Mt. Revelstoke National Park
Glacier National Park
These two parks are located along the Trans-Canada Highway in eastern British Columbia, with Glacier National Park being the easternly of the two.
Glacier National Park protects unique stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock and critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species. The Rogers Pass National Historic Site is located in Glacier National Park. It was so designated for its importance in the construction and development of the country’s first major national transportation route.
It was established in 1886, along with Yoho National Park to the east. The Canadian Pacific Railway had just completed its transcontinental line. The spectacular scenery along the rail line suggested a potential for tourism to the railway company.
There are more than 400 glaciers, covering over 12% of the total park area with ice. By 1930, the area had grown to a 1,350 sq km (521 sq mi).
Mount Revelstoke National Park, created in 1914, consists of a variety of geographical zones: dense old-growth rainforest of giant cedar and pine, a subalpine forest, alpine meadows, and tundra. There are a stand of ancient western red cedars and a jungle-like wetland where many birds can be seen.
It protects a portion of the Columbia Mountains Natural Region in the interior wet belt of the province. The area is 260 sq km (100 sq mi).
There are heavy rains in summer and heavy snowfall in the winter. These and relatively moderate winter temperatures are characteristic of the two national parks.
See map of the two parks.
We would like to thank the staffs at Mt. Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park and Parks Canada for providing information for this page.
See also: National Parks of Canada.
