Whether you’re visiting the Maritimes, or call Atlantic Canada home, there are many amazing spots to check out. Specifically, we have some of the most breath taking National Parks in the country, with scenery and views like no other. National Parks in Atlantic Canada offer a great way to spend a few hours, a few days or even a week. Here's 5 Atlantic Canadian National Parks that you need to visit!
1. Fundy National Park, Alma, New Brunswick
Located just over an hour from both Saint John and Moncton, Fundy National Park is the definition of Atlantic Canadian beauty. With views and scenery like no other, a trip to Fundy will offer many breathtaking views. This National Park offers the world’s highest tides, making the views you’ll see in the morning completely different than those at sunset. Great camping, swimming, and hiking trails make a visit to Fundy a worthwhile adventure. If camping isn’t your style, there's also cabins available within the park. Fundy is also open during the winter, meaning you don’t have to wait until the summer to explore everything this national park has to offer. It's a great place for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
2. Kejimkujik National Park, Annapolis, Nova Scotia
Kejimkujik National Park is in southern Nova Scotia, roughly two hours from Halifax. If canoeing or kayaking is a pastime of yours Kejimkujik will be a favourite stop. Offering many different rivers and lakes to paddle. Kejimkujik is traditional Mi’Kmaw land and features many different rock engravings from their past known as petroglyphs. Kejimkujik really shows its beauty at night, as Nova Scotia’s only dark sky preserve. Which will let you see a sky light up with thousands of stars. Kejimkujik has a beautiful campground and offers many unique places to back country camp.
3. Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Inverness, Nova Scotia
One of the most unique national parks in Canada is Cape Breton Highlands, where the mountains come together with the ocean. With some of the highest points in the Maritimes, the mountain views offer a completely different perspective. Different levels of hiking trails from leisurely to challenging, along with great mountain biking terrain make this national park full of options to stay active. View epic waterfalls as you hike through the park.
Another thing making it unique from other National Parks is having a Canada Top 100 golf course inside. Highlands Links is one of the top-rated golf courses in Atlantic Canada and offers luxury accommodations.
4. Prince Edward Island National Park, Dalvay by the Sea, PEI
Prince Edward Island National Park is a must visit in the summer. Located half an hour from Charlottetown on the north coast of PEI, this national park offers arguably the best beaches of any National Park in Canada. With kilometres of sandy beaches and large sand dunes, you won’t find a better place to visit in the summer months. This national park also offers a great golf course, along with many different areas to canoe or kayak, making it the perfect summer destination. With hundreds of accommodations less than half an hour away, camping is not your only option to enjoy this beautiful national park for multiple days.
(Photo: @neverenoughadventure)
5. Terra Nova National Park, Glovertown, Newfoundland
Canada's most easterly National Park is Terra Nova National Park. Located under three hours from St. John’s, this national park is worth making the venture to its isolated location. Offering views one would expect to see in Ireland or Scotland, Terra Nova National Park will make you feel as though you’ve traveled across the Atlantic. Beautiful hiking trails through the hills and forests are all over this National Park. Terra Nova also offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean which are very popular in the spring with a good chance you may see an iceberg floating by. If you're there in warmer weather, there’s also a chance you will see a whale or other unique wildlife.
Terra Nova National Park also has boat tours allowing you to see amazing views of the Newfoundland coastline. A trip to this National Park is one you should be fully prepared for, with weather extremely inconsistent at any time of year. Don’t let this hold back though this scenic destination will more than make up for the bit of rain you may encounter.
Atlantic Canada is home to some of the most stunning and breathtaking National parks. Making them a relatively inexpensive way to get a beautiful vacation. Start planning now for a weekend getaway to any of the above locations or bundle up and experience some of the national parks that offer great experiences in the winter months. There are many more national parks that are not on this list, so find one close to you and experience the amazing things Canadian nature offers.