Canadian Rockies golf with an altitude

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer
Rockies.com

CANMORE, Alberta (Rockies.com) – Naturally spectacular, naturally elevated and naturally inspired, Silver Tip will challenge your golfing skills as much as it will invigorate.

Boasting 600 feet of elevation change and playable from an approachable 5,000 yards to a championship 7,300 yards, Silver Tip golf course in Canmore, Alberta is a Canadian Rockies luxury golf experience. Bring your
“A” game and a camera; Silver Tip golf course may be the most scenic golf experience in the Canadian Rockies.

Nestled up against the most beautiful mountains in the Rockies, Silver Tip offers a haven from the world. Ideally located high on the sunny side of a mountain on the Trans-Canada Highway, Silver Tip has a bird’s eye view of Canmore and offers views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The city of Calgary is just 90 kilometers to the east (60 minutes), and Banff National Park is just 23 kilometers (20 minutes) to the west.

Silver Tip climbs from an elevation of 1,310 meters (4,300 feet) to 1,560 meters (5,200 feet) and provides a jaw dropping view of the Bow Valley and the town of Canmore.

Carved from the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies, Silver Tip is a world-class, 7,200-yard championship course designed by golf architect Les Furber, Silver Tip is as challenging as it is spectacular!

At Silver Tip, golf is much more than a game. It’s about being in touch with nature. Where you are surrounded by some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, and where moments of solitude are broken only by the voices of nature.

From its elevated mountainside location and astounding 360-degree views, to the warm southern Alberta sunshine and countless acres of untouched wilderness, Silver Tip offers what few golf courses can – 18 holes of beautifully designed golf overlooking the spectacular Bow Valley corridor, deep in the heart of Rocky Mountain wilderness.

Silver Tip golf course was named the “most scenic” golf course in the Canadian Rockies by CanadianRockies.net in 2004.

The Silver Tip Golf Resort is a soft-spike facility. Metal spikes are prohibited. Golfers must wear non-metal spiked golf shoes or soft soled shoes. Spike replacement can be made at the Pro Shop for $12.00.

Gentlemen on the course are required to wear collared shirts with either short or long sleeves. Properly tailored shorts are permitted. Ladies’ shirts may be sleeveless, but must have a collar. Skirts are allowed,
provided they are at least mid-thigh length. Blue jeans are not allowed on the golf course.

Players are required to replace divots, repair holes and ball marks, and leave bunkers with no trace of use. A 90 degree cart rule is now in effect.

For reservations, call 403 678-160 or toll free at 877-877-5444.

Directions to Silver Tip:

From Calgary
(96 km, approximately 50 minutes):
Take Highway #1 west to the Canmore Town Centre exit. Take Silvertip Trail
up the mountain (5 minutes) to the Timbers Clubhouse.

From Banff
(20 km, approximately 25 minutes), Lake Louise (75 km)

Take Highway #1 east to the Canmore Town Centre exit, turn left at the
light to cross the overpass and turn left again at the next set of
lights. Take Silvertip Trail up the mountain (5 minutes) until its
termination at the Timbers Clubhouse.

From Canmore
(5 minutes) Take Railway Ave. north across Highway #1. Turn left at
the first set of lights. Take Silvertip Trail up the mountain (5 minutes)
until its termination at the Timbers Clubhouse.

Tips on how to truly experience lovely Lake Louise

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (Rockies.com) – A drive in the Rockies with stops along the way will leave visitors with lots of memories to take back home. Many of the scenic drives in and around the village of Lake Louise along with some of the attractions and sights of the area are described in this brochure. Jackets, insect repellent and litter bags are useful for stops along the way. Maps, guidebooks, binoculars, a camera and a full picnic hamper will help you enjoy your visit even more.

Lake Louise

With its blue-green water and dramatic mountain setting, this is the best known and most admired lake in the park. Lake Louise Drive, a paved 4.5 km road, and two trails, the Tramline and Louise Creek, provide access between Lake Louise Village on the valley floor and the lake itself.

