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Nahanni National Park
Nahanni National Park
Backroad Mapbooks
There is no question that Canada hosts some of the best National Parks in the world. Between the crashing waves along the Pacific Rim, the towering mountain peaks of Jasper, historic monuments in Bruce Peninsula and the cascading fjords around Gros Morne, there are countless places to see and endless adventures to be had.
With such iconic landscapes, it is easy to see why our national parks attract so many visitors each year. For example, Banff alone had more than 3.8 million visitors just in 2016! While the draw of the azure blue waters of Lake Louise can be worth braving the crowds, there are other national parks that are just as spectacular and see far less visitors.
Aside from Canada’s most talked about and well-known parks, there are a select few who received not a single visitor in 2016. So, if dodging 3.8 million people is not necessarily your ideal way to witness Canada’s National Parks, then these top 10 Least Visited National Parks are just the thing for you.
1. Gwaii Hanaas National Park & Haida Heritage Site - Haida Gwaii, BC
Visitors in 2016 – 2,123
Situated on the southern end of the Haida Gwaii, Gwaii Hanaas National Park & Haida Heritage Site offers over 4,700 km (2,867) of rugged coastline to explore in almost complete seclusion. Due to the fact that Gwaii Haanas can only be accessed by boat, kayak or float plane, the coastal national park only sees around 2,000 visitors a year, which is perfect for those looking to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders of Haida Gwaii in peace. With its breathtaking landscape and strong First Nations roots, any trip to Gwaii Haanas National Park is sure to be unique and memorable. Visitors have the opportunity to camp on the beach shores, paddle the coastal tides, hike along the rugged mountain sides, fish the waterways and witness incredible wildlife. While there, take time to wander through the remaining totem poles of SGang Gwaay Llngaay and see the Haida Longhouses of T’aanuu Llngaay, and be sure to pay respect to the people that call this natural treasure home.
2. Nahanni National Park - Northwest Territories
Visitors in 2016 – 1,044
Featuring white-water rivers, steaming natural hot springs, breathtaking alpine tundra and monumental mountain ranges, Nahanni National park is a backcountry beauty like none-other. Situated close to the Yukon – Northwest Territory border, Nahanni National Park can be accessed by chartered float plane or a grueling hike in. The remote wilderness of Nahanni attracts adventurers of all kinds with its perfect paddling, hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities. Though you are welcome to stay a couple days and practice no-trace camping in Nahanni, those who lack backcountry skill and knowledge can witness the beauty of this isolated park with day flight experiences that take visitors to view the incredible Virginia Falls, Ragged Range and Glacier Lake.
3. Auyuittuq National Park - Nunavut
Visitors in 2016 – 265
In the remote north of Baffin Island you will find one of Canada’s most breathtaking and least visited parks. Filled with views of shimmering glaciers, towering fjords, bustling streams and colourful wildflower meadows, Auyuittug National Park is a backcountry beauty beckoning for adventure. The trip to Auyuittug is almost half the adventure, as the only way into the park is by flying to Iqaluit and from there taking a boat or snow machine, depending on the time of year. Once you arrive at the barren landscape, you will have the chance to take full advantage of the hiking, ski touring, mountaineering, dog sledding and wildlife viewing to be had. Backcountry experience as well as safety equipment and a pre-trip orientation are required before entering the park.
4. Sirmilik National Park - Nunavut
Visitors in 2016 – 237
Sirmilik National Park is a land of intense landscapes and extreme adventures. Between glaciers, valleys, red-rock hoodoos and iceberg dotted waters, adventurers of all kinds will find plenty of things to see and do while they are there. Due to the dark winters, with 24 hours of no sunlight, and overwhelming summers where the sun never sets from May to August, the best time to travel to Sirmilik is around mid-October. Seasoned explorers can get to Sirmilik through either Pond Inlet or Arctic Bay by chartered flight, boat or snow machine, and once there can take their pick at traversing through the mountain ranges, paddling through the glacial waterways or hiking through the cultural sites and hoodoos.
5. Wapusk National Park - Manitoba
Visitors in 2016 – 231
Among the 11,745 km2 (4534 mi2) that makes up Wapusk National Park in Manitoba, you will find breathtaking waterways, caribou, arctic fox, wide-open tundra and 935 wild polar bears. With no roads into the park, visitors will have to book a trip with a licensed tour operator to get there, but travelling with an expert who knows how to navigate the permanently frozen ground will help you see all the wonders the park has to offer. With only 231 visitors to the park in the entire year of 2016, you will have the chance to enjoy the guided hikes through archeological sites, canoe excursions and aerial tours in remote peace.
