These features provide habitat for an abundant variety of plant and animal communities. All of the ungulates of the Kootenay region, except bighorn sheep, are found within the conservancy as well as many species of carnivore and smaller animals. The Purcell Mountains are a mountain range in southeastern British Columbia, Canada.3 They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains, which includes the Selkirk, Monashee, and Cariboo Mountains. Tucked within the Purcell Mountains in southeast British Columbia, the Bugaboos continue to draw world-renowned climbers seeking classic lines on glacially-carved granite spires. Despite their popularity in the climbing community; however, the Bugaboos Provincial Park is still incredibly remote and caters primarily to experienced backcountry travelers and climbers. Ski touring is also popular in the Bugaboos, and avid hikers will appreciate a handful of challenging treks like the Spires Trail and Cobalt Lake Trail.
There are no bridges on the east side of the park and hikers will have to ford creeks. The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park embraces six large drainages flowing east to the Columbia River system and three flowing west to Kootenay Lake. All of these emanate from the rugged and glaciated backbone of the spectacular Purcell Mountain Range of southeastern British Columbia.
Trail Reports
Horse assisted hunting trips are allowed on the east side of the conservancy during open seasons. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears. Access to the east side of the park is by gravel roads leading west from Highway 93/95 along Toby Creek, Findlay Creek, Skookumchuck Creek, St. Mary’s River and Dewar Creek. In the Purcell Mountains, most of the peaks are near or above 10,000 feet in elevation. In the mid 1960’s Rod and Gun Club members from Invermere began lobbying for a Conservancy in the Purcell’s.
Contact Purcell Wilderness Conservancy
Despite being tucked in the backcountry, the lodge is suited for all ages and abilities and offers luxury accommodations off the beaten path. In fact, professional guides are available to take visitors on backcountry excursions and ski tours every day. Advanced skiers can also ski off the alpine plateau towards the Selkirks, Beaver River Valley and Glacier National Park. There are a variety of alpine hiking trails to explore during the summer and spring, as well as a seemingly infinite amount of pristine, skiable terrain during winter months. The Purcell Mountains embrace high glaciated mountains, resplendent alpine lakes, verdant wetlands, magnificent old growth forests and rushing rivers.
With industrial logging development coming to many valleys in the area local people felt a sense of urgency to protect this spectacular area. In 1904 the Argenta mining company operated a compressor station about 8 kilometres up from Lardeau on the lower end of Hamill Creek that supplied air to the Argenta Mine on Lavina Ridge above it. A four-horse wagon road was constructed up the Hamill Creek canyon with portions of the road hung from the canyon wall.
Major Trails and Hiking Areas
Kicking Horse, which sits just 4 miles from Golden, British Columbia, is a renowned resort that houses an incredible network of alpine biking trails including over 40 miles of trail, 29 trail runs, and over 120 drops and jumps. Offering over 120 trails across over 3,400 acres, Kicking Horse is a popular destination for alpine hiking, features a Grizzly Bear Refuge, and is known for its premier winter recreation potential. In fact, Kicking Horse is the sixth largest of any North American Ski Resort.
The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park is one of the first large scale wilderness areas in Canada to be set aside as a result of local citizen action. This contiguous undisturbed wilderness is critical in maintaining the viability and biodiversity of the largest intact ecosystem in southeastern B.C. The Conservancy, together with the adjacent 9,164 hectare St. Mary’s Alpine Park and 550 hectare Fry Creek Canyon Recreation Area, were preserved for their ecological and recreational values.
- Use extreme caution while crossing these structures and be prepared to cut out the trail.
- In fact, the highest mountains and glaciers in the range are typically grouped together in compact subgroups like the Jumbo and Commander Groups.
- In 1904 the Argenta mining company operated a compressor station about 8 kilometres up from Lardeau on the lower end of Hamill Creek that supplied air to the Argenta Mine on Lavina Ridge above it.
The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy, which covers the central region of the southern half of the Purcell Mountains, protects the massive drainages that stem from the rugged, glaciated backbone of this incredible mountain range. Like other wilderness areas in the Purcells, this region is remote, challenging, and undeveloped. In fact, this area is considered the largest intact ecosystem in southern B.C. However, https://p1nup.in/ visitors that are not experienced in backcountry, self-sufficient wilderness travel, can still explore the Purcell Wilderness conservancy area via several guided hiking, wildlife viewing, or hunting excursions. A popular feature of the park is the Dewar Creek Hot Springs, and popular backcountry trails include the Earl Grey Pass Trail, Fry Creek Trail, and Toby Creek to Earl Grey Pass.
Assiniboine Lodge
- BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories.
- Access to the east side of the park is by gravel roads leading west from Highway 93/95 along Toby Creek, Findlay Creek, Skookumchuck Creek, St. Mary’s River and Dewar Creek.
- Lodging is comfortable and easy to come by, and there are plenty of restaurants, shops, and coffee shops to hang out at throughout your stay.
- Despite their popularity in the climbing community; however, the Bugaboos Provincial Park is still incredibly remote and caters primarily to experienced backcountry travelers and climbers.
- Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations.
- Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. Aside from those previously mentioned, the highest and most noteworthy peaks in the Purcells include Mount Delphine, Mount Hammond, Karnak Mountain, Mount Peter, and Eyebrow Peak.
Highest peaks
Generally speaking, the more rugged and glaciated peaks sit in the northern reaches of the range. In fact, the highest mountains and glaciers in the range are typically grouped together in compact subgroups like the Jumbo and Commander Groups. Together, these two groups contain the largest concentration of summits over 11,000 feet, including namesake peaks like Commander Mountain and Jumbo Mountain. The Purcell Mountains wilderness so impressed Grey that he wrote to the then Premier of British Columbia, Richard McBride, urging that this magnificent scenic mountain area be set aside as a national park.
This challenging, undeveloped mountain landscape encompasses five biogeoclimatic zones and the only intact ecosystem in southeastern B.C. Additional noteworthy subgroups include the Toby Group and the Findlay Group, both of which are characterized by massive glaciers and remote alpine peaks like Mount Toby, Truce Mountain, Mount Findlay, Mount Morigeau, and Mount Rowand. Locally known as ‘the bugs,’ this incredible collection of craggy, granite spires is world-renowned for its alpine rock climbing and contains Howser Spire, Bugaboo Spire, Pigeon Spire, and Snowpatch Spire. The highest peak in the Purcell Mountains is Mount Farnham, an 11,460-foot giant that crowns the impressive Farnham Towers.
Purcell Mountains
Nothing came of Grey’s proposal, however, and for over half a century the trail and the mountains remained the preserve of a few trappers, outfitters, foresters, and prospectors. Because this is a wilderness conservancy, the park has no facilities or marked trails and is not regularly serviced. Visitors should be self-sufficient and proficient in backcountry travel practices. There are unimproved horse trails in each main valley and routes into many of the side valleys and over passes. Rivers may be impassable during flood season, usually until the end of July.