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Height of the Rockies

View the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park Photo Gallery

View the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park Photo Gallery

Situated on the Continental Divide, Height of the Rockies Provincial Park (68,000 ha/170,000 acres) is a scenic treasure and a vital reserve for wildlife. The park's assortment of towering peaks, sparkling glaciers, and icy lakes make it as beautiful as better-known parks like Banff yet it remains much wilder. Its importance to wildlife is extraordinary. Herds of over 2000 elk and deer, and the highest density of goats in the world (at least 1650 animals) roam throughout the park along with over 150 grizzly bears. As well, the area is significant to First Nation groups, who have used trails through the region for over 8000 years to travel up the White and Palliser Rivers, as well as over the Pass of the Clouds and Kananaskis Pass to access the prairies.

As early as the 1900s the area was proposed for a national park, but no formal protection was established. The extraordinary wildlife values of the area were recognized with the establishment of the White River Game Reserve in the area in 1936. In the years that followed roading and resource extraction became so extensive that Height of the Rockies was soon the most important remaining wildlife and wilderness refuge left intact in all of the southern British Columbia Rockies. Still protection was elusive. By 1986 clearcuts surrounded the wilderness area, and more were planned for within the pristine valleys. The campaign to protect the area, led by Spaces for Nature and the Palliser Wilderness Society, was stepped up.

Finally, in 1987 Height of the Rockies was established as BC's first Provincial Forest Wilderness Area. The area was closed to logging, mining, and other resource uses. Existing grazing, guide-outfitting and trapping activities were permitted to continue at established levels.

In 1995 Height of the Rockies was upgraded to a full Class A Provincial Park.



Button to the Great Wild Spaces comprehensive information page
Map of the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park and Region
Select the map to view a larger version
Brochure of the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park and Region

Check out the original Height of the Rockies Campaign Brochure!

PDF Format, 676 KB, 2 pgs

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