The best Canadian national parks offering free entry this summer

Did you know you can visit Canada’s national parks for free this summer? In an exciting announcement, the government has introduced the Canada Strong program, running from June 20 to September 2, 2025, in a bid to increase Canadian tourism.

As well as free entry into Parks Canada national parks and discounts on campsites, young adults aged 18-24 can also benefit from discounts on museum tickets, VIA Rail tickets, and more.

If you need inspiration for how to take advantage of this great deal, read on for our recommendations of the best national parks across the country that you can visit for free!

Alberta

• Banff National Park: The first national park in Canada, and probably also the most iconic. Home to many of the Rockies’ biggest hits, including Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, and the start of the Icefields Parkway. Note that reservations for popular activities (such as the lakes shuttle) are still required, even though park fees are waived.
• Jasper National Park: The quieter of the two big national parks in the Rockies, but no less impressive. Don’t miss Maligne Lake and Maligne Pass, the Skyline hike, and the Tonquin Valley trail.
• Waterton Lakes National Park: If you want to avoid the crowds in the Rockies, head south to Waterton Lakes. Highlights include the Bear’s Hump hike, Red Rock Canyon, Cameron Falls, and a boat tour on the lake.

Learn more about Alberta’s best national parks here.

British Columbia

• Kootenay National Park: One of the least visited and, therefore, most peaceful national parks in the Rockies. Made up of glaciers, grasslands, waterfalls and hot springs, Kootenay is a haven for hikers wanting to experience a variety of landscapes.
• Mount Revelstoke National Park: Home to a mix of rainforest and mountains, Mount Revelstoke is the only mountain in the national parks a short walk from the car park that can be climbed. Visitors love the Meadows in the Sky scenic drive and the variety of hiking trails.
• Yoho National Park: One of the prettiest parks in B.C., Yoho is made up of waterfalls, alpine lakes and forest. Don’t miss the Canadian Rockies’ highest waterfall, Takkakaw Falls.

Learn more about British Columbia’s best national parks here.

Ontario

• Bruce Peninsula National Park: Ontario’s most scenic park features towering cliffs overlooking the Georgian Bay and famous hikes such as The Grotto, Cyprus Lake, and Halfway Log Dump. Note that reservations for popular activities (such as The Grotto parking) are still required, even though park fees are waived.
• Fathom Five National Marine Park: The only national marine conservation area in the province, this unique park offers boat trips and scuba diving to explore multiple shipwrecks. The other highlight is the famous Flowerpot Island rock formations.
• Point Pelee National Park: Why not say you’ve been to the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland with a trip to Point Pelee? It’s one of the smallest national parks but also one of the most ecologically diverse. Most visitors prioritise the Marsh boardwalk and the Tip trail (to access the southernmost point).

Learn more about Ontario’s best national parks here.

Quebec

• La Mauricie National Park: Explore over 500 km² of forest and 150 lakes. This park has something for everyone, from scenic drives and beginner’s stand up paddleboarding camping to hiking trails and canoeing.

Learn more about Quebec’s best national parks here.

Other provinces

• Newfoundland: See the UNESCO World Heritage ancient landscapes of Gros Morne National Park, or explore Canada’s most easterly national park, Terra Nova, where the forest meets the sea.
• New Brunswick: Experience the world’s highest tides along the Bay of Fundy in Fundy National Park.
• Nova Scotia: Drive the world-famous Cabot Trail through the most scenic part of Atlantic Canada, Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
• Prince Edward Island: Learn about the life of PEI’s most famous author, L.M. Montgomery (who wrote Anne of Green Gables) at the Green Gables Heritage Place. See PEI’s iconic red iron cliffs at Prince Edward Island National Park.