Why spend your vacation in the Canadian Rocky Mountains? Because it is a majestic region that offers a wide array of recreational activities, cultural opportunities, awe-inspiring vistas and close encounters with nature and wildlife.
The Rocky Mountains are an expansive region full of mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, canyons and limestone caves.The forests of Douglas fir, trembling Aspen, lodgepole pine, white spruce, balsam poplar and shrub meadows climb up to the towering rocky, snow covered peaks. Flowing rivers, streams, lakes and rushing waterfalls along with the flowers, animals and birds bring the area to life and create a dynamic and stunning landscape never to be forgotten.
The Canadian Rocky Mountains have been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
The site consists of the contiguous national parks of Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho, as well as the Mount Robson, Mount Assiniboine and Hamber provincial parks.The Burgess Shale fossil site, well known for its fossil remains of soft-bodied marine animals, is also found here.
This region is home to grizzly and black bears, caribou, elk, moose, deer, wolves, wolverines, lynx, red foxes, mountain lions, coyotes, mountain goats and bighorn sheep. Smaller animals include minks, otters, weasels, chipmunks, porcupines, hoary marmots, a wide variety of squirrels, snowshoe hares, pika (a tiny grey animal related to the rabbit family) and voles. There are also many birds including white-tailed ptarmigans and bald eagles.
The best wildlife viewing times are from March to June and September to November, and in early morning and at twilight.
In summer the area is superb for hiking, river rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, mountaineering, heli-tours, wildlife viewing, jet-boating, golfing, fishing, caving and camping.
In winter no other place surpasses the skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, heli-skiing, ice climbing and sledding found here.
The towns in the area are also home to many cultural events and activities, dining, conference, meeting and wedding facilities.
The main towns in the area are Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke, Invermere, Field, Radium Hot Springs and Jasper.
Yoho National Park – Located on the western slopes of the Rockies, Yoho is a Cree expression for awe and wonder.Yoho is home to incredible waterfalls, soaring peaks and the fossils of the Burgess Shale.The village of Field is the main visitor centre in the park.
The Burgess Shale is the home to the remains of more than 120 species of marine animals from 515 millions years ago.They were discovered in 1909 and have expanded scientific understanding of the evolution of animal life.The Field and Lake Louise Visitor Centres have Burgess Shale displays.Access to the actual site is by guided hike only.For guided hike information contact the Yoho Burgess Shale Foundation, 1-800-343-3006.
Kootenay National Park – Also on the western slopes of the Rockies, Kootenay ranges from the glacier covered peaks of the Continental Divide to the semi-arid grasslands of the Rocky Mountain Trench where cactus grows. The village of Radium Hot Springs is the main visitor centre in the park.
Bubbling hot springs dot the landscape and offer visitors relaxation in naturally heated mineral spring pools in spectacular mountain settings.
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