Stretching over 900 miles along the western edge of Alberta, the Canadian Rockies are a rugged and majestic collection of peaks and valleys. Spilling over into British Columbia, the range runs southward across the US border for a total of some 3,000 miles. Featuring icefields and creeping glaciers, the Canadian Rockies offer numerous hiking trails as well as mountaineering opportunities for both beginners and seasoned climbers.
These mountains boast not one, but five national parks: Yoho, Banff, Kootenay, Jasper, and Waterton. Yoho National Park features vertical rock walls, waterfalls, and numerous trails, while visitors to Kootenay can check out the local hot springs as they take in the surrounding mountain vistas. Banff, Canada’s first national park, is also home to hot springs. These sulfur springs were discovered accidentally by railroad workers exploring a cave, and are home to a diverse variety of plant and animal life, some of which is found nowhere else in Canada.
Jasper National Park is located near a quiet mountain town, and is home to the Columbia icefield, as well as serene lakes and waterfalls. While this and the first three parks mentioned are clustered fairly close together, Waterton is further south, near the US border. Waterton National Park is home to the deepest lakes in Canada and, along with neighboring Glacier National Park in the US, is designated as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Throughout the Canadian Rockies, hikers and climbers are treated to picturesque views of crystal blue lakes, rugged mountain peaks, and an assortment of wildlife like beaver, otters, bald eagles, elk, moose, and grizzly bears. Many species of big cats also call these mountains home and visitors may catch sight of cougars, bobcats, or lynxes.
For a glimpse of what a trek through the Canadian Rockies could be like, take a look at this jaw-droppingly beautiful video, which uses people to convey the immense scale of this magnificent place.
Featured Image from Dimitar Donovski/Unsplash
