Visit our National Parks

This year Canada marks its 150th birthday and there are many ways to celebrate.

Canada is known for its natural beauty and one of the best ways to experience Canada is to visit our National Parks — for free.

By visiting www.parkscanada.gc.ca or by calling 1-888-773-8888, you can order your free Canada 150 pass and this will allow you to have unlimited daily visits to all national parks and historical sites across Canada.  You can also request a free Visitors Guide for each region of the country.

Alberta is home to Canada’s first national park.  Banff National Park of Canada was created in 1885 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Alberta is also home to four other national parks too; Elk Island, Jasper, Waterton Lakes and Wood Buffalo — as well as many national historical sites.

The special Canada 150 pass is only good for free daily visits but you may want to consider extending your experience by staying overnight for a very reasonable cost.

If you do not have access to camping equipment, you may want to consider some of the more innovative solutions offered by Parks Canada.  There are oTENTik, teepees and Equipped Campsites available at most Alberta parks, but space is limited.  Accommodation options are much more limited in other provinces.

oTENTik sites are a cross between a tent and a rustic cabin, similar to what early settlers and gold rush pioneers lived in.  They accommodate up to six and are both dry and spacious and include the beds.  The kids will love the bunk beds!

The teepee equipped sites are only available at Waterton Lakes Park and Rocky Mountain House National Historical Site.

The Equipped Campsites are perfect for those who do not own any camping equipment or do not have the space to transport camping equipment (cyclists and motorcyclists).  These sites come equipped with the basics for up to six people.

Visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca  or call 1-888-773-8888 to book your overnight visit before space runs out.

Finally, visiting our national parks is a fun experience, but can be deadly if you are not prepared or do not use common sense.  Please remember that many parts of our national parks are remote, not well monitored and rely on park users to know their own limits.  If you are unsure of the risks in a specific park, please take the time to speak with the knowledgeable staff.

Sharing your experiences on social media will help raise awareness of the fantastic opportunities our national parks and historical sites offer Canadians every day.