Midnight Sun Adventure Travel

2009 Tours of the Rocky Mountains: "The Rockies Wildlife Tour"

Rockies Wildlife Tour Itinerary

Day 1. Nahatlatch Provincial Park and Protected Area, BC.
After departing Vancouver, we drive through the Fraser Canyon, following the mighty Fraser River, Canada’s second largest river (1300 km long) to Boston Bar. At Boston Bar we descend to Hells Gate via aerial tram to the base to the canyon where 1,370 kilometres of the Fraser River squeeze into a 34 metre wide thundering passage. The Fraser River is the largest fish producing water-course in the province and the world’s largest supporter of the spawning sockeye salmon. Because of this, millions of Spring, Coho, Chum, Pink and Sockeye salmon pass through the canyon on their way to spawning grounds every year. The 170 km drive from Vancouver through the Fraser Canyon takes us through lush forested environments of Hope to the scorching, near-desert conditions of Lillooet and retraces part of the route of one of BC’s most famous goldrushes of the 1860’s.

We turn off the highway and take an active logging road to Nahatlatch Provincial Park, established in 1999 to protect a representative sample of an undisturbed Coast Mountain drainage. Scenic mountain peaks and glaciers, old growth forests, and a lake and river system like no other await us in this remote area. This park offers habitat for species that are dependent on old growth ecosystems and a high degree of wilderness. A variety of wildlife can be found in the park, including grizzly bears, black bears, lynx, cougars, wolves, coyotes, and deer. Smaller species and birds include beaver, bald eagles, and osprey. Spotted owls are also found in the valley.

In the early afternoon passengers will have the option to raft the exciting jade green Nahatlatch River.

Accommodation: Wilderness Camping
Optional Activities: Whitewater Rafting

Day 2. Wells Grey, Provincial Park.
In the morning we begin our hike to Mehatl Falls, near Nahatlatch Provincial Park. Mehatl Falls is nestled in a subalpine bowl – a great setting for wildlife spotting. Later we can hike the winding trail along the creek, which leads to breathtaking photographic opportunities at the Mehatl Cascades. After our hike we’ll head out and make our way north following the Thompson River. As we follow the river we enter Caribou Country, a region of rolling hills and prairies, thick forests, granite-walled canyons and impressive river valleys. Here, ranching, logging and mining are the mainstays of the local economy. We settle in at our bunkhouse and prepare for our overnight canoe trip.

Accommodation: Wells Gray Buffalo Ranch. Buffalo, horses and deer graze in the fields by this guest ranch which also has a fully licenced restaurant specializing in bison meat. 

Day 3. Overnight Canoe Trip in Wells Gray Provincial Park.
The drive to our canoe put-in takes us along the scenic Wells Gray corridor of rushing rivers and million year old geological rock and volcanic landforms. In the morning we'll see Helmcken Falls, Canada's fourth highest waterfall, and one of it's best-kept secrets. Plunging 141 meters in a straight drop, this waterfall is about three times higher than Niagara Falls. Splendidly photogenic, the fast flowing Murtle River shoots over a volcanic cliff at Helmcken Falls directly into a gorge in a roaring, misty display. After the falls, we head for Clearwater Lake, one of the premier canoeing lakes in British Columbia. At the lake we'll meet our canoe guide for a safety talk and then board our canoes for an overnight trip into the heart of Wells Gray Provincial Park.

Accommodation: Wilderness camping

Day 4 & 5. Jasper National Park, AB.
After a morning paddling along wilderness shorelines we return to our point of origin at Clearwater Lake, keeping our eyes peeled for black bears that frequent this area. We continue our drive, rejoining the North Thompson River to meet up again with the mighty Fraser River near Mt. Robson Provincial Park. This park, the second oldest park in British Columbia's park system, is truly one of the world's crown jewels. The 3,954 meter high mountain for which the park is named guards the park's western entrance. After crossing the BC/Alberta border we stop at Jasper to replenish our supplies before heading out to our campground.

Spanning 1,078 square kilometers of broad valleys and craggy mountains, Jasper is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks. On Day 5, Wel drive out to Maligne Canyon and Lake where many a grizzly has been seen wandering its isolated hillsides and lakeshores. There is also potential for black bear, elk, moose, mule and white-tail deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. Passengers will have the option to hike the Bald Hills or enjoy a scenic boat tour on Maligne Lake. Later in the evening we’ll have the option to take the aerial Tram to the top of Whistlers Mountain.

