One of seven national parks in British Columbia is the Canadian Glacier National Park and also one of the most popular. It was declared a national park in 1886 and has delighted its visitors ever since.
Part of the area consists of the Columbia Mountains, which reach heights of 2,600 to 3,390 meters. The mostly by glaciers covered park has an area of 1,349 square kilometers.
The Glacier National Park was proclaimed to protect the mountainous region of the Selkirk Mountains. This lies between the places Golden and Revelstoke. Visitor activities are limited to Rogers Pass and the historic Canadian Pacific Railroad route.
Most start their tours of the area from the park’s visitor center. Here you can get comprehensive information about the landscape and find an archive on the history of the park.
For a long time, the mountains were considered an insurmountable obstacle for people. This is how many exploratory expeditions took place around the mountains. In western Canada in particular, it was not possible for people to get over the mountains for a long time. So this area remained unexplored for a long time. The area was finally successfully explored by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. However, the area with its extreme weather conditions is not an easy place to be. The snowfall made it difficult to build the railway line and due to avalanches and huge amounts of snow, the construction work had to be interrupted frequently. It was decided to continue the route through tunnels. This happened in 1916.
It was not until 1950 that avalanche protection devices and protective barriers against snowfall and snow slides were set up. This was a decisive step for tourism, because after the end of the route and use by the railway, visitors could now also get into the park.
Nevertheless, there is still a risk of snow masses. Especially in winter, the steep rock faces pose an increased risk of avalanches. The heavy snowfall favors this.
The risk of snow slides is particularly high in mild temperatures. Because the moisture weighs down the snow and pulls it down, causing the mass to slide. To illustrate the danger emanating from the white splendor: The snow masses reach a speed of up to 350 km / h when they come down through the narrow valleys.
Nevertheless, the area is a beautiful stretch of land. Especially the blooming variety of flowers is an intoxicating sight. The early spring also brings the plants according to early flowering. And the avalanches have a good one. They cut real aisles in the landscapes. These offer the birds optimal living conditions in the dense vegetation.
The herds of mountain goats also enjoy the rich meadow landscape with its lush growth. You will always find enough food here to fill yourself up. The forests also benefit from the very mild climate and grow dense and large.
Activities Offered
In the park, visitors have the option of guided hikes. You can also fish with a license available on site. In addition, some routes can also be used as tours for bikes and mountain bikes. Ski hiking is offered in winter. Also wildlife watching and the popular backpacking are on the rich program. Other offers depend on the season and can be requested directly at the Service Point.
