Out of this world stargazing in Canada's National Parks

Bundle up for a celestial adventure! This season, constellations, meteor showers, and celestial phenomena come alive against the backdrop of crisp, cold nights.

Mission: protect the night sky!

• Enjoy a welcome escape from glaring city lights in one of Parks Canada's 13 Dark-Sky Preserves. Explore the darkest Dark-Sky Preserve in all of Canada at Grasslands National Park, or the largest in the world at Wood Buffalo National Park!
• Feel the magic of these special locations that make a commitment to protect and preserve the night sky, reducing or eliminating all forms of light pollution. 

In winter, shooting stars shine too!

• The Perseids of August are certainly the most well-known phenomenon that steal the spotlight. However, almost every month, meteor showers light up the sky all year long. Treat yourself to a show with the Geminids and the Ursids in December and the Quadrantids in January. Don't forget to make a wish! 
• During winter, it’s also possible to admire the famous Orion Nebula, an impressive nursery of stars and planets. Simply bring your binoculars and look south of Orion Hunter’s belt! You can also participate in a guided snowshoe hike in Elk Island National Park with a park interpreter and Orion as your guide!

See the Northern lights across Canada!

• Always dreamed of seeing aurora borealis in Northern Canada? National parks in Canada’s north are indeed well suited for observation, but did you know that it’s possible to see northern lights all over Canada throughout the year? It just requires complete darkness, clear skies, and sufficiently intense solar activity.
• Lie back on specially designed benches to enjoy the vast sky at the Dark Sky Circle in Wood Buffalo or visit Grasslands, Waterton Lakes, Elk Island and Jasper National Parks. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights in these Dark-Sky Preserves are very good.

Sleep under the stars!

• Gazing up into the twists and turns of the Milky Way and spotting constellations is often the highlight of an evening! Extend your stargazing experience by staying the night in a roofed accommodation complete with a heating stove for those chilly nights. With cool days, comfort food and hot chocolate, winter is a perfect time to enjoy a little luxury while camping in a dark sky reserve!
• Cold-weather equipped yurts, oTENTik tents, rustic cabins or shelters await you in beautiful Atlantic Canada in Fundy National Park. Or consider spending the night at Camp Henry in Pointe-Pelee National Park in one of the 24 new oTENTik tents. In Western Canada, let yourself be charmed by the Palisades Centre, a historic ranch in Jasper National Park. If you prefer a challenge, pitch your tent at Elk Island or Kouchibouguac National Parks and treat yourself to traditional winter camping!

Everyone who visits comes home with a brilliant story. Get up close to the stars and find out what happens in yours. Get your pass now!