Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This park encompasses more than 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres) of rugged wilderness
along the British Columbia side of the Canadian Rockies. The park lies adjacent to the
southern border of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta, but the only road access is
from Highway 3, more than 120 kilometers (75 miles) to the south. Head north for 35 kilo-
meters (22 miles) from Sparwood, between Cranbrook and the Alberta border, on a paved
road to
Elkford,
then take an unpaved forestry road 67 kilometers (42 miles) farther north
into the park.
The end of the road, where you'll find a kiosk with a park map and up-to-date trail con-
ditions, is the park's main trailhead. From this point, it's an easy one kilometer (0.6 mile)
to
Lower Elk Lake
and then another kilometer beyond the end of the lake to
Upper Elk
Lake.
At the lower lake, a narrow trail climbs to a lookout. Aside from the long drive in,
the ratio of effort to reward in reaching these lakes is unmatched in the Canadian Rockies.
The stunningly beautiful upper lake is surrounded by steep snowcapped peaks, and several
avalanche paths end right at water's edge. Fishing in the lower lake is productive for Dolly
Varden and cutthroat trout.
Information and Services
The park has no facilities. The nearest town is Elkford (pop. 2,200), a small coal-mining
community 67 kilometers (42 miles) south. The community has few services, but there's
a small
municipal campground
within walking distance of downtown
(
www.elkfordcampground.com
,
$23 with hookups). The
Elkford Visitor Info Centre
(Front St., 250/865-4614 or 877/355-9453,
www.tourismelkford.ca
) is a good source of
park information.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search