Free entry offered at Canada’s national parks this summer

From the glacial lakes of Banff to the tablelands of Gros Morne, Canada’s national parks offer spectacular vistas that need to be seen to be believed.

If you’re visiting this summer, you won’t have to pay a penny to see them either, as Parks Canada is waiving entry fees for all visitors from 19 June to 7 September.

Covering all national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada, the offer amounts to some serious savings if you’re planning on visiting a few in one trip.

During the same period, you’ll also get a 25% discount on camping and overnight stays with Parks Canada, which includes yurts, tipis, cabins and historic stays in buildings such as a lockmaster’s house on the Rideau Canal or the Fortress of Louisbourg’s prison.

The return of the programme stands in stark contrast to the USA’s ‘America-first’ pricing, where national parks are charging foreigners US$100 (€85) extra to enter.

Where to go in Canada

If you’re looking to fly direct from Europe, Air Canada operates routes between Montreal and destinations including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Geneva, Rome, Dublin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Edinburgh and Reykjavík.

You can also fly between Toronto and cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Stockholm, Paris, Prague, Vienna and Zurich.

The airline also offers routes between London and Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

The nearest national park to Montreal is La Mauricie, which has more than 150 lakes and has wildlife including moose, black bears, beavers, and wood turtles.

National parks near Toronto include Georgian Bay Islands, Thousand Islands, and Point Pelee, and you can find all of the details on the Parks Canada website.

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