CAKADA'S MOUKVAIK- PLA>'GUOUKl2i CANADA'S MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS by ROBERT J. C. STEAD (Reprinted from the Canadian Geographical Journal) "piFTY years ago Canadian statesmen of Rockies in Alberta, has an area of 2,585 * the time instituted the National Park square miles and contains the world-famous idea in the Dominion by reserving a little resorts, Banff and Lake Louise. Nestling mountain wilderness of ten square miles in the picturesque valley of the Bow River, in the Rocky Mountains surrounding the the little town of Banff is the administrative hot springs at Banff, Alberta. The move­ centre of the Park, and the hub for a system ment then begun has resulted in the of motor roads and trails which radiate preservation for the people of Canada of into the primitive wilderness. Lake Louise, a natural heritage of beauty in the form forty miles west of Banff, is superb among of majestic mountains, peaceful valleys, the beautiful lakes of the Rockies. Sur­ crystalline lakes and primeval forests. rounded by massive mountains on three From a small beginning Canada's system sides, it sparkles in ever-changing hues, of National Parks has grown to a vast mirroring the reflection of forest, peak outdoor kingdom, consisting of nineteen and sky. individual parks with a combined area of To the southeast, in the lonely Valley 12,403 square miles. of the Ten Peaks, is Moraine Lake, walled In the parks are preserved the scenery, in by the curving arc of ten majestic flora and fauna representative of that part mountains, while nearby is Paradise Valley, of Canada in which they are situated. its green meadows brilliant with flowers and Although originally established to preserve musical with waters. Mount Assiniboine, the landscape in its primitive state and loftiest peak in the park, stands astride the conserve the wild life of the region, National continental divide. It rises to a height of Parks are now also serving as national 11,870 feet in the form of a great glacier- recreational areas, where beautiful sur­ hung pyramid and has been aptly termed roundings are enjoyed each year by the "Matterhorn of the Rockies" from its thousands of Canadians and their guests configuration similar to the famous Swiss from other lands. peak. In Canada the term "national park" North of Banff Park is Jasper Park, covers the scenic and recreational parks in largest of Canada's national playgrounds. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, It includes an area of 4,200 square miles—a Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince magnificent region of mountains, icefields, Edward Island; the wild animal parks canyons and exquisitely coloured lakes. established in Alberta for the protection Its central geographic feature is the wide of native wild life, and the national historic valley of the Athabaska River which forms parks in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. an ideal route of travel for both railway Of the first group, the parks area in the and highway. Rich in historical associa­ Rocky and Selkirk Mountains of Western tions, the valleys of Jasper Park were Canada is the largest and best known. In travelled more than a hundred years ago these two great mountain ranges are seven by the fur-traders, explorers and mis­ national parks, with a total area of 8,720 sionaries who made their way along the square miles. "A Sea of Mountains" they "Athabaska Trail" from eastern head­ have been described. Within their bound­ quarters to the Columbia River on their aries are regions of alpine grandeur un­ way to the Pacific coast. Notable points surpassed in the world. Immense peaks of interest in Jasper Park are Maligne lift their snow crowned heads high above Canyon, the Miette hot springs—among the clouds, great glaciers move slowly down the hottest on the North American con­ from ice-bound sources, and deep canyons tinent—Mount Edith Cavell, the Tonquin hide their floors in awesome depths. Valley and Maligne Lake. The largest of Between the ranges are green valleys set all glacier-fed bodies of water in the with sparkling lakes and musical with the Canadian Rockies, Maligne Lake is also sound of tumbling waters. Well has the breath-taking in beauty. Canadian mountainland been described High on the shoulders of the peaks as "twenty Switzerlands in one." forming part of the great continental Banff, the oldest of Canada's National divide which separates Alberta from British Parks, located on the eastern slope of the Columbia is the great Columbia Icefield. LEFT: Mount Lefroy and Lefroy Glacier near Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta. CANADA'S MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS 1 his vast sea of snow and ice, estimated at Beyond the Rockies to westward are 110 square miles and the accumulation of the Selkirk Mountains, in which are centuries is the birthplace of mighty rivers Glacier and Mount Revelstoke Parks. It flowing finally