Glacier National Park

Hikers at the Illecillewaet glacier.

Mountain goats at Glacier National Park.

Glacier National Park, along with nearby Mount Revelstoke National Park, protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains Natural Region in southeastern British Columbia.

Both parks are known for their steep, angular mountains, deep and narrow valleys, icefields and glaciers, waterfalls, countless avalanche paths and tremendous rain and snowfall volumes.

Covering 836 square miles in the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges, Glacier National Park protects critical habitats of several threatened and endangered wildlife species, including the grizzly bear and mountain caribou.

The park was established in 1886, simultaneously with Yoho National Park to the east. The Canadian Pacific Railway had just completed its transcontinental line, linking the scattered settlements of the young nation of Canada. The spectacular scenery along the rail line suggested a potential for tourism to the railway company.

The famous Rogers Pass is located in the center of the park. The pass was named for Major A.B. Rogers, engineer-in-chief for the railway. It has been designated a National Historic Site in commemoration of its role as an essential, yet perilous, link in the building of the transcontinental railway.

Black and grizzly bears are typically seen along the highway, as are mountain goats and, in winter, huge flocks of finches.

More than half of the park is in the alpine tundra zone, above the tree line, with the remainder of the park in subalpine forests and meadows. The ecologically-important dense cedar-hemlock rain forests in the lower valleys occupy a very small section of park lands.

Bicycle use is restricted. Bicycles are permitted only on the Trans-Canada Highway. Mountain biking is not permitted on trails in the park.

There are two highway-accessible campgrounds in Glacier; Illecillewaet Campground with 60 sites located 1.8 miles west of Rogers Pass summit and Loop Brook Campground with 20 sites located about three miles west of the summit.

The campgrounds are open from June to October, on a first come-first served basis. Overflow campsites are available at Sir Donald Picnic Area during July and August, with sites assigned by staff at the Rogers Pass Centre and Illecillewaet Welcome Station.

Both campgrounds have flush toilet washroom buildings, log kitchen shelters, food lockers, firewood and drinking water supplies.

An all terrain wheelchair is available at the Illecillewaet campground

Glacier has three designated backcountry campsites on the Bald Hills. Each has tent pads and food storage poles to place food out of reach of bears. Open fires are not permitted in the backcountry. All backcountry campers require a Wilderness Pass.

There are no formally maintained winter campsites in Glacier. Road access to summer campgrounds is unplowed during winter. Anyone wishing to camp in winter should check in at the Rogers Pass Centre.

Glacier has three backcountry huts available on a first-come, first-served basis, at various costs per person per night. A wilderness pass is considered to be part of the hut fee.

The Rogers Pass Centre is open year-round except for Christmas Day and Tuesdays and Wednesdays in November.

A wilderness pass for backcountry camping is available at the Mount Revelstoke information kiosk.