Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains of Canada are a vast land - filled with inspiring scenery, wildlife, a multitude of recreational activities for all ages and a lot of unique opportunities.
This enormous area contains hundreds of natural sites to see, trails to hike and backpack, and culturally fascinating towns. Below is a list of some of the essentials, some of the most unique things you’ll want to be sure to see on your trip to the Canadian Rockies.
Think of Canadian Rockies and the lovely towns of Banff, Canmore, Jasper, Golden and Lake Louise as the world’s outdoor playground; world class ski hills, top ranked golf courses, whitewater rafting, cave tours, wildlife watching and so much more – all in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA. The northern end is at the Liard River in northern British Columbia.
The Canadian Rockies have numerous high peaks and ranges, such as Mount Robson (3,954 metres (12,972 ft)) and Mount Columbia (3,747 metres (12,293 ft)). The Canadian Rockies are composed of shale and limestone. Much of the range is protected by parks and a World Heritage Site.
The Canadian Rockies are bounded on the east by the Canadian Prairies, on the west by the Rocky Mountain Trench, and on the north by the Liard River.
Mount Robson (3,954 m (12,972 ft)) is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, but not the highest in British Columbia, since there are some higher mountains in the Coast Mountains and Saint Elias Range. Climbing Mount Robson is a challenge suitable for experienced and well-prepared mountaineers, and usually requires a week on the mountain.
Mount Columbia (3,747 m (12,293 ft)) is the second-highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, and is the highest mountain in Alberta.
National parks in Canadian Rockies
Five national parks are located within the Canadian Rockies, four of which interlock and make up the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site. These four parks are Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho.
The national park not included in the World Heritage Site is Waterton, which does not interlock with the others. The World Heritage site also includes three British Columbia provincial parks that adjoin the four national parks: Hamber, Mount Assiniboine and Mount Robson. Together, all these national and provincial parks were declared a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous other provincial parks are located in the Canadian Rockies.
