A list of every National Park in Alberta you can visit for free in 2017

Jan 18 2017, 4:14 am

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.

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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.

Image: Wood Buffalo National Park / Shutterstock

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.

Image: Bar-U-Ranch / Shutterstock

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

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