There are seven national parks in British Columbia, Canada. Glacier National Park is one of the more prominent, having been established in 1886. The glacier park protects a portion of the Canadian Columbia Mountains Natural Region, containing the interior wet belt of British Columbia and the Rogers Pass National Historic Center. The Center is noted for its historical importance in the construction and development of the first major national transportation route in Canada.
The glacier offers a number of natural wonders and rare wildlife viewing opportunities. Nature viewers can gasp in amazement at the beauty of Rogers Pass, a place known for it steep mountains, dangerous avalanches and the Canadian Pacific Railway that tunnels through the forbidding landscape. For the animal lover, take a moment and see if you can spot one of the endangered mountain caribou making its way through the pristine Canadian snow. There is a wide variety of animal life to discover, including black bears and grizzly bears, wolverines, American Dipper birds and a large variety of water-based insects. The glacier itself plays home to several species of animals many specific to that region alone.
There are also several activities and special events at the glacier for the park visitor. Visitors can lodge in one of the back country huts during their stay and take part in many recreational activities. Among the choices are ski touring, hiking trails, mountaineering and cave spelunking, wildlife viewing, and a limited amount of fishing (with license), as some species, like the Bull Trout, are endangered. For nature photographers, filming or photographing in a national parks, requires an application that must be submitted to Parks Canada ten days prior to visitation.
Special events for the glacier include the Annual Moonlight Ski, which is an 8 kilometer ski adventure from the base of Mount Revelstoke Summit Road to the Monashee Picnic Shelter. There is also the “Celebrate the Summit” event, which is an annual gathering held on the Monday of the August long weekend. There, vacationers can join a hiking group that travels into Eva Lake to celebrate the natural relationship between the City of Revelstoke and Mount Revelstoke National Park. The event is planned around several family based activities.
The glaciers of Glacier Natural Park provide a wondrous excursion away from everyday life that must be seen to be fully appreciated. From outdoor activities to beautiful natural treasures, the British Columbia glaciers prove to be a sight to behold.