Location
The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) from British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States.
The Rocky Mountains are commonly defined to stretch from the Liard River in British Columbia, down to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. The mountains can also be considered to run to Alaska or Mexico, but usually those mountains are considered to be part of the entire American cordillera, rather than part of the Rockies.
Every year the scenic areas and recreational opportunities of the Rocky Mountains draw millions of tourists.
People from all over the world visit the sites to hike, camp, or engage in mountain sports.
The summers in the Rockies are warm and dry. The average temperature in summer is 59 °F (15 °C) Winter is usually wet and very cold, with an average temperature of 28 °F (−2 °C)
Attractions
Canadian National Parks in the mountain range are; Banff National Park – Glacier National Park (Canada) – Jasper National Park – Kootenay National Park – Mount Revelstoke National Park -Waterton Lakes National Park – Yoho National Park
Ski Resorts – In the winter, skiing is the main attraction. The major ski resorts are:
Colorado: Aspen,Vail,Keystone,Breckenridge
Utah: Alta,Snowbird,Park City (Host of the 2002 Winter Olympics)
Sun Valley, Idaho
Montana: Big Mountain,Big Sky
Alberta: Lake Louise, Sunshine Village
Fernie, British Columbia
How to get there
BY AIR;
Calgary and Edmonton are the primary gateways to the Canadian Rockies. Calgary and Edmonton International Airports are modern facilities serving major airlines from around the world with frequent non-stop and direct flights and convenient connectors.
BY ROAD;
If you prefer a leisurely drive, the road system is excellent and there are plenty of car hire companies to choose from.
BY RAIL;
Rocky Mountaineer Railtours operates seasonal two-day sightseeing trips, from May to October, featuring the Canadian Rockies by daylight. Both eastbound trips from Vancouver and westbound trips from Calgary / Banff stay overnight in Kamloops, BC.
Via Rail also offers trips between Jasper and Vancouver and across Canada.
BY BUS/COACH;
Greyhound Lines of Canada operates daily scheduled service from Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver and Prince George.
Festivals
There are many festivals and events in British Columbia with a wildlife or nature focus.
Salmon Homecoming Festival. – November.
A wild Salmon Party. An Annual celebration at Surrey`s Bear Creek park. An afternoon of fund and education for everyone, and its free. Puppet shows, live music, interactive activities, mascots and an area to see spawning salmon, tree planting, salmon stations run by environmental groups from Surrey. The event goes on rain or shine.
Brant Wildlife Festival – April
The arrival of over 20,000 Brant Geese in Parksville and Qualicum Beach marks the occasion for the 13th Annual Brant Wildlife Festival.
Hyde Creek salmon Festival – October
Celebrating the return of salmon to Hyde Creek in Port Coquitlam
Return of the Osprey Festival – July
A one-day, biannual event held at Maplewood Flats, a conservation area on Burrard Inlet located in North Vancouver. It is organized by WBT Wild Bird Trust of British Columbia. While the main focus of this event is the return of nesting Osprey to the area, there are many birds to be seen.
Eating Dining Shopping
The choices are endless! From boutiques and high-end shopping centres to antique shops and farmers markets. Vancouver, Coast & Mountains offers a shopping experience that will please everyone!
Useful telephone numbers
Emergency Number
Airport Information Tel; (Calgary Airport) 403 735 1200
Train station:
Tourist Office: 1-800 HELLO BC
Holiday rents online:
National Transport Line