Pathways lead from the public parking lot to the lake. The magnificent snow-covered peak at the end of the lake is Mount Victoria, named for England’s renowned queen. The lake is named for after one of her five daughters. A stroll through the flower-filled grounds in front of the Chateau Lake Louise is a nice way to spend a half hour. Canoes can be rented from the boathouse at the lake or you can see the lake on foot by walking the Lakeshore Trail. At the Lake Louise ski area, on the opposite side of the valley, visitors can take a chairlift up Whitehorn Mountain in the summertime for panoramic views of Lake Louise and its surrounding peaks.

Moraine Lake: Valley of the Ten Peaks

The sister lake to Lake Louise, in its setting encircled by mountains, is a scene familiar to many from the back of the Canadian $20 bill. From the turnoff on Lake Louise Drive, a 12.5 km drive, closed in winter, takes you to the lake with a number of viewpoints along the way. The Great Divide runs across the tops of the jagged peaks behind the lake. Stoney Indian names were originally given to the 10 peaks by 19th century mountaineers. You can get an excellent view of these peaks and the lake by hiking the Rockpile Trail to the top of the large jumble of rocks at the outlet of the lake. The huge mountain to the north with the glacier on its summit is Mount Temple, third highest mountain in the park. You can also stroll to the far end of the lake on the well-built lakeshore trail, take a short walk to nearby Consolation Lakes or go canoeing.

1A Highway: The Great Divide

The 7.4 km drive from the junction on Lake Louise Drive to the Great Divide follows the original highway over the Kicking Horse Pass. A rustic timber arch marks the divide. A monument on the 1625 metre summit of the pass is near the railway tracks, a short walk from the picnic area. As well as being the major continental watershed, the Great Divide also forms the boundary line here between Alberta and British Columbia and between Banff and Yoho National Parks. This road, like the one to Moraine Lake, is not plowed in winter and then becomes a cross-country ski trail.

From the divide, you can continue on to take in many of the scenic and historical attractions of Yoho National Park: the Spiral Tunnels exhibit and viewpoint, Takakkaw Falls in Yoho Valley and Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge. For information on Yoho National Park stop at the Information Centre located beside the highway at the town of Field.

The Bow Valley Parkway

The parkway is a low-speed scenic drive between Lake Louise and Banff on the side of the Bow River opposite the Trans-Canada. To reach the parkway, cross the highway overpass, drive uphill on Whitehorn Road and take the first right turn. Along the route there are interpretive signs, viewpoints and picnic sites.

The Icefields Parkway

This parkway ranks as one of the most scenic highways in the world and is also a good route for viewing wildlife. It starts at an overpass on the Trans-Canada Highway 2.5 km west of Lake Louise. From the overpass it runs for 230 km past Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Falls and other natural spectacles to end at the town of Jasper in Jasper National Park.

Self-Guiding Interpretive Trails

You can learn a lot by hiking an interpretive trail. They are short, well-built and easily accessible. Signs, displays, and brochures help you uncover some of the hidden layers of the park’s natural and human history.

Bow River Loop

This 7.1 km loop located on both banks of the Bow River is primarily a nature walk. Interpretive signs along the way will introduce you to the Bow River ecosystem and some of its animal friends. The river loop connects with the Tramline and Louise Creek trails. As this loop is easily accessible from the campgrounds, the railway station and hotels and shops in the village centre, it also serves pedestrians and bicyclists on errands.

Moraine Lake Rockpile

You don’t have to hike far or high to obtain one of the best views of Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. From the parking lot, a well-constructed trail runs to the top of the rockpile at the lake outlet. The round trip distance is less than 0.8 km and the elevation gain about 24 m. The panoramic view from the top may be familiar to you from the back of the Canadian $20 bill. It appears now that rockpile damming the lake is a result of a rockslide off Mount Babel rather than a glacial-formed moraine.

