Parks Canada is looking to install Wi-Fi in 15 to 20 remote locations this summer.
The sites have yet to be confirmed, according to Discovery News. A total of 75 may receive high-speed Internet over the next three years, depending on the success of the trial.
"Canada is a very big country, and it has become very urban. And for young people from cities, things are different," said Francois Duclos, manager for visitor experience planning at Parks Canada.
Parks Canada's plan has received some negative reaction - some critics have said parks exist so folks can get away from the Internet, CNET reported.
But Duclos stressed that web access is a top demand from visitors and that it is helpful for planning. He also added that Wi-Fi would be limited only to very populated areas of the parks.
"We are introducing new media, habits, and tools, but are doing it in a way that will leave the wilderness unimpaired," Duclos said. "When you picture a mountain range, blue lakes, whitewater rivers, and spruce forests, this is not where Wi-Fi will be found."
Duclas added, "We really care about the nature of these places - as much as our visitors. We don't want to change the nature of the place, but to adapt to the needs of the market."
Duclos also said that Wi-Fi in populated areas of the parks can help people share their experiences on social media, which bolsters the parks' promotion, CNET reported.
Locations that are being considered for the service include the town of Banff close to Banff National Park, Tunnel Mountain Campground, the town of Jasper, its campground near Jasper National Park and La Maurice National Park. Other spots up for consideration include the welcome facility at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the Fortress of Louisbourg and the Halifax Citadel in Nova Scotia.
David Webb, editor for Explore Magazine, said the service will have a negligible effect on camping, CTV News reported.
"The wilderness is still going to be there for everyone, you just might have to hike a bit to get to it - but Jasper is a 10,000 square-kilometer park, so it's there," Webb said. "There's a lot of wilderness in Canada that will never be a Wi-Fi zone."
