Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Lying along the east side of the Continental Divide south of Banff National Park and less
than one hour's drive from Calgary, this sprawling 4,250-square-kilometer (1,640-square-
mile) area of the Canadian Rockies (pronounced can-AN-a-skiss) has been extraordinarily
successful in balancing the needs of the 2.4 million outdoor enthusiasts who visit annually
while keeping the region in a relatively natural state. Although the area lacks the famous
lakes and glaciated peaks of Banff and Jasper National Parks, the landscape rivals those
parks in many ways. As well as the areas set aside for recreation, large tracts of land give
full protection to wildlife. Throughout Kananaskis Country, wildlife is abundant, and op-
portunities for observation of larger mammals are superb.
Kananaskis Country encompasses seven provincial parks, 1,300 kilometers (800 miles)
of hiking trails, a complex network of bike paths, areas for horseback riding (and some
for ATVs), a world-class 36-hole golf course, boat and bike rentals, and 30 lakes stocked
annually with more than 150,000 fish. The downhill-skiing events of the 1988 Winter
Olympic Games were held here at the specially developed Nakiska alpine resort, which is
now open to the public. Meanwhile, Nordic skiers can glide over hundreds of cross-coun-
try skiing trails in the region.
Geographically, Kananaskis Country can be divided into eight areas, each with its own
distinct character: Bow Valley Provincial Park, a small park between the TransCanada
Highway and Bow River that extends south along either side of the Kananaskis River;
Kananaskis Valley, home to a golf course, ski resort, and the accommodations of Kananas-
kis Village; Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, which rises from fish-filled lakes to the gla-
ciated peaks of the Continental Divide; Spray Valley Provincial Park, named for a massive
body of water nestled below the Continental Divide; Sibbald, an integrated recreation area
where horseback riding is permitted; Elbow River Valley and adjacent Sheep River Valley,
sections of the foothills that rise to Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park; and in the far
south the Highwood/Cataract Creek area, where the rugged landscape ranges from fores-
ted valleys to snowcapped peaks.
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