Atlantic Canada’s National and Provincial Parks

The region’s national and provincial parks come in a wide range of personalities and offer an equally eclectic array of activities and facilities, from wilderness backpacking at New Brunswick’s Mount Carleton Provincial Park to lounging in luxury at Cape Breton Highlands’ Keltic Lodge resort.

National Parks

Atlantic Canada has 9 of Canada’s 45 national parks. Cape Breton Highlands National Park, in Nova Scotia, is one of the most spectacular, but it is also very accessible: ocean panoramas, abundant wildlife, and an extensive network of hiking trails are the highlights. Best known for its wild horses, Sable Island National Park, off the Nova Scotia coast, is much more remote and requires an air charter to access. In the same province, Kejimkujik National Park is the only one not on the ocean, which means visitors trade kayaks for canoes to explore the extensive system of freshwater lakes. In New Brunswick, Fundy National Park is renowned for the world’s highest tides, while Kouchibouguac National Park fronts the calm waters of Northumberland Strait. The beaches of Prince Edward Island National Park are a popular destination for vacationing families. Newfoundland and Labrador has three parks—Terra Nova, renowned among kayakers; Gros Morne, where spectacular cliffs rise above inland “ponds”; and Torngat Mountains, protecting the remote northern tip of Labrador.

For information on these parks, including detailed trip planners, visit the Parks Canada website.

Provincial Parks

Protecting areas of natural, historical, and cultural importance, Atlantic Canada’s many hundreds of provincial parks also provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities. All provide day-use facilities such as picnic areas and washrooms, while many also have playgrounds, canoe rentals, and concessions. A good number also have campgrounds and summer interpretive programs.

You’ll find lots of information about provincial parks at local information centers and in general tourism literature. You can also contact the following:

• Nova Scotia: http://parks.novascotia.ca
• New Brunswick: www.parcsnbparks.info
• Prince Edward Island: www.tourismpei.com
• Newfoundland and Labrador: www.gov.nl.ca/tcar/home/parks/

Related Travel Guide

Moon Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada: With New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador

by Andrew Hempstead

by Moon Travel Guides

Catch a glimpse of the world’s rarest whales, hike through lush forests, or wander around quaint historic towns: the very best of the northeast is yours with Moon Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada.

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Andrew Hempstead

About the Author

Wandering the streets of St. John’s, hiking in Terra Nova National Park, and driving the Irish Loop—Andrew Hempstead has done all of this and more.

 

As a professional travel writer, Andrew spends as much time as possible out on the road. During his travels, he experiences the many and varied delights of Newfoundland and Labrador the same way his readers do.

 

Since the early 1990s, Andrew has authored and updated more than 60 guidebooks, and supplied content for regional and national clients like Expedia and KLM. His photography has appeared in a wide variety of media, ranging from international golf magazines to a Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museum.

 

Andrew and his wife Dianne also own Summerthought Publishing, a Canadian regional publisher of nonfiction books. He is a member of The Diners Club® World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. Andrew has also spoken on travel writing to a national audience and has contributed to a university-level travel writing textbook.

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