Set among the Long Range Mountains, Gros Morne is a place forged
by colliding continents; its desert-like Tablelands is one of the
few places where the Earth’s mantle is exposed. Spot moose and
caribou as you explore forests and fjords, bogs and beaches cut by
cliffside trails and cool-blue rivers. Don’t fancy primitive
camping? Reserve a pitch at one of five campsites, including

Trout River Pond, from where you can hike its namesake trail.
Such natural beauty is like opium for creatives – plan your visit
in line with arts festivals such as Trails, Tales and Tunes and
Writers at Woody
Point.

Where mountains meet the Atlantic, Cape Breton is often ranked
among the world’s most beautiful islands. Set on Nova Scotia’s
coastal Cabot Trail, the park is threaded with 26 hiking routes
that lead through forested river canyons trimmed by ruddy-hued
cliffs to beaches where pilot whales pop up to say hello. Refuel
with a plate of local lobster before bedding down in one of the
park’s six campsites – we like the lesser-visited Corney Brook for nearby ocean swims.

Point Wolfe Campground is a favourite spot in New Brunswick’s
first national park thanks to its proximity to hiking trails, clear
streams and sparkling waterfalls – of which you’ll come across more
than 25 as you explore the Acadian forest. The area may well be
known for its high tides, but when the water’s out, head to the
coast to explore the ocean floor. It’s worth carving out time to
take the ferry from the mainland to Grand Manan, an island resting
between the bay and the Gulf of Maine. You’ll get up close with
puffins, whales and seabirds as you wander between camera-ready
lighthouses and working fishing villages.

A decision to visit Alberta’s Rocky Mountains often leads to one
big question: Jasper or Banff? In truth, you can’t really go wrong
in these national parks; both are home to incredible sites and
campsites. Jasper is our favourite, thanks to its smaller, more
rustic town, easy access by train, ski runs of the Marmot Basin and
better opportunities for wildlife viewing – you might spot black
bears, elk, cougar and coyote as you explore. Just remember to keep
your distance, okay? Hike the Tonquin Valley before returning to
your base at one of
more than 10 campgrounds to gawp at the Northern Lights –
Jasper is a Dark Sky Preserve.

This is a land of extremes. Kluane National Park and Reserve is
home to Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, as well as the
country’s largest ice field – you can camp on the snow here, even in summer. Visit to raft
along the 250km Alsek River backed by awesome glaciers or embark on
the King’s Throne Trail to spot alpine flowers in warmer months.
Camping options around Mät’àtäna Män (Kathleen
Lake) include traditional pitches and oTENTik accommodation (oh and
bear-proof storage lockers).

At 9,700sq km, this is the largest national park in Atlantic
Canada and among the most difficult to reach; you’ll have to fly or
sail in. Perhaps this is why it remains one of Canada’s most
unspoiled and enigmatic corners – indeed its name comes from the
Inuktitut “tongait”, meaning “place of spirits”. Let an Inuit guide
lead you from Saglek Fjord to Labrador’s northernmost tip, spotting
by cultural sites and harvesting food to bring back to the Torngat Mountains Base
Camp and Research Station en route. If you enjoy spotting polar
bears here, we recommend a tour of Manitoba’s Wapusk National Park,
Manitoba.

This mammoth provincial park is a three-hour drive north from
Toronto (and a free bus service runs from here, FYI). Yet while
there are a handful of
drive-in campsites, we say: make your way to the interior,
which is accessed only by foot or canoe – or canoe taxi, should you
be so inclined. Navigate the 700km of canoe trails before making
base at one of the
paddle-in camping areas along the shore or booking ahead for
ranger cabins, yurts, lodges and such. Bonus points if you catch
your own fish for supper.

These shifting dune fields may look like they’re in the Namib
Desert, but they are in fact in northern Saskatchewan. This unique
ecosystem has baffled scientists – you’ll find rare and endemic
flora here that doesn’t crop up anywhere else in Canada. Note that
you’ll need to catch a floatplane to get in. Check with
conservation officers if curating your own visit or make use of a
guided trip, as there are no dedicated camping services in the
park. There are also no bins here; if you make rubbish, you’re
carrying it home too. Like offbeat landscapes? Set your sat nav to
Alberta’s Dinosaur Provincial Park next.

One of the world’s few remaining areas of natural prairie,
Grasslands isn’t your typical Canadian national park cut by
sawtooth mountains. Days here are best spent watching buffalo roam
and antelope frolic in the grasses as you hunt for fossils or
embark on a traditional wagon tour. Come evening, chats around
crackling fires by tipi camps and hoedowns beneath a velveteen sky
are de rigueur. This is one of Canada’s best stargazing spots.

Beaches aren’t just for summer. Set on the West Coast Trail that
ribbons across the southwestern edge of Vancouver Island, the
Pacific Rim National Park is as alluring in winter when waves crash
on the rocky shoreline as it is in warmer months – though summer
surfing conditions are a little kinder on novice borders. Beyond
the sand, there’s ample opportunity to learn about Nuu-chah-nulth
history, traditions and culture from First Nation partners, or use
the Rim as your base for exploring the Broken Group Islands. Green
Point is the only campground on Long Beach, with drive-in options
as well as oTENTIk accommodation.