Banff National Park and Jasper National Park make a lot of international headlines when it comes to the bucket list parks to visit in Canada—but the country boasts a total of 37 national parks and 11 national park reserves, each of which with its own unique offers for nature-loving travelers to explore.
The experts at Canada tour holiday operator Journeyscape narrowed down exactly which parks to visit in 2026, looking at things likewildlife diversity, Instagram posts, visitor Google reviews, accessibility, and overall park.
Here are the top national parks to visit on your next trip to Canada:
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
The Cape Breton Highlands National Park earned top spot as one of the best national parks in Canada to visit in 2026. The park is home to the famous Cabot Trail—which is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world—and boasts a Google review score of 4.9 out of five. The national park sees over 262,000 visitors per year but its tourist season is long enough that it rarely feels overly crowded.
Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
The Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in British Columbia tied with Cape Breton Highlands National Park in top spot. The national park on the west coast boasts more than thirty islands and islets, sandy beaches, and secluded trails. It also has an impressive 454 plant and animal species per ten square kilometers, including things like otters, bald eagles, and ochre sea starfish.
Kluane National Park and Reserve
Yukon’s Kluane National Park and Reserve ranked third with a composite score of 9.15 out of ten. This park boasts the highest peak in Canada—Mount Logan—and the largest non-polar icefield in the world, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s also the biggest park on the list, with a total area of 21,980 square kilometers.
Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park in Ontario is the best option for travelers looking for a secluded experience in nature. The park receives less than 18,000 visitors annually and boasts a 60 kilometer-long Coastal Hiking Trail with incredible lookoffs of the northern shores of Lake Superior.
Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site
The second national park in Nova Scotia to make the list, Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site is the only park in the country with dual designation as both a national park and a national historic site. The park allows visitors to connect with Mi’kmaw culture by way of traditional encampment areas, petroglyphs, and canoe routes that have been in use for thousands of years. The park is also the only Dark-Sky Preserve in Nova Scotia and is perfect for star-gazing.