Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Lake Magog and Mount Assiniboine in evening twilight
Location British Columbia British Columbia, Canada Canada
Nearest city Banff, Alberta Alberta
Coordinates 50°50′N 115°35′W / 50.833°N 115.583°W / 50.833; -115.583Coordinates: 50°50′N 115°35′W / 50.833°N 115.583°W / 50.833; -115.583
Area 39,050 ha
Established 1922
Governing body Provincial
World Heritage Site Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located around Mount Assiniboine.

History

The park was established 1922. Some of the more recent history that is explorable within the park include Wheeler's Wonder Lodge (Naiset) (1924), Assiniboine Lodge (1928), the first ski lodge in the Canadian Rockies,[1] and Sunburst (1928).

World Heritage Site

In 1990 this park was included within the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2] Together with the other national and provincial parks that comprise the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, the park was recognized for its natural beauty and the geological and ecological significance of its mountain landscapes containing the habitats of rare and endangered species, mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, limestone caves and fossils.

Conservation

The park aims to protect a large variety of species. Eighty-four species of birds inhabit the park environs, based on sightings. Columbian ground squirrels are very common in the core area of the park. Ten species of carnivore including wolves, black bear, grizzly bear, weasel, cougar, lynx inhabit the park. Six species of ungulates: elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, mountain goat, Rocky Mtn. bighorn sheep roam within park boundaries.

Recreation

The following recreational activities are available: backcountry camping and hiking, horseback riding, cross country skiing and ski touring, fishing, and hunting. There are also climbing opportunities. Existing facilities include: 10 camping areas (75 campsites), including the main camp at Magog; 6 roofed accommodation sites (60 beds), including Mt. Assiniboine Lodge; day-use facilities at Rock Isle basin, including interpretive facilities and sanitation; 160 km of horse and hiking access trails: Assiniboine Pass, Wonder Pass, Mitchell River, Simpson River, Citadel Pass, Surprise Creek; and guide-outfitters cabins: Mitchell River and Police Meadows.

Location

Located 48 kilometres southwest of Banff, Alberta. No roads access the park. Backcountry hiking trails are the only access to the park, the quickest route being via Sunshine Village ski area in Banff National Park.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brooks DeCillia (August 16, 2012). "Historic backcountry ski lodge gets facelift". CBC News. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  2. ↑ "World Heritage Committee: Fourteenth Session". UNESCO. 1990. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
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