Bow Summit

This trail starts in the parking lot on the Icefields Parkway 44 km north of Lake Louise. You climb uphill (total elevation gain is only 32 m) through a forest at treeline to a viewpoint over brilliantly coloured Peyto Lake, the Peyto glacier and Mistaya Valley to the north. The Timberline Trail loops away from this viewpoint through a meadow where sub-alpine flowers bloom in late July or early August. Signs along the way tell you much about this amazing world at the upper reaches of the sub-alpine zone and how plants and animals have adapted and survived here in harsh, marginal conditions. The total round-trip distance is 2.1 km. The trail is well-constructed and paved and visitors are encouraged not to stray off it. (This trail is not shown on the map.)

Mistaya Canyon

A canyon as spectacular as Maligne or Marble Canyon, it is easily reached on a 300 metre trail. From the pulloff on the Icefields Parkway 75 km north of Lake Louise or 5 km south of Saskatchewan Crossing, the trail follows an old road downhill. You can look right into this deep, narrow and dangerous canyon from a bridge. The canyon has been carved in limestone by the Mistaya River which originates in Peyto Lake only 28 km away. You should stay well back from the unfenced edge of the canyon, especially if the rock is wet. (This trail is not shown on the map.)

Parker Ridge

Parker Ridge is at the same elevation as Sunshine Meadows, 2280 m. The 2.4 km long trail to this spectacular ridge starts from the pull-off on the Icefields Parkway 41 km north of Saskatchewan Crossing. A sweater, windbreaker and a thermos or water bottle are recommended on this hike. High and close to the Columbia Icefield, snow lingers on this ridge until June or later, the growing season is measured in weeks and there is no guarantee of any frost-free nights, yet on a clear calm summer day it can be desert-hot. Colourful alpine flowers bloom briefly in mid-summer, ptarmigan may be seen camouflaged against the rocky ground and mountain goat spotted on the surrounding mountains. Living conditions for vegetation here are harsh even without the trampling of feet on their way to and from the ridge so please stay on the trail. At the summit, (250 m above the parking lot) sweeping mountain vistas and an outstanding view of the Saskatchewan Glacier unfold before you. (This trail is not shown on the map.)

The Park Interpretive Program

The park interpretive program runs all summer long with a wide range of stimulating programs and activities. Evening slide shows and talks are put on in the interpretive theatres in the Lake Louise and Waterfowl campgrounds. You can go on a guided walk with an interpreter, join them for a campfire chat, or find out the answers to your questions about the park. Information on the park interpretive program is published in The Banff National Park Official Visitor’s Guide, the park’s free newsguide which is available at visitor centres.

Strolls and Walks

A stroll or short walk is an excellent way of experiencing the park at your own pace while stopping to take photographs, fish, picnic or just enjoy the scenery. Listed below are a number of trails in or near the Village of Lake Louise.

Louise Creek*

Experience the impressive force of an unchecked mountain stream on this 2.7 km path, the shortest route for hikers between the village on the valley floor and Lake Louise in a hanging valley 200 m higher. Walk across the Bow River highway bridge on Lake Louise Drive. The trail starts on the downstream side of the bridge and closely follows Louise Creek uphill. About halfway up the Tramline crosses this trail. To stay on the Louise Creek Trail cross the bridge at this intersection. The trail you are hiking follows much the same route taken in 1882 by Tom Wilson when, led by his Stoney Indian guide Edwin Hunter, he discovered Lake Louise. At its upper end the trail crosses a public parking lot just before it reaches the lake.

Tramline*

Where this trail now goes, a narrow gauge railway once ran. Starting at a footbridge over the Bow River behind the train station the Tramline runs uphill at a four per cent gradient for 4.5 km ending in the parking lot at the same place as the Louise Creek Trail. It is broad and easy to follow for the most part. Be sure to cross the creek at the bridge where the Tramline and Louise Creek trails intersect. Few signs are there to remind you of the train and its passengers that regularly used this route between 1913 and 1930. The Tramline and Louise Creek trails can be easily combined to form an interesting 7.2 km loop.

