Schedule & Prices

1895.00

Season	Price	Upgrade	Single Supp.
Jun 1–Oct 1, 2012	$1,895	—	$270

The Rocky Mountain Wildlife Tour Itinerary

Vancouver, BC, Return.

Day 1.  Fraser Canyon, B.C. Sunday

Departure time: 8:30 am

As the coastal mountains that surround Vancouver recede into the distance, we begin our journey into the interior of BC. Entering the Fraser Canyon, we stop at the town of Hope (pop.6700) located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers. From the lush and expansive flood plane created by these rivers, we probe deeper into the million year old canyon. The road twists and turns up mountains, exposing the now distant Fraser River and leading us into an arid landscape. At Boston Bar we stop at Hells Gate and board an aerial tram to descend to the base of the canyon. Here, the 1,370 kilometre length of the Fraser River squeezes through a 34 meter wide passage, creating thundering masses of water. The Fraser is also the worlds' largest supporter of spawning Sockeye salmon and, if we're lucky, we'll catch views of spawning salmon as they thrust themselves up the river.

Branching off the road, we cross a bridge over the Fraser and take a logging road into the wilderness. Our journey is to Nahatlatch Provincial Park, established in 1999 to protect a representative sample of an undisturbed Coastal Mountain drainage system. This region of mountain peaks and glaciers, old growth forests and powerful rivers is mainly frequented by locals and is unnoticed by tourists.

This isolated park offers habitat for species that are dependent on old growth ecosystems 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. We set up camp next to the Nahatlatch River.

Accommodation: Camping. River bathing (please remember to bring bio-degradable soap).

Meals: Dinner at camp

  

Day 2, 3 and 4. Wells Gray Provincial Park.

This morning we hike to Mehatl Falls in a sub-alpine bowl – a great setting for wildlife spotting. Later we hike a winding trail along a creek which leads to breathtaking photographic opportunities at the Mehatl Cascades.

Jumping back in the van we make our way north, following the Thompson River to Caribou Country, a region of rolling hills and prairies, thick forests, granite-walled canyons and river valleys. In this region ranching, logging and mining are mainstays of the local economy. By late afternoon we’ve arrived at our bunkhouse just outside of Wells Gray Provincial Park. After dinner, we prepare for our canoe trip by packing up some camping gear, a change of clothes and a share of the group's food.

The next day we take a one hour drive further into the park to a small dock on Clearwater Lake. This lake is one of the premier canoeing lakes in BC and is in the heart of a protected watershed. We take the rest of the day for a leisurely paddle to our campsite, always on the lookout for moose, deer and wolf   then paddle. No canoeing experience is needed as our guides are also instructors, enabling trip members the opportunity to perfect their Canadian canoeing techniques. Our campsite has outhouses, tables, fire-pits, and tent sites.

On Day 4 we waken in a complete wilderness setting and very far from the maddening crowd! We can pack a lunch and explore up lake for fishing holes or paddle to the end of the lake where the Clearwater River pours into the lake and forms a small lagoon. Or you may choose to swim or sit in the sun and read. We head back to the dock by late afternoon.

Accommodation: bunkhouse / camping / bunkhouse. Showers available at the bunkhouse.

 

Day 5 & 6.  Jasper National Park, AB.

Our quest to head further north reconnects us with the North Thompson River and then the mighty Fraser River near Mt. Robson Provincial Park. This 3,954 meter high mountain guards the Mt Robson Provincial Park's western entrance. Here we'll stop at the visitor centre to admire the view and take refreshment before entering the Rockies. After crossing the BC/Alberta border we stop at Jasper to shop for local groceries before setting up camp in Jasper National Park.

Spanning 1,078 square kilometres of broad valleys and craggy mountains, Jasper is the largest of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks. On Day 6, we drive out to Maligne Canyon and Lake where grizzly bears often wander its isolated hillsides and lakeshores. Other wildlife spotting opportunities include black bear, elk, moose, mule and white-tail deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. Park exploration can include hiking the Bald Hills or a scenic boat tour on Maligne Lake. If you're up for a swim, we know of the only warm water lake in Jasper. And at some point in this day, we’ll try to fit in an aerial tram ride to the top of Whistler Mountain. Optional activities on the Icefield Parkway on this day include a guided  ice-walk or snow-coach ride onto the Athabasca Glacier.

Accommodation: Camping in Jasper National Park. Showers available on both days.

 

Day 7 & 8.  Banff National Park, AB.

Prepare to be astounded on one of the most spectacular roads in the world!  Keeping our binoculars and camera close at hand, we get an early start and make our way along the famous Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park. Our first early morning stop will be at Mount Kerkeslin viewpoint, a known salt lick for mountain goats. Athabasca Falls is next, 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 often seen on the Icefields parkway includes, elk, deer, and grizzly bears.

