Canada’s sesquicentennial birthday year is here!
And, for the occasion, Parks Canada is giving Canadians the gift of FREE admission to its National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites all year long.
See also
- A list of every Canadian National Park you can visit for free this year
- Lonely Planet names Canada the best country in the world to visit in 2017
- Banff only Canadian spot to make National Geographic's Best destination list for 2017
Simply procure a ‘Discovery Pass‘ online and visit these majestic parklands to discover exactly why we have so much to celebrate.
Here’s a list of every single National Park in Alberta.
Banff National Park of Canada
UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canada’s first National Park of Canada (1885).
Distance from Calgary: 109 km, approximately 1 hour, 10 minutes
Elk Island National Park of Canada
Alberta plains oasis for rare and endangered species.
Distance from Calgary: 343 km, approximately 3 hours, 9 minutes
Distance from Edmonton: 49 km, approximately 37 minutes
Jasper National Park of Canada
UNESCO World Heritage Site and glacial jewel of the Rockies.
Distance from Calgary: 305 km, approximately 3 hours, 37 minutes
Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada
International Peace Park; where the Rocky Mountains meet the prairie.
Distance from Calgary: 259 km, approximately 2 hours, 36 minutes
Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada
UNESCO World Heritage Site larger than Switzerland. All the way up north, near the boarder of the Northwest Territories.
Distance from Calgary: 1,435 km, approximately 14 hours, 11 minutes
Distance from Edmonton: 1,140 km, approximately 11 hours, 42 minutes
In addition to the National Parks, you can also visit the following Historic Sites in Alberta for free.
Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site of Canada
Early stone alpine cabin used by climbers, 1922
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
Athabasca Pass National Historic Site of Canada
Major fur trade transportation route
Location: Jasper National Park of Canada , Alberta
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada
Early natural history museum in Rustic style, 1902-03
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada
Historic ranch in Alberta foothills, 1883
Location: Longview, Alberta
Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada
Hot springs, birthplace of national parks
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
First Oil Well in Western Canada National Historic Site
First commercially productive oil well in the West
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Frog Lake National Historic Site of Canada
Site of Cree uprising, Northwest Rebellion 1885
Location: Frog Lake, Alberta
Howse Pass National Historic Site of Canada
First crossed by David Thompson in 1807
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
Jasper House National Historic Site of Canada
Archaeological remains of 1829 fur trade post, Hudson’s Bay Company
Location: Jasper National Park of Canada , Alberta
Jasper Park Information Centre National Historic Site of Canada
Picturesque fieldstone park building of Rustic design, 1913-14
Location: Jasper National Park of Canada , Alberta
Maligne Lake Chalet and Guest House National Historic Site of Canada
The chalet and guest house represent the prominent role played by outfitters, guides and the competing interests of railways in the development of the national parks.
Location: Jasper National Park of Canada, Alberta
Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site of Canada
Rival Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company posts
Location: Rocky Mountain House, Alberta
Skoki Ski Lodge National Historic Site of Canada
Ski lodge in rustic vernacular, 1930-31
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada
Remains of high altitude geophysical laboratory
Location: Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta
Yellowhead Pass National Historic Site of Canada
Transportation route through Rocky Mountains
Location: Jasper National Park of Canada , Alberta