Louise Lakeshore*

Starting in front of the Chateau, this broad, level and popular trail follows the northwest shore of Lake Louise for 3 km. It can be a pleasant, relaxing lakeside stroll by day or a lovely moonlight walk. The trail skirts below the high cliffs visible at the far end of the lake (popular with rock climbers). This walk ends at the delta, the flat muddy plain just beyond the cliffs. The trail continues on to the Plain of Six Glaciers. Mountain goats are sometimes seen on the sides of Fairview Mountain across the lake.

Fairview Lookout*

A brisk stroll enjoyable any time of day, it starts at the viewpoint at the outlet of Lake Louise. A well-made trail climbs through a primeval spruce forest to a lookout 100 m above the lake. It branches right off the Saddleback Trail 0.3 km from the start and continues uphill for another 0.7 km to a wooden observation platform offering views across the lake and back to the hotel. Fairview Mountain towers over the lookout. You can return the same way or take the rough 1.3 km long trail that winds steeply down to the lakeshore and follows it through some wet spots back to the boathouse.

Moraine Lakeshore

For some close-up views of the Ten Peaks, walk down this popular trail to the far end of the lake. Just past Moraine Lake Lodge, the Larch Valley and Eiffel Lake trails lead off uphill. Like the Louise Lakeshore trail, only shorter and more secluded, this one follows the northwest lakeshore for 1.5 km to a rocky creek flowing into the lake.

Consolation Lakes

A short walk of 3 km will make you feel you are in the heart of the Rockies, with a sparkling lake at your feet, towering peaks with sheer cliffs surrounding you and glaciers high above. From the Moraine Lake parking lot, you pass the Rockpile Trail and travel most of the way through forest, gaining only 65 m elevation, to the rocky shore of Lower Consolation Lake. A generally wet trail runs around the northeast shore to Upper Consolation Lake about 1 km away but you must ford the creek to get on it. As you hike out you get good views first of Mount Temple and then of the Ten Peaks.

* Trails within walking distance of the Chateau Lake Louise.

Day Hikes

Any hike long enough to require taking a pack with lunch and extra clothing is a day hike. Day hikes offer fresh air, exercise and sometimes bad weather, along with plenty to see. For more information on the hikes described here or on other day hikes in the Lake Louise area, consult a hiking guidebook and topographical maps.

Plain of Six Glaciers*

Plain of Six Glaciers and Louise Lakeshore are one and the same trail to the far end of Lake Louise. As you continue up this valley you see below you a turbulent rocky creek, moraines abandoned by receding glaciers, enormous gravel fields (sometimes concealing underlying glaciers) and finally, icy crevassed Victoria Glacier. Glaciated peaks encircle this area on whose slopes mountain goats may be seen. The Highline Trail joins the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail at 4.1 km. A teahouse, serving light lunches and refreshments during the summer, is located 5.5 km from the trailhead. The trail continues up the valley for another 1.3 km to a viewpoint of Abbot Pass and the Death Trap, the enormous glacier-filled gorge between Mounts Victoria and Lefroy. The elevation gain is 360 m at the teahouse and 405 m at the viewpoint.

Mirror Lake: Highline Trail*

The Highline Trail provides an interesting alternative start or finish to the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. The trail starts at Mirror Lake on the Lake Agnes Trail, 295 m above Lake Louise. The trail map here will help you get your bearings. From this lake, the Highline Trail follows a more or less level course. It emerges on top of the cliffs at the far end of Lake Louise with breathtaking views down to the lake and back to the Chateau Lake Louise. Further on, the glaciated mountains of the upper valley come into view. It joins the Plain of Six Glacier Trail 2.8 km from Mirror Lake. Hiking out on the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail and back on the Highline is less strenuous than travelling in the opposite direction.

Lake Agnes: Beehives*

Lake Agnes is located in a hanging valley 365 m above Lake Louise with beehive-shaped mini-mountains on either side of it. Many people have found the sight of this lovely alpine lake and the incredible panoramic views from the Big or Little Beehive worth the strenuous hike. The well-made 3.6 km trail to the lake starts on the west side of the Chateau. About halfway up, a break in the trees offers a viewpoint over Lake Louise. At Mirror Lake (km 2.7) a map helps direct you through the maze of trails there. A teahouse at the lake serves light lunches and tea during the summer. Take a leisurely stroll to the far end of the lake if you don’t feel up to the 140-metre climb to the Little Beehive or the 170-metre climb to the Big Beehive. The lake is often ice-covered to mid-June; in the fall the area is golden with larches.

