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Rocky Mountains Canada or ‘The Canadian Rockies’ magnificently spreads through the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. It serves as an enormous crown embellishing our mother, Earth. This scenic treasure is full of high peak mountains, massive waterfalls, verdant parks, glinting lakes, shimmering glaciers, and enormous wildlife. The warm summer days and crisp winter days of the Rocky Mountains, Canada, are the perfect climate for hiking and camping.
How can you call yourself a traveler or a hiker if you haven’t explored the beauties of ‘The Canadian Rockies’? The lovely climate of these mountains has been attracting tourists from all around the globe. This place offers excellent camping sites and hiking trails to add to your bucket list.
Top 5 Rocky Mountains Canada
1. Mount Robson
Mount Robson is the highest and the most prominent mountain of the Rocky Mountains Canada. It is situated within the Mountain Robson Provincial Park of British Columbia, the second oldest park in the province. It contains the headwaters of the Fraser River and the massive Berg Glacier within it. This place comes under one of UNESCO World Heritage sites because of its excellent scenery and highly appreciated camping sites and hiking trails.
Elevation: 12,972 feet (3954 meters)
Prominence: 2,829 meters
Total size: 225,777 hectares (Park Area: 225,285 and Protected Areas: 492)
First Ascenders: Conrad Kain, Albert H. McCarthy, William W. Foster, Julien Vallières
Wildlife: Over 217,000 hectares of wilderness spreads throughout the mountain area having about 182 species of bird. Animals like Grizzly Bear, Caribou, Mountain Goat, and Mountain sheep are found in the higher elevations, and animals like Mule, Whitetail Deer, Moose, Elk, and Black Bear are found in the lower elevations.
Camping Areas: Robson Meadow (180 vehicles/tent sites), Robson River Campground (19 vehicles/tent sites), and Lucerne Campground (36 vehicles/tent sites) are the major three camping sites preferred by all.
Best Trails: Berg Lake Trail, Moose Rivers Trail, Kinney Lake Trail, Snowbird Pass, Mount Fitzwilliam Trail, and many more.
Attractions: Yellowhead Pass, Moose Lake, Overlander Falls, Mount Robson Visitor Center, Rearguard Falls, Valemount Town, and many more.
Hiking Tips: Hikers have chosen Berg Trail to be the most suitable and beautiful trail for hiking. It would help if you were well-packed because you might experience rainfalls too. Different trails have different camping sites and attractions, so you need to learn about the trails and choose accordingly. A minimum of 4 days of hiking and camping through this trail will give you the best experience.
2. Mount Assiniboine
Mount Assiniboine is located between Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, British Columbia, and Banff National Park, Alberta. The sky-scraping pyramidal peaks of Mount Assiniboine of the Rocky Mountains in Canada are a world-renowned quaint spot. No road leads into this area. You can enjoy the breathtaking splendors of this mountain by traveling through the trails. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Elevation: 3,618 meters
Prominence: 2,086 meters
Total size: 390.5 sqr. kilometers
First Ascenders: Christian Hasler, James Outram, Cristian Bohren, etc.
Wildlife: This place has a spacious area full of flora and fauna. Species like Grizzly Bears, Mountain goats, Elk, Bighorn sheep, Moose, Mule deer, Badger, Coyote, and Marten are found in the park. Over 90 species of birds are seen in the park, such as grey jay, rosy finch, crowned sparrow, pine siskin, chipping sparrow, and many more.
Camping Areas: Magog Campground, Og Lake Campground, Naiset huts, Hind hut, Scout Camp, Surprise Creek Campground, Porcupine Campground, and many more.
Best Trails: Wonder Pass, Mitchell River Trail, Simpson River Trail, Assiniboine Pass, Og Pass, Sunshine Meadows, and many more.
Attractions: Magog Lake, Sunburst Peak, Niblet/Nublet/Nub, Cerulean Lake, Mitchell Meadows, Mount Shark, and many more.
Hiking Tips: The best time for hiking is between mid of July to early September. There is no private vehicle service. You have to enter via helicopter, horse or foot. It would be best if you took bear spray with you. There are camping fees at some of the camping sites, but there are no hiking trail fees. The minimum time for backpacking is about 5-6 days, so prepare accordingly.
3. Mount Columbia
Mount Columbia, the topographical prominence, is the highest point of Alberta and the second-highest of the Rocky Mountains Canada. It lies within the Jasper National Park in Alberta. It is situated on the northern edge of the border between Alberta and British Columbia. This mountain area serves as the best ski mountaineering site among the Rocky Mountains Canada. If you are a photographer, then the exquisite sceneries of Mountain Columbia will never let you put down our camera.
