Height of the Rockies 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 1,300 metres, to Mount Joffre at 3,449 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.
There is a user-maintained backcountry campsite located at Beatty Lake. This site provides five tent pads, a food storage cache, and a cooking area with benches and a table, and a pit toilet.
Fires are not permitted at this location. Please camp only on the provided tent pads.
Wilderness camping is only permitted outside a 2 km radius of this site.
There are two cabins in the park for public use.
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.
There is a user-maintained backcountry campsite located at Beatty Lake. Wilderness camping is only permitted outside a 2 km radius of this site. There are other wilderness campsites, but no facilities are provided.
Winter camping is permitted in the park.
Fires are allowed, however, visitors should check with the Forest Service or at park trailheads to see if fires bans are in effect. Bring a portable stove for cooking and only have open fires when necessary, keeping them small to conserve firewood.
Fires are prohibited in the Limestone Lakes area, to mitigate impacts concerning conservational values.
The park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets. There is a pit toilet at Connor Lakes cabin and Queen Mary cabin. Bury human waste in soil at least 15 cm deep and 30 m from water if no toilet is provided.
This park has trails for hiking or walking. 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.
There are cold water swimming opportunities at this park. There are no lifeguards on duty.
There is excellent cutthroat fishing in this park. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Dogs in the backcountry must be under control at all times. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife.
Horseback riding is permitted. There are some trailhead corrals. As grazing is limited, feed should be packed into Sylvan Pass, Queen Mary Lake and Middle Fork White River meadows. Use pellets as they do not contain weed seeds.
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, so travel cautiously.
There are many climbing and mountaineering opportunities in the park.
Attention Hunters: To avoid human-bear conflicts and out of respect for non hunters, please hang all game meat at least 75 metres away from all camps and cabins and hang game three to five metres above the ground.
Do not butcher your game animal or dispose of the carcass or entrails on or near any road or trail. This may endanger other hunters or recreationists.
The park is open to hunting. All hunters to the area should refer to the current BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis.
There are cross-country, ski-touring and snowshoeing opportunities within Height of the Rockies Park as well as Connor Lakes and Abbot Ridge.
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:
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.
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 routes used by Indigenous people 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.
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.