Paradise Valley: Giant Steps

The trail through this aptly named valley is a loop with a tail on it. From its start in the gravel parking lot 2.4 km down the Moraine Lake road, it climbs over a ridge to enter the valley and in 5 km comes to the start of the loop at the Lake Annette junction. This 8.1 km loop takes you across vast avalanche slopes to the start of the 0.7 km side trail to the Giant Steps cascade, below steep and rocky Sentinel Pass and under the towering northerly face of Mount Temple with placid Lake Annette beneath it. Standing guard around the Horseshoe Glacier, at the head of the valley, are Wenkchemna, Hungabee, Ringrose and Lefroy – all peaks over 3200 m (10,500 feet). The overall elevation gain from the trailhead is less than 400 m. The total distance is 18.1 km.

Saddleback*

A short but demanding trail, it climbs steadily uphill gaining 600 m in elevation in 3.7 km. From the viewpoint at the outlet of Lake Louise it heads up the forested slope of Fairview Mountain. The final leg of the trail zig-zags through a forest of larches to a beautiful alpine meadow. The premier view here is of Mount Temple from the far side of the meadows. For those with mountaineering inclinations, they can follow indistinct trails to the summits of Saddle Peak (90 m higher) or Fairview (411 m). Take the same route back down however tempting other routes may look. The trail continues over Saddleback and drops down into Paradise Valley. It is over 11 km from the Saddleback Pass back to Lake Louise by the Paradise Valley route.

Larch Valley: Sentinel Pass

Just past Moraine Lodge, an uphill trail starts its 3 km climb through forest to Larch Valley and the Minnestimma Lakes (an Indian word for “sleeping water”). It helps to stay on the switchbacks on this trail as shortcuts cause erosion and trail damage. From this valley, 520 m above Moraine Lake and only 205 m below Sentinel Pass, you get wide encompassing views. In autumn, the needles of the larch trees turn golden, making the valley glorious.

Many people prefer to end their hike at the valley, but quite a few continue on another 2.8 km to the top of the pass with its powerful views. At an elevation of 2611 m (8566 feet), Sentinel Pass is one of the highest in Banff National Park. Those planning on crossing the pass should be wearing sturdy hiking boots, be aware of the dangers of falling and rolling rock, and be prepared for a long hike. You’ll have to pick your way down a steep, rocky slope to a trail that shortly connects up with the Paradise Valley loop. From the top of the pass, it is 11 km to Moraine Lake Road, and another 10 km by road or trail back to Moraine Lake or another 4 km on to Lake Louise by trail.

Eiffel Lake

The first part of this trail is the same as the Larch Valley Trail. The left hand fork at the Larch Valley trail junction (km 2.4) leads to Eiffel Lake, 3.2 km away, by following the top of a lateral moraine well above the trees. A spur trail runs down to the lake. The main trail continues on to Wenkchemna Pass, about 3.2 km further on and some 350 m higher. Wenkchemna, an Indian word for ten, is the last of the ten peaks. While hiking this trail, all of the ten peaks as well as the debris-covered Wenkchemna Glacier are visible. From the top of the pass you are looking down at the Eagle’s Eyrie and Opabin Pass in Yoho National Park.

Boulder Pass

This trail of contrasts starts in the Lake Louise ski area and ends 8.8 km away on an alpine pass with stupendous views. Turn off the Whitehorn Road onto graveled Fish Creek Road. From the Fish Creek parking area hike or bike the first 4 km up a dirt road offering occasional views of distant peaks and Corral Creek. At the end of he road (and the bike trail) head uphill across a ski slope to the hiking and horse trail.