We stop for lunch at the Icefields Centre and take in commanding views of the Athabasca Glacier, part of the Columbia Icefields. This icefield is the headwaters for the Fraser River and is the largest of the chain of ice fields along the Great Divide, separating Alberta and British Columbia. This 325 square kilometre accumulation of ice feeds six large glaciers of which we’ll be able to see three: the Athabasca, the Dome, and Stutfield. 

Overseen by certified mountain guides, we’ll 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. By late afternoon we’ve arrived in Banff National Park. This park encompasses 6,641 square kilometres of mountains, glaciers, forests and alpine meadows.

Day 8 begins with a tour of the area including Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk Trail, Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, the Hoodoos and Lake Minnewanka. We then take a leisurely drive to look for wildlife along a secondary road, passing Castle Junction. If the trails at Johnston Canyon look crowded we’ll hike some nice trails around Banff or do an optional activity such as horseback riding, kayaking or mountain biking. Upon returning to the town of Banff, we’ll marinate for a while at the Sulphur Mountain Hot Springs. Later, there’s free time for shopping in the downtown area. The local nightlife is interesting in Banff but be prepared to take a taxi back to camp. The evening of Day 8 marks our last night of camping.

Optional Activities: Trail riding, helicopter scenic flights (with and without glacier landings) and ice-walking.

Accommodation: Camping in Banff National Park. Showers available on both nights.

 

Day 9.  Golden via Yoho National Park B.C. & Lake  Louise AB.

Now heading west, our first stop is the turquoise blue glacier fed waters of Moraine Lake. Here passengers have the option to rent a canoe or take the interpretive trail up the Rockpile, a prominent heap of boulders at the northeast end of Moraine Lake. The viewpoint gives an excellent introduction to the famous Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Our next stop will be Canada's most recognized hotel: the famous Chateau Lake Louise on Lake Louise. Here we can stroll along this lakeshore of incredible vibrant sky blue waters, take a hike, tour the Chateau, rent a canoe or go horseback riding. We can also enjoy a refreshing libation on the outdoor patio overlooking the lake, grab a coffee or ice cream from the deli and stroll the property and surrounding area.

From Lake Louise we begin our circle tour back into BC. Along the way we encounter  historic Kicking Horse Pass, the Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint and Takkakaw Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Canada.

At glacier-fed Emerald Green Lake we can rent a rowboat from which we can peer through the refraction of emerald green light down to the bottom of the lake. We can also take time to for a self interpretive hike around the lake shore. Other stops include Spiral Tunnel Lookout, a viewpoint at the confluence of the Yoho and Kicking Horse River and the Natural Bridge where the Kicking Horse River has worn a narrow hole through a limestone wall, creating a bridge. A trail leads to several viewpoints..

Our accommodation this night is a guesthouse in the small town of Golden.  In the evening we can sample small town life checking out one or more of several pubs and the local tradition of ‘Shot-Ski”.

Accommodation: Guesthouse with private rooms

 

Day 10.  Chase, B.C. (via Glacier National Park)

Leaving the Rockies we head into the Columbia Mountain range of Glacier National Park. Steep, rugged mountains, a warm, moist climate, and wide variety of plant and animal life are typical of this natural region. The park protects unique stands of old-growth cedar and hemlock and critical habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife species such as the mountain caribou, mountain goat and grizzly bear. We stop at the visitor centre and stretch our legs in the silence of an old growth forest.

After crossing both the Columbia and Monahsee Mountain Ranges, we drop down to the arid Shuswap Lake area and spend our last night in a First Nation’s Resort. Owned and operated by the Little Shuswap First Nation, resort facilities include licensed dining, indoor pool, lakeshore swimming, golf, steam room, whirlpool and an exercise room.

We arrive in plenty of time to enjoy the facilities and a have a fun, last meal out together.

Accommodation: Lakeside Resort

 

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.

We return to Vancouver by approximately 5:00 pm.

Travel Links

Accommodation

We offer door-to-door service at a number of hotels in downtown Vancouver. Here's a few of

our client's favourite hotels in Vancouver:

Rosedale on Robson

Georgian Court

Hampton Inn and Suites

Budget accommodation can be found at YWCA Hotel

 

Transportation

 Getting to Vancouver

 

Weather

Vancouver

Revelstoke

Banff

 

Parks

Jasper National Park
Banff National Park
Yoho National Park
Mt. Revelstoke National Park
Mt. Robson Provincial Park
Wells Gray Provincial Park
Miette Hotsprings
Jasper Tramway
Athabasca Glacier / Columbia Icefield