Alberta’s national parks are exceptionally diverse. From the grasslands of Wood Buffalo National Park to the rugged and stunning Rocky Mountains, there’s a landscape for every adventure.
In the spring, summer, and fall the national parks are full of nature lovers who come for the hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and boating, while during the winter months the mountains become a skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing wonderland in Canada.
Explore outdoors and let your soul be rekindled by Alberta’s wonderful national parks.
There are five national parks in Alberta, in this article you will see how each one is unique.
Banff National Park
Banff National Park became Canada’s first national park in 1883 and it’s the most popular of the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks.
It attracts visitors from near and far who come to play in snow-covered mountain peaks, catch the best sunsets at the park’s pristine lakes, and escape into the wilderness.
This breath-taking national park is in western Alberta, and it covers over 2,500 square-miles.
It’s the most famous park in Canada, and it gets some 4.5 million visitors each year!
Be sure to visit the picturesque town of Banff too, where you’ll find some great dining options and lots of boutique shops catering to outdoorsy folks and art collectors alike.
You’ll also want to put Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on your things to do list, whose mesmerizing turquoise waters are sure to captivate you.
Enjoy paddling in the pristine glacial waters or hit the nearby hiking trails if you’re ready for a workout with spectacular views.
Moraine Lake is one of the most beautiful places in Banff National Park – photo credit: kamchatka/DepositPhotos
If you’re into lakeside hiking, then Lake Minnewanka is your happy place with a 9.7 trail (rated moderate) you’ll have incredible views of this gorgeous glacial lake.
There are countless hiking routes in Banff National Park.
Some of the most scenic and rewarding routes run through the Icefields Parkway and around the lakes in Banff National Park.
Check out hikes like the Parker Ridge Trail that spoil you with views of the Saskatchewan Glacier – it’s a perfect picnic spot in Banff National Park.
Love wintertime? If you’re going to Banff in winter, you can hit the slopes at Sunshine Village Ski Resort or the Lake Louise Ski Resort. The powdery snow and alpine setting make it a skier’s heaven!
For hiking, biking, paddling, wildlife viewing, and winter sports you can’t beat Banff National Park – and it’s an easy day trip from Calgary.
Lake Minnewanka is great big beautiful lake in Banff National Park
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is just north of Banff National Park and it’s the largest of the three Canadian Rocky Mountain national parks.
It covers some 4,200-square-miles and is home to Mount Edith Cavell, one of the most picturesque areas in Jasper National Park.
Jasper town is less touristy than Banff, with fewer hotels and shops and fewer visitors due to the limited accommodations.
If you’re hoping to get out on the water to go fishing or kayaking, you’ll be happy to hear that there are over 1,700 lakes in Jasper National Park, though just over 100 of them are named.
This impressive park is one of the largest dark sky preserve in the world, so stargazing is incredible on clear nights.
And on clear winter nights the sky lights up with breath-taking northern lights dancing through the skies.
In Jasper National Park you can visit Athabasca Glacier, one of the most famous sites in the park. If you’re driving from Calgary to Jasper, you’ll want to make this one of your stops on the Icefields Parkway.
Another must-do activity in Jasper National Park is to take a cruise or kayak on Maligne Lake for spectacular views of the mountains.
Want to kayak to Spirit Island in Maligne Lake? Read about kayaking in Jasper first, and you’ll find out why paddling to the island is probably not at the very top of your Jasper bucket list ;)
This charming island is considered sacred to peoples of the Indigenous Stoney Nation.
The island’s little cluster of evergreens contrast beautifully with the pristine waters and towering mountain peaks – it’s a photographer’s dream!
There are many other beautiful lakes in Jasper such as Medicine Lake and Pyramid Lake that should also be on your Jasper must-do list.
A couple of gorgeous hikes in Jasper that you’ll want to check out are the Valley of Five Lakes and the Maligne Canyon Trail.
As you see there is no shortage of fun outdoor activities in Jasper National Park. Enjoy!
