National Park Train Tours
Admire untamed natural beauty from your comfortable seat
Thundering waterfalls. Dramatic limestone cliffs. Rain-soaked old-growth forests. Canada boasts more than 40 national parks and reserves - huge tracts of wilderness that are protected from development and untouched by civilization.
In Banff and Jasper National Parks, the train will stop right in the heart of the park where you can explore at your own pace. You'll also get to travel through other parks (without stopping) such as Yoho National Park, so that you can admire the spectacular scenery from the train window.
Contact us about adding on side-trips to other national parks as part of your Canadian rail vacation. Our friendly Canadian Insiders are local experts and they will help you put together a nature-lover's dream trip.
WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER?
Quick facts about National Parks
- The first park in Canada was Banff Hot Springs, discovered by CPR surveyors and made public property in 1885. This began the movement in Canada towards setting land aside as national parks.
- There are 39 national parks and 8 national park reserves in Canada, covering a total of approximately 328,198 square kilometres (126,718 square miles).
- When the exploring the Mountain Parks, your entire journey will take place in daylight, which means you won't miss a moment of the spectacular scenery. You'll spend the night in towns or cities along the route.
EXPERIENCES
These are some suggested train experiences for your Canadian adventure
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Rocky Mountaineer
Daylight Train
The Rocky Mountaineer connects British Columbia and Alberta, with stops in Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Vancouver, Whistler, Quesnel and Kamloops. The train runs from mid-April until mid-October. The Rocky Mountaineer is a daylight only train designed so that passengers can experience the most spectacular views and optimal photo opportunities.
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VIA Rail Train
The VIA Rail trains connect Canada from Vancouver to Halifax, with four different train routes. Major city stops include Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Jasper, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax. The trains run year round. Depending on the route, they offer daylight or overnight sleeper train experiences.
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Sleeper Train
VIA Rail
There are two train routes in Canada which allow you to sleep on the train. Travel between Vancouver and Toronto on [The Canadian](https://canadiantrainvacations.com/explore/the-canadian-train), with stops in Jasper or Winnipeg. Or travel the East Coast of Canada on the Ocean train [from Montreal to Halifax](https://canadiantrainvacations.com/explore/train-trips-east-coast). Both sleeper train routes are available all year long. Sleeper trains in Canada are equipped with special panoramic viewing cars to provide you with the best view of the scenery day or night.
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Alaska Cruise
The rail portion of your trip can come before or after your Alaska cruise. There are two types of cruise ships to choose from: a larger, more luxurious vessel or a smaller ship that allows you to visit more coves and inlets. Each type of ship has its advantages and it depends on your style of travel and what you want to get out of your Alaska cruise adventure.
Banff National Park
Where mountaintops scrape the sky
It's only fitting to travel to the spectacular mountain vistas of Banff National Park by train, as the railway had such an integral role in this park's development (it was even named by CPR director Lord Steven in 1884, after his birthplace of Banffshire, Scotland).
The train weaves its way into Banff National Park, hugging the steep cliff sides and following the banks of the Bow River. As you travel to the heart of this mountain landscape, with the towering peaks leaning in on all sides around you, you'll get the same sense of awe the early railway pioneers must have felt when they first set eyes on the spectacular Rockies.
Jasper National Park
Where rivers carve through rock
The train enters Jasper National Park via the historic Athabasca and Yellowhead passes, which were first braved two hundred years ago by explorer David Thompson on his journey to reach the Pacific Ocean.
You'll arrive at the heritage Arts and Crafts railway station in Jasper - which is served by VIA Rail's The Canadian Train and The Rocky Mountaineer and is the eastern terminus of The Skeena Train.
As the train passes through alpine meadows, keep your eyes peeled for black bears dining on berries or the majestic silhouette of an elk's antlers. You can even take a driving detour to the Icefields Parkway - a route that carves through a larger-than-life landscape of rocky peaks, expansive valleys and glittering glaciers.
NATIONAL PARKS
These are examples of the National Parks you can visit on a train journey through Canada.
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Banff National Park
Alberta
The first national park in Canada, Banff continues to dazzle visitors with its jewel-like lakes, abundant wildlife and craggy mountain peaks.
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Jasper National Park
Alberta
The largest park in the Canadian Rockies, Jasper National Park is open year-round and the untamed, backcountry landscape attracts hikers, campers, snowboarders and skiers.
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Yoho National Park
British Columbia
From soaring mountains to serene overgrown forests to thundering waterfalls, Yoho has plenty to explore. The rushing rapids of the Kicking Horse River flow through these dramatic landscapes.
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Glacier National Park
British Columbia
Lace up your hiking boots and go on an adventure through cedar forests, marveling at the slowly moving gargantuan sheets of ice and the tips of the Selkirk Mountains shrouded in clouds.
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Mount Revelstoke National Park
Meadows alive with brightly hued wildflowers, trailside streams burbling over moss-covered rocks and dense forests of towering red cedars — this national park will have you constantly reaching for your camera.
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Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
British Columbia
Explore sandy beaches, watch crashing waves and wander through ancient, old-growth forests. Pacific Rim gives you a taste of Canada's raw West Coast.
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