The Canadian Rockies
Many of our guests incorporate a tour of the Canadian Rockies into their visit to Purcell Mountain Lodge. Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho and Glacier National Parks are all just a short drive from nearby Golden, BC. All you’ll need for a successful tour is a vehicle, a camera and a sense of adventure!
Banff National Park
Kootenay National Park
Jasper National Park
Yoho National Park
Glacier National Park
Golden
Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destinations. It is the third-oldest National Park in the world, and the oldest in Canada. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Two years later, Banff National Park was born. The park now spans 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers.
Recommended places to stay:
Tunnel Mountain Chalets
800-661-1859
www.tunnelmountain.com
Nice chalet accommodation just above the town of Banff on the Tunnel Mountain Road. Scenic vistas of the Bow Valley.
Baker Creek Chalets
403-522-3761
www.bakercreek.com
Well-managed chalets tucked in the forest a few miles east of Lake Louise on the Bow Valley Parkway.
Post Hotel
800-661-1586
www.posthotel.com
Luxury hotel in Lake Louise, with historic atmosphere, a first class restaurant and award-winning wine selection.
Online guide to hotels and restaurants in Lake Louise
www.lakelouisehotelguide.com
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Kootenay National Park
Established in 1920, Kootenay National Park represents the south-western region of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. From the glacier-clad peaks along the Continental Divide to the semi-arid grasslands of the Rocky Mountain Trench, Kootenay has a rich diversity of landscapes and ecology.
Recommended places to stay:
Mount Farnham Bungalows
250-347-9515
www.ohwy.com/bc/m/mtfarbun.htm
Fully equipped cabins in a forest setting just east of Radium. B.C. on Highway 93, and across from the Radium Hot Springs.
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Jasper National Park
Jasper is the largest and most northerly of the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks. On your visit you can listen to the thunder of Sunwapta Falls, enjoy the serene beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, connect with nature along 1,000-plus kilometres of trails, experience Athabasca Glacier up close, or just relax in the Miette Hotsprings.
Recommended places to stay:
Becker's Chalets
780-852-3779
www.beckerschalets.com
Lovely riverside cabins adjacent to the Icefields parkway just south of Jasper.
Pyramid Lake Resort Bungalows
800-717-1277
http://www.coasthotels.com/hotels/canada/alberta/jasper/coast_pyramid/overview
Wonderful mountain and lake views. 5km from the town of Jasper.
Patricia Lake Bungalows
888-499-6848
www.patricialakebungalows.com/
Quiet, lakeside bungalows five minutes from Jasper.
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Yoho National Park
Established in 1885, Yoho National Park represents the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains region. The word “Yoho” is a Cree expression of awe and wonder for this place of rock walls, spectacular waterfalls and soaring peaks. In the shadow of the Great Divide, Yoho holds the secrets of ancient ocean life, the power of ice and water, and unique plant and animal communities that continue to evolve today.
Recommended places to stay:
Kicking Horse Lodge
250-343-6303
www.kickinghorselodge.net
Located in Field, right across the street from the “Truffle Pigs Café”, one of the quaintest gourmet restaurants you will find in the mountain parks.
Emerald Lake Lodge
800-663-6336
www.crmr.com/emerald_lake_lodge.php
Upscale lodging on the shores of Emerald Lake, near Field, BC.
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Glacier National Park
Located immediately to the west and north of Purcell Mountain Lodge, Glacier National Park protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains Natural Region, in the interior wet belt of British Columbia. The steep, rugged mountains, warm, moist climate and wide variety of plant and animal life are typical of this natural region. The park protects unique stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock and critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species such as the mountain caribou, mountain goat and grizzly bear. The Rogers Pass National Historic Site, so designated for its importance in the construction and development of the country's first major national transportation route, is located in Glacier National Park.
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