Canadians were fired up this past February 17 when U.S. President Barack Obama, in a television interview with the CBC, made this complimentary remark in advance of a trip to Ottawa to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper: “You know, the natural beauty of Canada is extraordinary”.

Indeed Mr. President. But in a country so vast, where do you start? Canada’s cities, from Montreal to Vancouver, seem so removed from the relatively unspoiled and massive swath of hinterland that comprises the majority of the Great White North. As a result, most tourists who touch down in Toronto for example, don’t necessarily appreciate how gargantuan and diverse the country’s geography really is. In fact, most citizens don’t grasp Canada’s breadth of natural beauty either. It’s a colossal place (duh!), with the longest coastline on the map, touching three oceans no less, and some of the biggest islands in the world in the desolate Arctic archipelago.

While winter is not a particularly hospitable time to explore Canada’s prolific non-urban reaches, the relatively brief but beautiful summer season is ideal. The period between May and September is a busy one for national parks, from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Yukon Territory. This is when the bulk of foreign tourists get a taste of venerable and romantic Canadian wilderness.

With that firmly in mind, here are the best national parks in Canada for summer trekking, camping and exploration.

Jasper National Park, Alberta

North of Banff and west of Edmonton, Jasper National Park is one of the most popular in North America, let alone Canada. A refuge for wolverine, mountain lion, bighorn sheep and grizzly populations, the wildlife diversity in Jasper is spectacular.

Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Qu?bec

The Mingan Archipelago contains about forty limestone islands on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Dramatic bedrock formations provide asylum for dolphins, whales, seals and schools of fish once prized by the Basque as far back as the 15th century.

Aulavik National Park, Northwest Territories

For at least 3,500 years, the arctic lowlands on the north end of Banks Island has been a place of settlement for aboriginal peoples in the vast Northwest Territories. Although remote, the over 12,000 square kilometres of land within Aulavik National Park is accessible via several fixed-wing and helicopter operators from the town of Inuvik. For Peary caribou, muskox and more, all within insanely pristine wildnerness, the park is awesome.

Ukkusiksalik National Park, Nunavut

Nunavut, formerly part of the Northwest Territories, is similarly blessed when it comes to untouched, endless landscapes. The 20,500 square kilometre Ukkusiksalik National Park boasts over 500 archaeological sites, with a diverse geography that includes soapstone cliffs, tundra banks, eskers, mudflats and coastal regions. The remote park is accessible from the tiny hamlets of Rankin Inlet, Repulse Bay, Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake, or Coral Harbour, with the closest community a 7-hour boat ride away – in July and August of course.

Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta and Northwest Territories

Wood Buffalo National Park has the distinction of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and at 44,807 square kilometres, is bigger than 100 sovereign countries – and every other park in Canada for that matter. The phenomenal biodiversity of the Peace-Athabasca Delta in Wood Buffalo is why UNESCO took notice in 1983. With many recreational options available, the park is worth the long but idyllic summer drive that thousands take from Edmonton, Yellowknife or Fort McMurray.

Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon Territory

With Mount Logan, the highest peak in Canada, towering majestically over the landscape, Kluane National Park is breathtaking. The 22,000 square kilometre park is almost all mountains and glaciers and comprises part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the world’s foremost non-polar icefield.

Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

Newfoundland Labrador has some of the most isolated areas in Canada, outside of the Arctic circle. Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gros Morne National Park contains some of the northernmost peaks of what in essence, is the Appalachian mountain chain. The park is known for incredible Precambrian and Palaeozoic rock formations, fjords, waterfalls and wildlife that includes, arctic hare, lynx and black bear.

Quttinirpaaq National Park, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut

Anyone who makes it out to Quttinirpaaq National Park on Ellesmere Island is a veritable adventurer. Though quite navigable in summer, the obstacle with Quttinirpaaq is sheer remoteness. Other than a park on the tip of nearby Greenland, a hop, skip and a jump away really, the immense 37,775 square kilometre park is the most northerly on Earth. Kudos to those who venture to Ellesmere Island. The eerily desolate polar scenery is as pristine as any on the planet. The central access point to Quttinirpaaq is from Tanquary Fiord Airport via Resolute, a tiny Inuit village of less than 250 people on Cornwallis Island.

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