Height of the Rockies Provincial Park
Due to a large wash out on the road 1 km before the Ralph Lake Trail head, access is restricted to high clearance vehicles.
About This Park
Height of the Rockies Provincial Park plays an important role in connecting a protected area network lying north and south along the Great Divide. This park has internationally significant biodiversity values and sustains quality habitat for a wide array of animals and plants including grizzly bear and mountain goats.
From the lower elevations, such as the Palliser River valley at 1300 metres, to Mount Joffre at 3449 metres, the area protects both lush forests and permanent icefields. Seven major mountain passes and several distinct drainages provide the geographical and visual diversity that characterize the magnificent southern Rocky Mountains.
Park Size: 54,170 hectares
Special Notes:
- The park is closed to logging, mining and other resource uses. Existing grazing, guide-outfitting and trapping activities are permitted to continue at established levels.
- Height of the Rockies is a non-mechanized park. Motorized and mechanized recreational access is prohibited, including floatplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, ATVs and mountain bikes.
Stay Safe:
- Persons visiting Height of the Rockies Provincial Park are reminded that the park is a wilderness area, without supplies or equipment of any kind. All arrangements for supplies and transportation must be made beforehand.
- All park visitors should wear strong waterproofed, lug-soled boots and carry a daypack with raingear, extra warm clothing and food. Weather conditions can change suddenly in this area and lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer. For overnight trips a sleeping bag, groundpad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag and lightweight stove are essential. Only experienced climbers practiced in crevasse rescue and properly roped, should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
- Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park. Visitors who are day hiking should bring water with them. For overnight visitors, advised to boil or treat/filter water.
- Loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic may be encountered while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and for your safety always yield to industrial traffic.
- Public communications are not available at this park.
Location and Maps
Height of the Rockies park is adjacent to Banff National Park, Elk Lakes Park, and Peter Lougheed Park in Alberta. There are six major trailheads accessible by summer logging roads:
- from Canal Flats on Hwy 93/95 via the Whiteswan and White River roads ( turn east 4.5 km south of Canal Flats),
- from Sparwood on Hwy 3 turn north to Elkford, then follow the Elk River road, OR
- from Highway 93, from Kootenay National Park access Settlers Road through to the Palliser and Albert River roads.
- The park is also accessible by trail routes from Banff, Elk Lakes and Peter Lougheed parks.
The community of Elkford is the closest community when accessing Height of the Rockies from the southern portion of the park. Canal Flats and Radium Hot Springs are the closest communities when accessing the park from the west.
Maps and Brochures
Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.
- Park Map (PDF)
- Joffre/Palliser Trail Map (PDF)
- Queen Mary Lake Trail Map (PDF)
- Ralph Lake Trail Map (PDF)
- Middle Fork/White River Trail Map (PDF)
- Connor Lakes/Forsyth Creek Trail Map (PDF)
- Connor Lake/Maiyuk Creek Trail Map (PDF)
Nature and Culture
- History - Established as a Forest Service Wilderness Area in 1987 at the culmination of 12 years of dedicated work by naturalists, guide outfitters, the forest industry and government, this area became a provincial park in 1995.
- Cultural Heritage - The park includes Kootenai Indian routes to the plains over North Kananaskis and Palliser passes. Preliminary archaeological surveys have located two archaeological sites at the Middle Fork of the White River. There was also early European exploration over North Kananaskis Pass and down the Palliser River by Warre and Vavasour (1845), the Sinclair Settlers (1854), and the Palliser Expedition (1858-59).
- Conservation - Height of the Rockies Park contributes to the ecological integrity and viability of the large block of national and provincial parks extending along the spine of the Rocky Mountains There are numerous small lakes and outstanding natural features, including the Palliser River, the Middle Fork of the White River, the Limestone Lakes plateau, Conner Lakes, and the Royal Group of mountains.
- Wildlife - The Height of Rockies contains high concentrations of elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, cougar, black and grizzly bears and exceptional numbers of mountain goats. The Connor Lakes are a significant source of eggs for the Kootenay Hatchery’s native cutthroat stocking program.
Activities Available at this Park
Climbing
Fishing
Hiking
This park has hiking and/or walking trails. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
- Most trails are user maintained. Expect difficult and/or muddy, burshy conditions. There is no signage in the park, making navigational skills a must, including experience with topographical maps and compass.
- This park also has several informal or unmarked "routes" that are not maintained and, at best, include intermittent stretches where a beaten path is visible. Moderate scrambling and travel through dense undergrowth and occasionallay through tangled slide areas is required. These routes offer excellent scenic opportunities; however, they are not recommended for small children or inexperienced hikers. Hikers travel these routes at their own risk. Route-finding skills and an aptitude for orienteering are essential, and hikers need to obtain the appropriate topographical maps prior to arrival. Off-trail travel increases your chances of encountering a bear - travel cautiously.
- The route leading to The Pass in the Clouds, Goat Lake and Deep Lake from the White Middle Fork, was severely burnt in 2003 and is indiscernible for most of its length.
Horseback Riding
Routes are also not maintained and, at best, include intermittent stretches where a beaten path is available. Moderate scrambling and travel through fairly dense undergrowth and occasionally through tangled slide areas is required. These routes offer excellent scenic opportunities; however, they are not recommended for innexperienced riders. Route-finding skills and an aptitude for orienteering are essential, and visitors need to obtain the appropriate topographical maps prior to arrival. Off-trail travel increases your chances of encountering a bear - travel cautiously!
Hunting
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulation synopsis.
Pets on Leash
Swimming
Winter Recreation
Facilities Available at this Park
Cabins / Huts / Yurts
There are two cabins in the park for public use. At the north end of Connor Lake is a small cabin for public use on a first-come, first-served basis. The cabin will accommodate 6 people, has a wood stove and there is a pit toilet nearby.
At Queen Mary Lake, an 8-person log cabin is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A wood stove is provided in the cabin. A pit toilet is nearby.
Note that firewood is not provided – use only dead and downed trees for firewood, cutting of live trees is not permitted. Please leave the cabins neat and tidy and pack out all garbage, including leftover food.
Campfires
Pit or Flush Toilets
Walk-In/Wilderness Camping