6. Ivvavik National Park - Yukon Territory
Visitors in 2016 – 210
In Ivvavik National Park, within the Yukon Territory, you will find beauty and adventure of all kinds. Within the 10,168 km2 (3925 mi2) of backcountry landscape, outdoor adventurers can take their pick at rafting through the deep canyons, hiking along open terrain, fishing for Dolly Varden char and arctic grayling and witnessing wildlife like none-other. The best time to visit is during the summer, when hiking opportunities are endless and rivers are teeming for the perfect raft or kayak. The best way to get to the park is by aircraft and you can easily charter a flight through various outfitters at Margaret Lake, Imniarvik, Stokes Point, Nunaluk Spit and Komakuk Beach. With no designated campsites, and only 210 visitors in the entire year of 2016, you will have the entire backcountry of this breathtaking park virtually to yourself.
7. Quttinirpaaq National Park - Nunavut
Visitors in 2016 – 17
Due to the short window of ideal travel time between May and August, paired with the gruelling 24 hours of continuous daylight, Quttinirpaaq rarely ever gets visited, but those who make the trip are treated to a wondrous and magical backcountry to explore. Here, amid the landscape of glistening ice caps, massive mountain peaks and flourishing and full abundant glacier fed rivers, wildlife such as white arctic hare, polar bears, arctic wolves, muskoxen and caribou run free. While you can choose to travel through the tundra landscape on your own, it is recommended you book with a tour group or Parks Canada to truly get to experience all the adventure Quttinirpaaq National Park has to offer. Though a trip to Quttinirpaaq is no walk in the park, those with the right backcountry skill, equipment and training have the opportunity to be one of the VERY few each year to witness and experience the beauty of this northern paradise.
8. Tuktut Nogait National Park - Northwest Territories
Visitors in 2016 – 4
The landscape of Tuktut Nogait National Park is made up of sprawling tundra, rushing rivers, deep canyons, unique wildlife and flora and amazing adventure around every corner. Despite the breathtaking views and once in a lifetime experiences, very few people make the trek out to visit Tuktut. Those who do, however, are greeted with the chance to explore the waterways of Hornaday River, featuring 45 km (28 mi) of Class III and IV whitewater, hike through the open terrain or even have a try at fishing for some arctic char and lake trout. Visitors can get to the park by water or air, but it is recommended you contact the Parks Canada office in Inuvik for specific details before planning your trip.
9. Aulavik National Park - Nunavut
Visitors in 2016 – 0
With over 12,000 km2 (4,630 mi2) of lush river valleys, rolling hills and polar deserts, you would imagine thousands would flock to Aulavik National Park each year to witness its natural glory, but that is not the case. Although in previous years, anywhere from 7 to 2 visitors have stopped by to enjoy a paddle through the Thomsen River, or a hike along the arctic tundra, in 2016 the park did not see a single visitor all year. That means 2017 is the perfect time to charter a trip there by aircraft, and experience the rugged natural wonder of Aulavik. The best time to plan a trip is from June to August, when the Thomsen River is no longer iced over and the temperature range from 1-20°C (33.8-68°F). If you are in for a wild wilderness exploration, plan your trip to Aulavik National Park, the “place where people travel.”
10. Torngat Mountains National Park - Newfoundland & Labrador
Visitors in 2016 – unknown
While the glacier-dotted peaks of the Torngat Mountains have been home to Inuit and their ancestors for thousands of years, very few others have made the trek to visit the breathtaking park. The 9,700 km2 (3745 mi2) park stretches from Saglek Fjord all the way to the northernmost tip of Labrador and can be accessed by boat or charter plane in the summer. Aside from incredible views and captivating adventures such as hiking, skiing, scrambling, climbing, camping, fishing and more, visitors to Torngat Mountains National Park will also have the chance to witness polar bears hunting for seals in the iceberg filled waters of the Labrador Sea. Here, you will be completely free from crowds, instead surrounded by rugged coastline, deep fjords, rolling valleys and meadows and cultural and natural wonders of all kinds.
Please be aware that due to the remoteness and isolation of all these parks, knowledge and experiencing in backcountry exploration is a must. Conditions in these landscapes can be harsh and unpredictable, and it is important that you are equipped in the right tools and skill sets to prevent an emergency from happening, and to deal with one if it does.
Originally published here.
Editor's Note: Have you got your Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass yet? With it you will have unlimited opportunities to enjoy national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites across the country!