From here on you are in real backcountry, travelling through forest to Halfway Hut in an alpine meadow 470 m higher than the parking lot. The hut, now used only as a day shelter, was once the halfway point and resting place when only a trail ran between the Lake Louise train station and Skoki Lodge. From the hut a separate 1.1 km trail leads to Hidden Lake. Rock-studded Boulder Pass is 1.5 km ahead and only 150 m higher. At the top of the pass, the mountain world unfolds. Behind you is glaciated Mount Temple and ahead is Ptarmigan Lake. Pikas, marmots and Columbian ground squirrels scurry among the rocks. The well camouflaged ptarmigan may be seen. Redoubt Lake is located a rocky 1.3 km and Baker Lake 3 km away from this pass. (The start of this trail is shown on the map.)

General Information

Other Outdoor Activities

Picnicking, sightseeing, and taking a tour are popular activities for people visiting the park. For parents with young children there are playgrounds and picnic areas in Banff and Lake Louise. Canoeing, going on a cruise and wind-surfing are enjoyable water sports. Fishing is permitted with a national parks licence. The adventurous can go backpacking, kayaking, mountaineering and ski touring. In winter, downhill and cross-country skiing are the major pastimes along with snow shoeing, skating and ice fishing. Photography and wildlife observations are year-round activities.

Horse Routes

If you want to experience the park from horseback, several commercial outfitters in Banff and Lake Louise offer guided trips from one hour to several days duration. If you own a horse, you can take it on most trails in Banff National Park. Horses are not permitted on Sunshine Meadows, Sentinel Pass or Healy Pass. The brochure Horse Users Guide provides more information.

Bicycle Routes

Bicycling is permitted on public roads and highways and on certain trails in the park. In good weather, many of the drives described in this pamphlet are more enjoyable to cycle than to drive. The Bow Valley Parkway and Icefields Parkway are marvelously scenic cycle routes suitable for full day trips as well as overnight trips with stops in the campgrounds, youth hostels or lodges along the way.

Visit a park visitor centre for details on trails on which bicycles are permitted. Short trips, full day excursions and bicycle camping trips are all possible. Cycling off the trails is not allowed.

Disabled Facilities

Banff National Park has something to offer people with hearing, vision, mobility or mental impairments and plans to make more facilities accessible. An overview is given here; for more details or information on group services contact our Calgary office or one of the visitor centres in the park. (See “More Information” in this brochure for addresses). Information is also available from the Banff/Lake Louise Chamber of Commerce and Alberta Tourism Offices. The Banff Health Unit may be able to provide assistance and rent equipment (phone 762-2290, Monday-Friday).

The Cave and Basin Centre in Banff and the Lake Louise Visitor Centre are fully accessible. The Banff Visitor Centre has been upgraded to permit access by the disabled and a hearing impaired phone installed; the phone number is 762-4256. Assistance is required and available for disabled people wishing to use the Upper Hot Springs. The main floor of the Banff Park Museum is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessible public washrooms are located within half a block of the Banff Visitor Centre and the Park Museum and in drive-in campgrounds and picnic sites in Banff, Lake Louise and along the Bow Valley and Icefields Parkways. The physically challenged can use and enjoy some trails throughout the park. Surface treatments range from asphalt, cinders, crushed gravel and dirt. Many shorter trails are level or have only gentle grades.

Special thanks to Park Canada for their assistance with this article

A Piece Of Heaven in theHeart Of The Rockies

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer
Rockies.com

FIELD, British Columbia (Rockies.oom) – The Cree word “takakkaw” means “it is magnificent.” Takakkaw Falls in Canada’s Yoho National Park is all that and more. The falls are the second highest in Canada and thunder some 800 feet off a sheer granite cliff to the valley floor. From a distance, the falls are an awesome spectacle; from up close they are positively intimidating, even violent. Without a doubt, Takakkaw Falls are one of the most acclaimed sites in the Rockies and the centerpiece of Yoho National Park. Yoho, as if it felt overshadowed by its big brother to the East (Banff National Park), comes across as more of a kindred spirit – that is, until you discover its secrets.