Accommodation: Camping in Jasper National Park.
Optional Acitivities: Icewalking, Snow-coach ride


Day 6 & 7. Banff National Park & Lake Louise, AB.
On Day 6 we get an early start and make our way to Banff National Park for a full day of sightseeing along the Rocky Mountains. Our first early morning stop will be at Mount Kerkeslin viewpoint, a known salt lick for mountain goats. We also stop at Athabasca Falls, one of the most powerful falls to be found in the mountain national parks.. Travelling through Sunwapta Pass we’ll look for the elusive moose. Other wildlife that are often seen on the Icefield parkway include, elk, deer, and grizzly bears.

The Columbia Icefield is the largest of the chain of ice fields along the Great Divide separating Alberta and British Columbia. This 325 square km. accumulation of ice feeds six large glaciers. You can see three of them - the Athabasca , the Dome, and Stutfield - from the Icefield Parkway. In the late morning we arrive at the Athabasca Glacier. In the company of certified mountain guides, clients will have the option to strap on crampons and join a naturalist for a two hour guided walk on the surface of the Athabasca Glacier, a massive river of ice riddled with an estimated 30,000 crevasses. Afterward, we’ll have free time to visit the Icefield Interpretive Centre. In the late afternoon we arrive in Banff National Park. Banff encompasses 6,641 square kilometers of mountains, glaciers, forests and alpine meadows.

We start the morning of Day 7 with a one hour hike of Johnston Canyon. After a brief stop at camp we'll head out to world famous Lake Louise. Following a buffet lunch at Ten Peaks Lodge we'll board the Gondola and ascend to an elevation of 2088 meters. After our visit to the Lake Louise area we'll stop at the townsite of Banff, where travellers will be given free time in the late afternoon to explore Banff on their own, enjoy the Sulphur Mountain Hot Springs (included in tour package) and take dinner at their own expense. Enroute back to camp we’ll stop at the Vermillion Lakes to look for wildlife including moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, bears, coyotes, and wolves, Other highlights of the day include Bow Falls and views of Castle Mountain. Optional highlights include Sulphur Mountain Tram, Tour of Banff Springs Hotel or horseback riding

Accommodation: Camping in Banff National Park.
Optional Activities: Trail riding, Helicopter scenic flights with and without glacier landings.

Day 8 & 9 Yoho National Park, B.C.
On Day 8 travellers can pursue a number nature-based optional activities including: white water rafting on the Kicking Horse River and a visit to the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary at Kicking Horse Resort. The Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge operates a wilderness centre for research, education, and conservation. The 22-acre sanctuary is the largest protected enclosed grizzly bear refuge in the world and provides a home and a second chance at life for orphaned grizzly bear cubs. Passengers not wishing to take part in the optional activities can take either the Leanchoil Hoodoo or Wapta Falls Trail, a 2-3 hour walk.

On Day 9 passengers have the option to go looking for water fowl along the Columbia River on a river safari or hiking the Yoho Valley. Later we’ll visit Emerald Lake for a 2 hour hike around the lake and along the foot of Yoho Valley. Our day concludes as we make our way to Takakkaw Falls, the highest in the Canadian Rockies and look for mountain sheep high up on the sheer mountain cliffs.

Accommodation: Camping in Yoho National Park.
Optional Activities: Kicking Horse Gondala, Columbia River Safaris, whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River.

Day 10 Chase, B.C, (via Glacier National Park)
We leave the Rockies - but not the Mountains and head west to Glacier National Park. Here we’ll stop at the visitor centre and enjoy a hike in an old growth forest. Crossing both the Columbia and Monahsee Mountain Ranges, we drop down to the Shuswap Lake area and spend our last night in a First Nation’s Resort nestled on the shores of this great lake. We’ll arrive in plenty of time to enjoy the facilities and a have a fun, last meal out together.

Accommodation: Quaaout Lodge, a unique 72-room lakefront resort hotel on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake, owned and operated by the Little Shuswap First Nation. Facilities include licensed dining, indoor pool, steam room, whirlpool and an exercise room.

Day 11. Vancouver, BC.

Our last leg of the journey takes us along the Trans Canada Highway from Salmon Arm to Kamloops and over the scenic Coquihalla Highway to Hope. We arrive in Vancouver, bordered by the majestic Coastal Mountains and Pacific Ocean

Gateway Accommodation We offer door-to-door service at a number of modest priced hotels in downtown Vancouver. If you prefer hostel type accommodation, contact: YWCA Hotel/Residence Pacific Hostel Network HI Vancouver Otherwise, here's three of our client's favourite hotels: St. Regis Hotel Hotel Sylvia YWCA Hotel    Transportation Getting to Vancouver   Weather Vancouver Revelstoke Banff   Parks & Attractions Jasper National Park Banff National Park Yoho National Park Mt. Revelstoke National Park Mt. Robson Provincial Park Wells Grey Provincial Park Miette Hotsprings Jasper Tramway Athabasca Glacier / Columbia Icefield   Rocky Mountain Books Call toll free 1-800-255-5057 for info on tour availability

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