Along the Great Divide - Yoho and Banff National Parks

 

Emerald lakes and glaciers abound in adjoining Yoho and Banff National Parks. Located along the great divide of the Rockies, both parks offer outstanding hiking opportunities. The emerald, green lakes and rivers are unique and breathtaking. 

The 2024 Jasper wildfire was one of the most destructive in Canadian history.

It is sobering to see in person the magnitude of wildfire damage covering 96,000 acres, so I felt the need to lead with a fire damage photo. The 2024 fire forced the evacuation of 25,000 people, and 360 structures were lost. The devasting impacts of the fast-moving fire are still evident everywhere in town, from the burned down buildings and homes, to the rows of make-shift housing still in place for displaced residents. It is good to see the positive as well. The town is booming, tourists are back, and the forest is starting to recover.

Moving beyond the fire damaged areas, the high mountain terrain offers spectacular opportunity to see a very unique landscape. Jasper National Park is truly a wonder to see.

Canada's Glacier National Park, British Columbia

 

This is one of Canada's most dramatic and historically rich parks. Early explorers described the scenery as "fifty Switzerlands in One".  The park is home to over 100 glaciers, although they are shrinking fast due to climate change. 

Mount Revelstoke National Park, British Columbia

 

Revelstoke's forest is one of the rarest on earth. Towering old-growth cedar and hemlock trees thrive here, creating a lush and mossy inland forest. This is the only mountain in Canada's National Park system where you can drive nearly to the summit.

E.C. Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia; The Skyline Trail

The Skyline Trail in E.C. Manning's Provincial Park offers jaw-dropping views of a number of Cascade Peaks, including Hozomeen Mountain and its double-summit (8,186 ft-msl), located 14 miles south just across the U.S./ Canada border in Washington State. The peak was formed through a combination of geological processes over millions of years. It's primarily composed of metamorphic rock, which was shaped by intense heat and pressure. The dramatic appearance is due to uplifting and erosion. 
 

Barkley Sound's Broken Group Islands, part Canada's Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

The Broken Group Islands off British Columbia's Vancouver Island are a stunning archipelago in Barkley Sound, known for their natural beauty and ecological significance. The islands were traditionally used by the Nuu-chah-nulth Indigenous people for fishing and spiritual practices for thousands of years.