Are you trying to add national parks you haven’t visited yet to your bucket list? Although it was a tough pick with 60 National Parks in the USA and 48 in Canada, we tried our best. Sit back, scroll down, and find out which parks made it to our list!

USA’s National Parks

 

Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming
Yellowstone National park is an unreal national park to visit so we had no choice but to put this on our list. It showcases massive waterfalls and mountains that makes it an incredible hiking and camping destination that attracts millions of tourists every year. Beware of fury friends that are living in their habitat. Roaming the forests and meadow you can come across moose, bears, wolves, and bison. Of course there are plenty more animals that call Yellowstone home.

Yellowstone is a super volcano so you’ll find steaming hot springs and geysers that spray hot water high into the air. Be sure to put Beehive Geyser on your Yellowstone itinerary.


Joshua Tree National Park – California
Are you more of a desert lover? Then you should jot Joshua Tree National Park onto your bucket list. Here you’ll find plenty of activities to keep yourself busy such as: mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and camping. You will be surrounded by enticing landscapes filled with dancing wildflowers, large boulders, cacti, yucca trees, and of course Joshua Trees. 

Did you know that Joshua Trees are said to reach a lifespan of 500 years? Additionally, it is a federal violation if you damage the plants since they play a vital role to the Mojave Desert’s ecosystem

Rocky Mountain National Park – Colorado
Last but not least on our top three national parks for the USA is Rocky Mountain National Park. Colorado is known as one of the most beautiful states in the country filled with 58 fourteeners ( mountain peaks reaching above 14,000 feet)! Whether you are driving in from Denver or making a trip from out of state you can find a plethora of adventures to partake in such as fishing, camping, over 350 miles of hiking trails, wildlife watching, and walking among fields of wild flowers. Depending on your choice of sport, every season offer’s plenty of options, from leaf peeping in the fall, snowboarding or skiing in the winter, to hiking and camping in the warmer months. Whatever it is your seeking, you can most likely fill your wanderlust needs in Colorado. Top choices for intermediate hikers would be Emerald Lake or Longs Peak for more advanced mountain climbers.

Canada’s National Parks


Jasper National Park - Alberta
Established in 1907, Jasper is filled with over 2,700,000 acres of wilderness and more than 615 miles of hiking, making it one of Canada’s largest national parks. Although it’s one of the largest parks, it is a lot less crowded. Which makes it a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts who wish to find seclusion and fully immerse in nature’s beauty.

We can promise that you will need more than two or three days in Jasper to fit in the variety of activities you can choose from such as: hiking, camping, fishing, ice climbing, or skiing. If you are looking to hit the water, bring or rent a canoe or kayak and explore the lakes within Jasper National Park such as Maligne Lake or Pyramid Lake. For more of an adrenaline rush you can choose to go whitewater rafting. Want a bird’s eye view? Ride the Jasper SkyTram to Whistlers Summit, hike The Valley of the Five Lakes, or if you get stuck with a rainy day visit the Jasper Yellowhead Museum.

Banff National Park
Jasper may be the largest national park, but Banff was Canada’s first park established in 1885 and is said to be the more popular of the two. Yet both offer their own touch of greatness. For the outdoor enthusiast, Banff is perfect for hiking, camping, and fishing while being surrounded by a backdrop of snowy mountain peaks and meadows filled with vibrant flowers. Soak in the man-made hot springs, go for a stroll on walking trails, visit local museums, go wild-life spotting, mountain climbing, skiing, and more! Three iconic lakes to visit in Banff National Park are Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. At least one should make it to your bucket list.

Yoho National Park
It’s time to unplug and visit our next top pick - the gorgeous Yoho National Park. Here you will be surrounded by rustic trails that guide you around alpine lakes, and waterfalls. A must see waterfall in Yoho National park is Takakkaw Falls. A by-product of watermelt from the Daly Glacier, the falls are 373 metres in height which makes it the 2nd tallest waterfall in Canada. If you are a water lover, two lakes that are worth visiting are Lake O’Hara and Emerald Lake. During your visit you have many activities to choose from such as: kayaking, cross country skiing, biking, rock/ice climbing, ice climbing, or fossil hiking. Some of the oldest fossils (a half-billion-year-old) on earth are found right in Banff National Park!



Fun Facts: 

  • Emerald lake  is one of the largest of Yoho’s 61 lakes
  • Lake O'Hara sits on an elevation of 2,020m


While our list of Top National Parks can go on and on, we hope you enjoyed our favourites! Where is your favourite national park to visit? Click here to share it with us.