Canada is having a record-breaking wildfire season, with an astounding 4,241-wildland fires breaking out since the beginning of 2023. More than 12 million hectares of land has burned so far, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC), which mobilizes firefighting resources across the country.
In June, the majority of fires were impacting the eastern provinces, with more than 14,000 people evacuated in Quebec province alone. As of the end of July, the fires in the east are largely contained, but British Columbia, on the west coast, is now seeing an increase, with 440 active fires. Three hikers were rescued from the summit of Mount Bruce in southeastern B.C. by a passing tour helicopter Monday after a fire started on the peak.
Yet there is a silver lining: the vast majority of Canada鈥檚 epic national park system has been untouched by wildland fires.
Sadly, the end is nowhere in sight. Canada鈥檚 wildland fire season typically continues into October, and 1,074 fires are currently active coast to coast.
鈥淪ince the start of the season, we’ve experienced hot, dry, and windy conditions in many parts of the country,鈥 says Jennifer Kamau, communications manager for CIFFC, of the conducive conditions. 鈥淲e expect these conditions to persist.鈥
Yet there is a silver lining: the vast majority of Canada鈥檚 epic national park system has been untouched by wildland fires. Besides British Columbia, the majority of active fires are in the remote northern sections of Canada鈥攕uch as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 鈥攚hile most units in its national park system run along the south and central portions of each province.

According to Parks Canada, there was only one active fire鈥攁 small one in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta鈥攚ithin a Canadian National Park at press time. Fire bans are only being implemented on a localized, case-by-case basis across the parks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 business as usual for us,鈥 says Jorg Wilz, owner of , a guide company that leads multi-day adventures in Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Kootenay, and Yoho National Parks, all in the Rocky Mountains. 鈥淓ven the air quality has been good. We鈥檝e had summers in the past where fires were close to the parks and the smoke was difficult, but that鈥檚 not the case this summer. We haven鈥檛 had any bad air quality days or road closures. We haven鈥檛 had to cancel or alter any trips.鈥
All of that is good news if you鈥檙e planning to explore one or more of Canada鈥檚 national parks this summer, as long as you remember the fickle nature of wildfires. 鈥淔ire highly depends on the weather, so the situation on the ground can evolve quickly depending on the conditions,鈥 says Kamau. Winds can shift and alter a park鈥檚 air quality overnight as well.

Keep on top of the situation鈥攁ccording to CIFFS, nine new fires started across Canada today鈥攂y monitoring CIFFS鈥檚 of the wildfires across Canada. also offers updated smoke forecasts and fire-related weather info. Each park鈥檚 home page has a link to alerts and restrictions like campfire bans in the park you鈥檙e planning to visit.
Where to Go in Canada Right Now
Looking to explore our neighbor to the north and need some inspiration? Canada鈥檚 park system is expansive, with 47 different units spread across 13 provinces and territories. Here are three suggestions to get you started.
1. Jasper National Park, Alberta

The largest national park in Canada, Jasper encompasses 2,774,500 acres of the Rocky Mountains, including the Columbia Icefield, a 125-square-mile collection of glaciers split between Jasper Banff national parks. Drive the Icefield Parkway, between Lake Louise and the border of Jasper, for great views of the spectacle. Or check out the backcountry hike, a 2.8-mile loop hitting a handful of ponds amidst the evergreen forest.
2. Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia

Forested canyons drop to the sea at , which protects a rugged mix of mountains and coast on the seafaring Nova Scotia province. Sample the 180-mile Cabot Trail, a mix of roadways and short hikes with non-stop views of the coast and fishing villages surrounding the park.
3. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario

envelopes the Niagara Escarpment, a tangle of forested ridgelines, caves, cliffs, and the turquoise water of Lake Huron in southern Ontario. There鈥檚 plenty to see inside The Bruce, but head straight for The Grotto, a collection of carved limestone rocks and caves that extend down to Lake Huron鈥檚 Georgian Bay. Plan ahead and make for parking.
Campfire Safety
Be a good guest in Canada鈥檚 national parks. Parks Canada recommends campers bring an emergency kit, know how to exit the park in an evacuation, and note the local or park emergency number for reporting a fire. No fireworks or sparklers; make sure safety chains on trailers are off the ground; and never drop or throw matches, cigarettes, or any other burning substance on the ground. See campfire safety tips 聽and information on fire bans
Graham Averill is 国产吃瓜黑料 magazine鈥檚 national parks columnist. He lives in the very wet Southern Appalachians, where wildfires are rare, though they occur on occasion. He understands they鈥檙e no joke; while living in San Diego years ago, he saw the flames of a wildfire on the horizon west of the city, and watched ash fall like snow in his front yard. He鈥檚 hoping for safe outcomes for people in Canada.
