Best Time to Visit: June–September (late summer for wildflowers)
Good For: Day hikers, adventurous trekkers, those looking for variety in a compact park
Glacier National Park
British Columbia
Glacier National Park is a place where the mountains feel raw and close, with jagged peaks and endless snowfields dominating the skyline. Located in southeastern BC along the Trans-Canada Highway, this park is the birthplace of mountaineering in North America, and you can feel that adventurous spirit in every valley and ridgeline. It’s less polished than some of its famous neighbors, but that’s part of the charm: this is the Rockies at their most rugged, which is what makes it one of the best destinations for hikers in Canada!
Hiking here takes you into the Selkirk Mountains, where trails climb quickly from valley bottoms into the alpine. The Hermit Trail is short but fierce, shooting straight up to stunning glacier views in just a couple of kilometers. For something longer, the Abbott Ridge Trail rewards with sweeping vistas of the Illecillewaet Glacier and surrounding peaks. Even easier trails, like the Hemlock Grove Boardwalk, let you wander through lush old-growth forest where moss drapes from every branch.
What makes Glacier stand out is how wild it feels despite being right on a major highway. Avalanches roar down its slopes in winter, glaciers still carve the land, and hikers find themselves face-to-face with a landscape that feels alive and untamed. It’s a park for those who like their hikes steep, scenic, and just a little bit wild.
Glacier National Park Details
Location: Columbia Mountains, eastern BC (near Revelstoke)
Highlight Trails: Hermit Trail, Abbott Ridge, Illecillewaet Glacier, Hemlock Grove Boardwalk
Best Time to Visit: July–September (snow lingers late at higher elevations)
Good For: Strong day hikers, alpine enthusiasts, mountaineering history buffs
Kootenay National Park
British Columbia
Kootenay is a park of contrasts, where hot springs and glaciers coexist, and where quiet valleys suddenly explode into dramatic mountain views. Just across the continental divide from Banff, it offers a slightly quieter alternative to its famous neighbor while still delivering world-class hiking.
The Rockwall Trail is Kootenay’s crown jewel — a 55-kilometre multi-day trek that traces the base of massive limestone cliffs with glaciers draped across their flanks. Even if you only hike a section, like Floe Lake, you’ll see why it’s one of the Rockies’ most celebrated routes. Day hikers will love Marble Canyon, where a short trail crosses narrow bridges over a turquoise river slicing through sheer rock walls, or the Paint Pots, where iron-rich springs bubble up in shades of ochre and red.
Kootenay’s hikes are all about diversity. One moment you’re walking through lodgepole pine forests, the next you’re gazing up at towering cliffs or soaking your tired legs in Radium Hot Springs just outside the park. It’s the kind of place that delivers both adventure and relaxation, all in one trip.
Kootenay National Park Details
Location: Southeastern BC, bordering Banff National Park
Highlight Trails: Rockwall Trail (multi-day), Floe Lake, Marble Canyon, Paint Pots
Best Time to Visit: July–September for alpine hikes; year-round for hot springs access
Good For: Backpackers, families, those who like variety in landscapes
Mount Revelstoke National Park
British Columbia
Unlike many mountain parks where you need to hike for hours to reach alpine meadows, Mount Revelstoke spoils you with instant access. A winding parkway road climbs almost to the summit, making it one of the easiest places in Canada to step right into the alpine world of wildflowers, lakes, and big views.
The Meadows in the Sky area is exactly what it sounds like — a high plateau where trails wind through fields of vibrant blooms in mid-summer. It’s like stepping into a living painting, with lupines, paintbrush, and arnica splashing color across the slopes. Short, family-friendly loops like the Eva and Jade Lakes Trails lead to jewel-like mountain tarns, while the longer Mount Revelstoke Summit Trail delivers expansive views of the Columbia River Valley and Selkirk Mountains.
Because the alpine is so accessible, Mount Revelstoke is perfect for hikers of all levels. You can stroll for 20 minutes or trek for a full day, all while soaking up some of the most beautiful wildflower scenery in the Rockies. And if you arrive in late August, you might just catch the annual wildflower festival, celebrating the bloom with guided walks and local festivities.
Mount Revelstoke National Park Details
Location: Near Revelstoke, BC, along the Trans-Canada Highway
Highlight Trails: Meadows in the Sky, Eva Lake, Jade Lake, Summit Trail
Best Time to Visit: July–August for wildflowers; September for fall colors
Good For: Families, casual hikers, alpine flower lovers
Yoho National Park
British Columbia
Yoho might be smaller than its big-name neighbors, but it packs some of the Rockies’ most jaw-dropping scenery into a compact package. Its name comes from a Cree expression of awe and wonder — and once you hike here, you’ll understand why.
Emerald Lake is the park’s most famous landmark, and the easy loop around its shimmering waters is perfect for a gentle hike. But Yoho also has some serious adventures for dedicated hikers. The Iceline Trail is the standout, climbing into a world of glaciers, waterfalls, and alpine ridges with views that seem almost endless. Takakkaw Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada, is another highlight, and nearby trails let you explore the Yoho Valley beneath its towering drop. For those interested in history, the Burgess Shale fossil beds (accessible only by guided hike) offer a fascinating glimpse into life from over 500 million years ago.
