Nahanni National Park Reserve
The Northwest Territories’ Nahanni National Park Reserve is Canada’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site (1978). It is one of the only vast protected parks in Canada above the 60th parallel. Helicopter in to hike through 2.5 million hectares of mountain meadows, paddle remote rivers and soak in wilderness hot springs.
The whitewater Nahanni is considered one of North America’s most spectacular rivers. Raft down the south portion and you’ll likely see grizzly, caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goat, caribou and perhaps even an elusive wolf.
On the South Nahanni, four dramatic canyons up to 1,200 metre deep line the river. Virginia Falls is twice the height of Niagara. A cave called Grotte Valerie holds the ancient skeletons of 100 Dall’s sheep.
Hiking in South Nahanni is spectacular. Access the area by boat or float plane. There are actually no formal trails, but popular routes are well defined. Glacier Lake and Sunblood Mountain are good choices, or hire a guide to show you the way.
Nunavut’s Sirmilik National Park
Nunavut, the nation’s newest territory and 84 per cent Inuit, is Canada’s Arctic Outback. It’s a vast landscape of glaciers, icebergs and tundra. Hike or ski across Nunavut’s Sirmilik National Park at the northern tip of Baffin Island. Look for Arctic wildlife, including snowy owls, polar bears and narwhal on a Polar Sea Adventures tour.
Kluane National Park and Reserve
Summer in the Yukon Territory means 24 hours of daylight under the Midnight Sun. So what better way to enjoy the day than hiking, mountain biking and camping at Kluane National Park.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kluane National Park and Reserve has views of jagged peaks, ice fields and glaciers. You can choose to camp or stay at luxe lodges and take day excursions from basecamp. Interested in wildlife viewing? Dall sheep and grizzlies live here.
Tombstone Territorial Park
Trek through Tombstone Territorial Park’s towering granite peaks and alpine lakes in the Yukon. This can be its own excursion or make it a stop along an epic road trip along the the Dempster Highway that takes you across the Arctic Circle to Inuvik.