Elevation: 3,747 meters
Prominence: 2,383 meters
Round-Trip Distance: 11.5 miles
First Ascenders: James Outram
Wildlife: Jasper National Park has a wide diversity of wildlife. There are over 260 species of birds and 53 species of mammals. Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, Woodland Caribou, Bighorn sheep, Mountain goat, Elk, Lynx, Bobcat, Marmot, Pika, and Ptarmigan are found. Its verdant wilderness attracts many travelers and nature-lovers to come and appreciate the untouched beauty of the wildlife.
Camping Areas: Arrowhead Point Campground, Chalk Creek Campground, White Star Campground, Cottonwood Lake Campground, Railroad Campground, and many more.
Best Trails: Horn Fork Basin Trail, Cottonwood Trail, East Ridge Trail, Kroenke Lake Trail, Colorado Trail, Mount Harvard Trail, and many more.
Attractions: Cottonwood Lake, Denver Botanic Gardens, Garden of the Gods, Colorado National Monument, and many more.
Hiking Tips: The best months to climb Mount Columbia are July and August. You must research your trail/route and check the weather forecast before beginning your hiking. You should be back at the tree line by noon to avoid lightning. Do not forget to take a compass with you for better guidance about directions. All the essential items must be present with you for a safe experience.
4. Mount Edith Cavell of Rocky Mountains Canada
Mount Edith Cavell, the most prominent peak of Alberta, is situated within the Astoria River and Athabasca River valleys of Jasper National Park. The Cavell Meadows spreads over a 984 ft cliff on the northern face. The hanging Angel Glacier has been a beautiful attraction for years. You can hike through the Cavell Meadows and capture lots of splendid scenes throughout your journey. You can also enjoy the Tonquin Valley situated near Mount Edith Cavell.
Elevation: 3,363 meters (11,033 ft)
Prominence: 2,007 meters (6,585 ft)
First Ascenders: A. J. Gilmour, E. W. D. Holway
Wildlife: The spectacular alpine wildflowers are the best spots to enjoy the beauty of Mount Edith Cavell. Rocky Mountain Flowers and Caribou Lake are some of the best examples of Mt. Edith Cavell’s beautiful wilderness spread.
Camping Areas: Wabasso Campground, Wapiti Campground, Maccarib Backcountry Campsite, Whirlpool Group Campground, Whistlers Campground, and many more.
Best Trails: Cavell Meadows Trail and Glacier Trail
Attractions: Cavell Lake, Angel Glacier, Moraines, Glacial erratic, Floral Meadows, Towering Cliffs, Cavell Meadows, and many more.
Hiking Tips: Hiking through the path of the Glacier Trail has a total distance of 1.2 km for a round trip. You can enjoy the views of Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond from the trail. Hiking through Cavell Meadows Trail is a rocky path with a distance of 6-7 km for a round trip. You can spot the beautiful marmots and pikas. The trail through the Cavell Meadows will brighten your hiking experience.
5. Sulphur Mountain
The beautiful Sulphur Mountain is located in the Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains Canada. The massive peaks, the jagged mountain ridge, the vastness of alpine, and the gorgeous lakes will give a heavenly experience. The exceptional Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest national park, spiritually connects you with nature. Travelers and explorers never miss out on capturing the beauty of this place.
Elevation: 2,451 meters (8,041 ft)
Prominence: 670 meters (2,200 ft)
Parent Range: South Banff Range, Rocky Mountains Canada
Wildlife: The Banff National Park hugely contributes to the flora and fauna diversity within the wildlife of Sulphur Mountain. Grizzly bears, Cougar, Wolverine, Elk, Bighorn sheep, and Moose are found in the park. Reptiles and amphibians are also found in the park, but a limited number.
Camping Areas: Tunnel Mountain Village I Campground, Tunnel Mountain Campground, Two Jack Main Campground, Wapiti Campground, Tunnel Mountain 2 Campsite, and many more
Best Trails: Sulphur Mountain Trail and Tunnel Mountain Trail
Attractions: Banff Gondola, Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, and many more
Hiking Tips: Hiking through Sulphur Mountain will take about 3-5 hours, covering a distance of 10.1 km out and back. There is no such thing as ‘best time to go’ because you can go hiking there any time of the year. It is a moderate hike with a largely populated trail. The trail also offers great views of Bow Valley that you can cherish forever.
The beautiful Rocky Mountains Canada give you the ultimate hiking experience you can cherish forever. This majestic spread of various mountains through British Columbia and Alberta surely serves as quintessential Canadian tourism. So, pack your bags and get ready to enjoy the snow-white peaks of Northern America and get lost in the beautiful sceneries.
Last Updated on by Sanjana