Yoho is a place of pure alpine drama — soaring peaks, rushing rivers, turquoise lakes, and thundering falls. Every hike here feels cinematic, as if the Rockies decided to show off their best features all at once.
Yoho National Park Details
Location: Eastern BC, bordering Banff National Park
Highlight Trails: Iceline Trail, Emerald Lake Loop, Takakkaw Falls/Yoho Valley, Burgess Shale hikes
Best Time to Visit: June–September (trails often snow-free later in summer)
Good For: Day hikers, alpine adventurers, waterfall chasers
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
British Columbia
On the west coast of Vancouver Island, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is where rainforest meets roaring ocean in a symphony of waves, moss, and mist. Hiking here is unlike anywhere else in Canada: the trails wind through towering cedar and hemlock forests dripping with ferns, before suddenly spilling onto beaches that stretch for miles beneath pounding surf.
The most legendary hike here is the West Coast Trail — a 75-kilometre backcountry epic that tests both stamina and spirit. It’s a multi-day adventure across ladders, cable cars, tidal shelves, and rainforest boardwalks, often called one of the world’s toughest — and most rewarding — treks. But not all hikes here demand that level of grit. The Rainforest Trails (A and B) offer short, family-friendly loops through old-growth forest so lush it feels primeval. The Schooner Cove Trail delivers you to a quiet beach reached through a cathedral of moss-cloaked trees, while the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail blends cultural history with sweeping coastal views.
Hiking in Pacific Rim is about immersing yourself in elemental forces. The ocean is ever-present, shaping the land and setting the rhythm of life. Whether you’re strolling a boardwalk under giant trees or walking a storm-tossed beach, the experience is wild, humbling, and unforgettable.
Pacific Rim National Park Details
Location: Vancouver Island, near Tofino and Ucluelet
Highlight Trails: West Coast Trail (multi-day), Rainforest Trails, Schooner Cove, Nuu-chah-nulth Trail
Best Time to Visit: May–September (milder weather); storm watching in winter
Good For: Backpackers, coastal hikers, families seeking short rainforest walks
Kluane National Park and Reserve
Yukon
Kluane is where Canada’s wilderness reaches its grandest scale. This Yukon giant is home to the country’s tallest peak, Mount Logan, and the largest non-polar icefield in the world. Vast glaciers sprawl between mountains that seem to touch the sky, while grizzlies and Dall sheep roam the valleys. Hiking here is big, bold, and breathtaking, constantly astounding travelers on our Yukon guided hiking tours.
Day hikers can explore trails like King’s Throne, which climbs steeply up to a natural amphitheater carved by glaciers, with views over shimmering Kathleen Lake. The Slims River West Trail offers a full-day adventure across tundra ridges toward the toe of the massive Kaskawulsh Glacier. Even shorter trails, like the Rock Glacier Trail, provide a taste of Kluane’s dramatic landscapes without requiring an expedition. For those prepared for true wilderness, multi-day treks like the Donjek Route are as wild and remote as hiking gets in Canada.
What sets Kluane apart is its immensity. The sky feels bigger, the valleys stretch farther, and the mountains rise higher than almost anywhere else in the country. Hiking here is humbling in the best way - a reminder of just how small we are, and how exhilarating it is to walk in the shadow of giants.
Kluane National Park Details
Location: Southwest Yukon, near Haines Junction
Highlight Trails: King’s Throne, Slims River West, Rock Glacier, Donjek Route
Best Time to Visit: June–September (short hiking season)
Good For: Experienced hikers, glacier and mountain lovers, those craving true wilderness
Related Tours
Where Will You Hike Next?
With so many Parks to choose from, which of the best national parks for hikers in Canada will you explore next?
Canada’s national parks are more than just beautiful landscapes - they’re experiences that stay with you long after the hike ends. From the fjords of Gros Morne to the glaciers of Kluane, each park tells its own story, shaped by time, geology, and the raw forces of nature. For hikers, this means a lifetime of adventures, each trail leading to new discoveries and unforgettable moments.
What makes hiking in these parks so special isn’t just the scenery - though that alone is enough to inspire awe. It’s the variety. You can wander moss-draped rainforest one day, climb to an alpine pass the next, and trace a windswept Arctic valley the week after. It’s the chance to walk through wildflower meadows, alongside roaring waterfalls, and over rocky headlands where the sea crashes at your feet. Few countries in the world offer this kind of diversity in hiking experiences, all within a single network of protected lands.
These parks are also about connection. You connect with fellow hikers over shared challenges and triumphs. You connect with the land itself, learning its rhythms as you climb ridges or follow rivers. And perhaps most importantly, you connect with yourself - discovering resilience, peace, and wonder along the way.
Whether you’re looking for a gentle family stroll or an expedition into remote wilderness, Canada’s national parks open their doors to everyone. All you need is a pair of boots, a sense of curiosity, and a willingness to step into the wild. Once you do, you’ll understand why these parks are treasured not just by Canadians, but by adventurers from all over the world.
So go on - the trails are waiting, and the journey will be unforgettable.
About The Author
Alex Ross- Founder
Let’s just say Alex didn’t want to work a real job when he grew up. He had his heart set on avoiding any kind of accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration, in order to be free for his dream job as a ski guide. Now he guides people on skis, but mostly does accounting, human resources, compliance, marketing and business administration work!