Canada’s National Parks Are Free This Summer. These Are The Best, Per Journeyscape Analysis
(Ovis aries) Sheep, caught in the evening glow of the sunset, eastern Pont trail, Trout River, Gros Morne National Park, NL
gettyParks Canada has waived all entry fees for visitors this summer — from June 19 to September 7, travelers can explore all 37 national parks across Canada for free. Of course, this has sparked interest in outdoor-minded visitors looking to make the most of the summer offer and a new analysis from Canada tour holiday operator Journeyscape has narrowed down the parks most worth adding to your summer bucket list.
Here are the top five national parks in Canada to prioritize, according to the new analysis:
Jasper National Park
Powerful picturesque waterfall Athabasca. Pyramidal mountain covered with the first snow. Canada, Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park, rather unsurprisingly, leads the way in first place with an overall score of 8.7 out of 10. It welcomed over 1.14 million visitors last year, boasting over 11,000 square kilometers of dramatic mountain landscapes, those picture-perfect icy blue lake hues, and unbeatable wildlife spotting.
Banff National Park
Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks of Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies
It's always a battle for the top between Banff and Jasper — but luckily due to their close proximity, you can easily visit both in one trip. Banff is one of the most iconic travel destinations in Canada (and perhaps North America) with millions of visitors every year. It earned second place thanks to its high Google score and number of Instagram posts. It's also worth noting that while Jasper gets just over a million visitors per year, Banff sits at around 4 million.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Cameron Lake at sunrise in Waterton National Park located in Alberta Canada
Another Alberta park, Waterton Lakes National Park takes third place. Waterton Lakes is just under four hours from Banff but offers fewer crowds. It sees just over half a million visitors annually but offers those dramatic mountainscapes and crystal clear lakes that Alberta is famous for.
Gros Morne National Park
The Green Gardens hike within Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland takes you from the barren Tablelands to the lush and dramatic coast along the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Located on the west coast of Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park is the only park in Eastern Canada to crack the top five. It's famous for its fjords, rugged coastline, and ancient landscape that has earned it UNESCO recognition. This park also ranks high with visitors and sees just over 600,000 travelers annually.
Yoho National Park
Lake O'Hara cabins reflecting in the emerald water of the lake with mountain peaks in the background, Yoho National Park, Canada.
Back in the Rocky Mountains, Yoho National Park earns fifth place with a score of 7.5 out of 10. Although Yoho is smaller than neighboring Banff and Jasper, it's still considered one of the top spots to take in the mountain peaks and sparkling lakes. The park is just across the Alberta provincial line in British Columbia and only about an hour from Banff.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
