Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The highest peaks of the Canadian Rockies form British Columbia's eastern boundary, sep-
arating the province from neighboring Alberta. On the British Columbia side of the Cana-
dian Rockies (often called the British Columbia or BC Rockies) are Kootenay and Yoho
National Parks and their gateway towns of Radium Hot Springs and Golden. The two na-
tional parks may lack the bustling resort towns of their famous Albertan neighbors, Banff
and Jasper, but they boast the same magnificent mountain vistas, glacially fed streams and
rivers, unlimited hiking opportunities, and abundant wildlife.
Many factors combine to make the Canadian Rockies so beautiful. The peaks themselves
exhibit drastically altered sedimentary layers visible from miles away, especially when ac-
centuated by a particular angle of sunlight or a dusting of snow. Between the peaks lie nu-
merous cirques, or basins gouged into the mountains by glaciers. These cirques fill with
glacial meltwater each spring, creating lakes that shimmer a trademark translucent green.
And thanks to a climate that keeps the tree line low and the vegetation relatively sparse,
fantastic views of the wide, sweeping valleys are assured.
Encompassing close to 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) of Mother
Nature's finest offerings, Kootenay and Yoho, along with neighboring Banff and Jasper Na-
tional Parks (both in Alberta), have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For
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