Guide to Parks Canada: Prairie Provinces and the Rockies

National Geographic’s Guide to the National Parks of Canada is the official guide to Canada’s 42 national parks. Here’s a peek inside two of the parks profiled in the book.

Prairie Provinces

Riding Mountain National Park

Riding Mountain National Park encompasses a rich, diverse biosystem where you’ll spot everything from beavers to bison. The park’s unique blend of wilderness areas– aspen parkland, grasslands, marshes, small lakes, and deciduous and boreal forests– offers great wildlife viewing opportunities.

When to Go: The park is busiest in summer which means hotel and campsite reservations should be made far in advance. For optimum wildlife-watching try late spring (late April/early May) and early autumn (late September/early October). Once you’re at the park, predawn and dusk are the times when the wildlife roams.

What to Do: Try a guided hike led by local wildlife experts who are knowledgeable about daily animal movement patterns. Cycling, horseback riding, and horse-drawn wagon rides are additional ways to explore the park.

Rockies

Banff National Park

Established in 1885, Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park and one of the country’s premiere travel destinations. Within the park you’ll discover unparalleled majestic landscapes from waterfalls and hanging glaciers to mountains and sparkling lakes.

When to Go: Banff is open year-round and offers great sightseeing and wildlife viewing at any time of year. If hiking, paddling, mountain biking, or cycling are your forte, try summer. In the winter, visitors can strap on skis to take on downhill slopes or cross-country trails.

What to Do: Opportunities at Banff are endless. Try skiing, boating, cycling, mountain climbing, trekking, snowshoeing, horseback riding, swimming, or fishing (just to name a few.)

Leave a comment and win a free copy of the book! We’re giving away a copy of the guide to another lucky commenter who tells us about their favorite Canadian park or describes a memorable Parks Canada experience.

Comment by 11:59 p.m. EST tonight (July 7) to be eligible. Plus, stay tuned to Intelligent Travel again tomorrow for one last opportunity to win.

Congrats to yesterday’s winner Deborah J. of Ottawa. Read about her favorite park here.