You’ll want to put Maligne Canyon hike on your Jasper things to do list!
Waterton Lakes National Park
You might have guessed from the park’s name that it’s famous for its lakes.
The park is in the southwest of Alberta and together with Montana’s Glacier National Park it makes up the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
The park has a chain of stunning lakes, namely the Upper and Lower Waterton, Cameron Lake, Bertha Lake, Lonesome Lake, and Summit Lake.
The crystal clear lakes contrast with the rugged mountain peaks, creating picture-perfect landscapes.
It’s only 195 square miles, but it has just as much to offer as Banff and Jasper.
If you’re looking for a combination of history and accommodation in the park, book in at the iconic Prince of Wales Hotel. If you venture further south to Glacier National Park in Montana read our guide on where to stay in Glacier NP.
Visit Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta, on the border with Glacier National Park in Montana
Be sure to visit the Cameron Falls at the western end of the Cameron Falls Drive.
Another beautiful waterfall in Waterton is Lower Bertha Falls which you can access via the 3.3 mile (5.3 km) hiking trail.
One of the most incredible natural areas in the park is the Red Rock Canyon.
The spectacular Red Rock Canyon hike is a must-do at Waterton Lakes National Park
Drive there along the scenic Red Rock Canyon Parkway roadway and then get lost in the maze of smooth red rock as you hike through the canyon.
Also, from the Red Rock Canyon you can easily hike to Blakiston Falls – only 1.6 miles (2 km) out and back for a spectacular view of the waterfalls.
A short hike from Red Rock Canyon is the beautiful Blakiston Falls
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island is the smallest of Alberta’s national parks; it covers an area of just 75 square miles.
But for such a small park it packs an outstandingly rich biodiversity.
Wildlife watching will be the highlight of your trip, you can see it all – elk, coyote, moose, deer, wolves, black bears, and more.
The most famous of the park’s animals are wood bison. Drive along the Bison Loop Road and be on the lookout for the herd.
Sometimes you’ll find a lone bison at Elk Island – maybe they like to travel solo too!
The park is also a great place to come and see the Northern Lights or enjoy some of the most magical star gazing.
Camp at Oster Lake where you can explore stunning nature spots during the day and stargaze all night.
Don’t leave without a visit to the park’s beautiful Astotin Lake and Tawayik Lake.
Elk Island is the closest national park to Edmonton, and it makes for a perfect weekend getaway!
Watch the sunset at Astotin Lake when you visit Elk Island National Park
Wood Buffalo National Park
Love having lots of personal space? Wood Buffalo, Canada’s largest National Park, is a vast wilderness waiting for you to explore…in summer.
It spans 17,300 square miles, though part of it steps outside of Alberta into the Northwest Territories, and it’s the largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world!
If you’re into stargazing, there’s an annual Dark Sky Festival in August.
The wild bison herd roams freely in the park, and since it’s so huge you need some luck to see them while traveling through the park.
Wood Buffalo Park is also home to the largest beaver dam in the world, it’s about 775 meters (2,542 ft) and that’s about the length of 7 football fields!
Some areas of the park are vast wetlands that can only be explored by canoe or kayak.
For something more relaxing try paddleboarding or canoeing at Pine Lake for an afternoon on the water – rentals available at the park.
If you prefer exploring on foot, check out Pine Lake to Lane Lakes Trail or Benchmark Creek Trail for wildlife viewing opportunities.
You’ll need some top notch planning skills to pull off a visit to Wood Buffalo National Park. It’s over 17 hours driving time from Calgary to the park!
As you can see from this Google map, Wood Buffalo National Park is not the easiest national park to get to in Canada
Still, renting a cabin or campsite at Pine Lake under the starry skies is on my Alberta bucket list. Wood Buffalo is the only national park in Alberta I have yet to visit!
Summary
With five beautiful national parks in Alberta there’s room to roam and explore stunning landscapes from the serene plains and wetlands to the majestic mountains and glacial lakes. You have options now you just need to decide where your next adventure will take you!
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