into three oceans—the has been said that "no snows are so white Pacific, the Arctic, and the Atlantic, as the Selkirk snows, no forests so darkly, through Hudson Bay. beautifully green. While the average Waterton Lakes National Park in height of the peaks is less than that of southwestern Alberta is one of the smallest the Rockies, the richness of the flora con­ but one of the most beautiful of the trasted with the abundance of ice and national parks in the Rockies. It contains snow forms a combination that is par­ 220 square miles and adjoins the United ticularly beautiful. Glacier National Park States Glacier National Park, with which has an area of 521 square miles and may it forms the Waterton-Glacier International be reached only by railway, since no motor Peace Park. While its mountains lack the roads have yet penetrated its rugged great height of those to the north, their fastnesses. colouring is extraordinary. Upper Water- The last link westward in Canada's ton Lake, the central feature of the park, chain of national playgrounds is Mount stretches across the invisible International Revelstoke Park, an area of 100 square boundary like a great arm, to unite the miles. Occupying a wide rolling plateau two park areas in one vast playground and situated almost at timberline, the park sanctuary. contains several small lakes and is ap­ proached by a scenic motor road which Crossing the Great Divide of the winds up the side of Mount Revelstoke, Rockies into British Columbia, the visitor providing along the way magnificent views enters Yoho National Park, 507 square of the Illecillewaet and Columbia River miles in extent and differing in character Valleys. from the parks to the east. Noticeable is the greater richness of the vegetation, and, Fine motor highways, threading their for the most part, the narrower confines way through the valleys and over the of the valleys. Yoho Valley is a wonder passes by easy gradients, and crossing the spot of the Rockies. Indeed, "Yoho" is an turbulent streams on modern bridges, Indian exclamation of wonder and delight, afford access to the principal centres of and the beauty of the scenery fully justifies interest. More than 500 miles of motor the name. Into this narrow valley, four­ highways and secondary roads have been teen miles long and more than a mile constructed which either traverse the deep, down sheer rocky sides pour dozens mountain parks or link them with the main of waterfalls. Takakkaw, most beautiful avenues of travel. Now under construc­ of these cascades, falls a total distance of tion is a new motor highway which, when 1,500 feet to reach the valley floor. completed, will link Banff and Jasper National Parks and provide a travel route Yoho Park also contains Lakes Emerald through a magnificent region bordered by and O'Hara, as lovely as any in the lofty peaks and gleaming glaciers and ice­ mountains. It is said that one may count fields. The Canadian Pacific and Canadian twenty shades of green in Emerald Lake. National railway systems also afford lux­ Lake O'Hara has been compared by noted urious transportation to the mountain artists to Lake Louise, both for setting parks. and for colour. One of the greatest attractions of To the south of Yoho Park in British national parks is the variety of wild life Columbia lies Kootenay National Park, found within their boundaries. The rigid which was established to preserve the land­ protection received by the creatures of the scape along the Vermilion-Sinclair section wild appears to have freed them from fear of the Banff-Windermere Highway, the of man; and deer, elk and bear now come first motor road built across the central within a few yards of human habitation. Rockies. Kootenay Park contains an area It is quite a common sight while driving of 587 square miles, and its outstanding along the park highways to observe a group scenic features include remarkable canyons of bighorn sheep cropping the grass by the and beautiful valleys, as well as the famed roadside, while along the trails deer, moose Radium Hot Springs, at which a large and elk may frequently be seen. The parks swimming pool and bath-house have been are serving as breeding places for many constructed. Sinclair Canyon, just inside species of big game which spread beyond the western boundary of the park, is a the park boundaries and re-stock surround­ great notch in the wall of the Rockies, and ing districts. forms a natural gateway to an alpine Recreational opportunities in the parks wonderland. are many and varied. Riding, hiking. RIGHT: Climbing the Needles at Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, The Bungalows at Lac Beauvert. Jasper National Park, Alberta CANADA'S MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUNDS motoring, mountain-climbing, boating and In Banff, Jasper and Waterton Lakes swimming may be enjoyed under ideal parks picturesque towns have grown up at the administrative centres, where excel­ conditions.