Covering just 507 square miles, Yoho National Park is small when compared to other National Parks in Canada. What Yoho lacks in size, it makes up for with its divine dose of emerald lakes, hanging glaciers, waterfalls and gothic peaks that explode into the horizon. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have world-renowned backcountry wilderness trails and the world’s richest supply of Cambrian fossils either. Needless to say, Yoho packs a pretty good punch when a good adventure is on your mind.

Incidentally, perhaps the most popular attraction in the park is Emerald Lake. The masses tend to flock to such accessible places where the true wilderness may be sanded down a bit, but nonetheless, it’s a place that warrants considerable ogling. The lake is a classic alpine lake complete with “make-believe” baby-blue water that reflects the awesome peaks of Mt. Stephen, Mt. Wapta and Mt. Burgess with grandeur and style. The Emerald Lake Lodge is a luxurious treat for the wealthy. The boat rentals are affordable and recommended – you won’t get a chance to paddle on waters this pristine anywhere else.

Perhaps the Burgess Shale Fossils are Yoho’s most coveted secret. The fossils were originally discovered by paleontologist Charles Walcott high on the slopes of Mt. Burgess in 1909. These Cambrian-aged fossils are exquisitely preserved and are said to be the world’s finest Cambrian-aged specimens. The fossils are 515 million years old and have provided scientists with a wealth of information on an ecosystem that existed long before your grandpa had his teeth removed. In addition, these unique soft-bodied life forms have given scientists a valuable glimpse into the nature of evolution itself.

The unique, fragile and globally important nature of the Burgess Shale means it is well protected. Protection is the responsibility of the park and visitors can only see the site with a guide. Needless to say, it is strictly forbidden to remove anything from the Burgess Shale. In fact, so impressive are the fossils that it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. It is well-worth a visit.

Exploring the backcountry in Yoho is something else you don’t want to miss. Hiking in Yoho is an high-voltage adventure that will get your heart thumping, your legs throbbing and your mind tingling. One of the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies starts right at Takakkaw Falls. It is called the “Iceline” and it will blow you away.

The trail was built in 1987 and traverses into a rocky alpine zone where you’ll be surrounded by the power of ice and granite. This premier hike can take a full day and numerous other trails can be accessed from it, including the Burgess Shale and Emerald Lake areas. The Iceline is a classic hike that won’t kill you, but your brake pads are going to burn coming down. Bring water, lunch and multiple rolls of film.

Chances are, if you’ve trekked the Iceline, you’re craving more of what Yoho is all about. Not to worry, there are other areas close by that will also make a lasting impression in your mental photo gallery. The Lake O’Hara area is a wilderness utopia that epitomizes the majesty of the mountains. The park, in an effort to protect this precious alpine environment, has limited access to Lake O’Hara. If you want to go hiking in this area you must reserve a spot at the park office. Also, vehicles are not allowed to drive to the lake.

There is a parking area just off the Trans Canada Highway where you’ll park your car. From there, a bus takes salivating hikers down a forestry road to the lake, lodge and starting point for your excursion into the wild. Unlike the Iceline, where you could pass a hundred hikers in a day, in the Lake O’Hara area you may see more moose than men.

You won’t find too many posh resorts or polished roadside inns in Yoho. However, the two resorts that are in the park have deservedly been given nationwide attention. Both the Emerald Lake Lodge, with its stunning setting on the shores of Emerald Lake, and the Cathedral Mountain Chalets, located on the road to Takakkaw Falls, offer quality rooms and outstanding dining.

Across the road from the Cathedral Mountain Chalets is the Kicking Horse Campground. This campground, one of five “front country” campgrounds in the park, has a number of choice sites along the Yoho River. Many of the sites offer dazzling views of Mt. Stephen and the small glacier that perilously clasps onto its south face. Mt. Cathedral and old mine works from a hundred years ago can also be seen from numerous sites.

The mine works are remnants of a trade that used to be a profitable business in the park. Zinc was primarily the focus of the mining activity in this area; however, it’s been 51 years since any ore has been removed for commercial reasons. The mineshafts, many of them located high on Mt. Field and Mt. Stephen, are now sealed with iron grates.

