Planning Part 2 - National Parks

Our free 2017 National Parks Pass is in the mail!

Photo from: Parks Canada Website

What's a birthday without gifts? So in honour of Canada's 150th, Parks Canada is offering free admission to all national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas it operates. That's 228 locations across the country!

Technically it wasn't entirely necessary to order a pass in advance, as I believe they are also available at park gates. But somehow, knowing one is on its way suddenly makes the trip tangible.Hopefully it gets here in time for our first weekend outing!

As Calgarians, we are extremely fortunate to have National Parks right in our back yard. Banff National Park is our playground - whether its a day of hiking or skiing, a weekend of camping or a romantic get away, most of us make it Banff at least once or twice a year. Many more than that. I'm hoping we get at least one day trip to Banff this year to add to the log of Canadian adventures.

Lower Bankhead Loop, Banff National Park, 2014

Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, and Waterton Lakes National Parks are all also within a short drive of Calgary. Its been some time since I've been to the first three - in the case of Yoho and Kootenay, more than some time. Perfect candidates for a mini-getaway. Yoho, in particular Emerald Lake, has been on my mind for a while.

Of the mountain parks, Waterton Lakes is my favourite. Encompassing an ecosystem known as the Eastern Slopes, it's where the mountains rise out of the prairies. The result is a blending of two worlds, teeming with diversity.  We've spent time there the past two summers, so a it's not likely that we'll make a return trip this year, but I highly recommend it (yes, over Banff) to anyone coming through this part of the country.

Cameron Lake, Waterton Lakes National Park, 2015

Our trip, of course, will give us the opportunity to explore many new parks. The ones that will fit within our itinerary (as it stands) include Fundy , Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Highlands, and Point Pelee. All but Point Pelee will be new to us. Pukaskwa, Kejimkujik, and Riding Mountain remain on the maybe list as we refine our plans.  The rest, unfortunately, take us too far off our prescribed path.

In the end, between day trips, weekend get-aways and the big trip we should make it to 5-10 National Parks out of a potential of 48. I think we'll be able to say we've put our free pass to good use.