Where the boreal forest meets the tundra lies Manitoba's Wapusk National Park. It protects one the largest polar bear denning grounds in the world. Consider a guided tour for safe viewing of these majestic creatures.
Moose, lynx and wolves inhabit the Duck Mountain Provincial Park, where you can take a challenging hike or a leisurely walk in the vast meadows. For family fun near Winnipeg, Grand Beach ranks among the best beaches in North America.
In Saskatchewan, Grasslands National Park in the south and Prince Albert National Park in the north are snaked through with hiking trails that let you explore deep into the land.
Visit www.ontarioparks.com, www.sepaq.com/pq/en, www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks and www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/parks to find out more.
Alberta and British Columbia
In many ways, B.C. and Alberta are symbols of Canada's park system. In Alberta, the world-renowned Banff and Jasper National Parks are spectacular odes to both beauty and wildlife (bighorn sheep and mountain goats in the higher altitudes; grizzlies, elk, even wolverines in the low-lying areas). Peter Lougheed and Don Getty Provincial Parks flaunt the same scenery with a fraction of the crowds.
Nearby is B.C.'s Mount Robson Provincial Park, a world heritage site, which woos veteran hikers and mountain climbers, though the diverse landscape also lends itself to leisurely walks and camping.
On Vancouver Island, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve burgeons with whales and seals, while the bears, cougars and wolves roam the adjacent temperate rain forest. Then there's Yoho National Park in the north – it rolls the best of B.C. into one vast park of pure wilderness.
Find out more at www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks and www.albertaparks.ca.
The Far North
The Yukon, North West Territories and Nunavut don't just provide a wilderness experience, they are the wilderness. These areas are becoming increasingly accessible by plane. Kluane National Park and Reserve exemplifies this region's parks, where icefields and treeless expanses smash into untamed woods. Not for novices, here veteran paddlers battle gushing rivers, brave backpackers take on imposing mountains and intrepid artists find their true inspiration.
For more information, visit www.nunavutparks.com, www.iti.gov.nt.ca/tourismparks,
www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/parks.php
Read more:
• A camping primer
• Camping cuisine: How to pack light and eat well
• How to start hiking
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