In 1930, a new National Parks Act was passed which stated that no new mineral claims were to be granted in order to uphold the Parks mandate for wilderness protection and conservation. The park, however, granted the existing mines the right to continue operations and in 1952 they were closed, not because of the park, but because they were no longer profitable.

Fittingly, the word Yoho means “awe” and “wonder.” From mountain massifs to valleys carpeted with green, its sights are compelling, rewarding. Not only is Yoho a natural playground filled with jaw-dropping vistas, but it teems with opportunity, adventure and history.

Most people are familiar with the National Parks of Banff and Jasper, however, their “little brother” Yoho, is every bit as mighty. So grab your hiking boots, camera (with a crate of film), and head to the land where everything, especially the waterfalls, are “magnificent.”

Getting There: Yoho National Park is located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada. From Calgary, the closest international airport, it will take you two hours to reach the park gates. Head west on the Trans Canada Highway past Banff and Lake Louise. You will enter Yoho National Park just west of Lake Louise.

The small town of Field is the headquarters for the park. The information center there should be your first stop.

For information write:
Yoho National Park
P.O. Box 99
Field, BC, Canada
VOA 1GO
Phone: (250)343-6783
email: yohoinfo@pch.gc.ca

Tiny Golden will win your heart

By Michele Kadison

Staff Writer
Rockies.com

GOLDEN, British Columbia (Rockies.com) – Just through the Gateway to the Rockies lies a beautiful mountain community called Golden in British Columbia. Surrounded by the Columbia Valley Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell Mountain Range to the west, Golden is one of the foremost locales for resort and adventure tourism. Easily reached by the Trans-Canada Highway in the east and west and Highway 95 in the south, Golden is approximately three hours west of Calgary, four hours north of the Idaho state border, and approximately seven hours east of Vancouver. Golden, British Columbia can also be accessed by air or Greyhound Bus. Car rentals and taxi services abound, and a shuttle serviced is provided by the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort from Calgary, Banff, and Lake Louise.

An ideal rafting and fishing resort, Golden, British Columbia is located on the Kicking Horse River, where the white waters meet the Colombia River. With five National Parks surrounding the area – Yoho, Mount Revelstoke, Kootenay, Jasper, Glacier and Banff – Golden is a perfect getaway for the adventurer and outdoor enthusiast.

If skiing is your game, 2,750 acres of champagne powder, vertical drops and inbound chutes make Golden’s famous “Kicking Horse Mountain Resort” the ideal spot for the seasoned skier.

Downtown you can become immersed in Golden’s history. There you will find the longest single span timber-frame pedestrian bridge in Canada, built by volunteers in cooperation with the community.

Golden, British Columbia’s History

Golden, British Columbia’s history begins with Sir James Hector, a geologist who was part of a famous expedition in the 1850s. After being kicked by a horse, he named the valley “Kicking Horse Pass” and the river that flows through it, “Kicking Horse River.” Later when surveyors came to build the transcontinental railway in 1882, they named the settlement “Golden” in rivalry with a nearby camp named “Silver.”

Ever since the very first settlement, the Canadian Pacific Railway has played a major part in the region by providing assistance to coal miners and employing mountaineering guides from Switzerland. The many Swiss chalets that dot the Golden mountainsides are reminders of Golden’s railway history. More of Golden’s history can be found by visiting the Golden and District Museum.

As an incorporated community with a mayor and town council, Golden is one of the most important mountain communities in the area.

Activities in Golden, British Columbia

Golden, British Columbia is famous for backcountry skiing as well as for providing heli-skiing services and breathtaking cross-country trails. Take the mountain bike trails on Mount 7, enjoy the services of a mountaineering guide as you explore Golden’s rich wilderness, experience the exhilaration of white water rafting, play a round of golf, send the kids to the local concrete skating rink and take the whole family to see one of Golden’s rodeo shows. Guided horseback tours, ice hockey games and swimming are other activities that make visiting this Canadian Rockies vacation destination a pleasure. With fine dining, entertainment and a wide choice of accommodations, Golden, British Columbia is the ideal choice for a mountain vacation.