Rocky Mountaineer® - Yellowhead Route
Wilderness and wildlife - The spirit of the Rockies. The pristine Yellowhead route follows the second and lowest pass through the Canadian Rockies. Scenic valleys, rolling plateaus, and snowy peaks are home to some of Western Canada's most stunning wildlife and onboard the Rocky Mountaineer you will have the rare chance to see some of these majestic animals. Moose, elk, big horn sheep, black bear, eagle and osprey are known to make appearances as you travel through their wild habitat.
With an overnight stay in Kamloops at the junction of the mighty Fraser and the Thompson River, this two-day, all daylight journey, ensures that not a moment of the spectacular wilderness will be missed.
SERVICE CLASSES
FEATURED CITIES
Vancouver
A multicultural and dynamic city nestled at the base of the coastal mountains and framed by the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver is known for its spectacular natural beauty, range of outdoor activities available, modern skyline, and mild climate. Vancouver has consistently been voted in the top five most liveable cities in the world and will be the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Jasper
Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies with access to Jasper National Park and its unspoiled grandeur. Jasper is a world renowned four season resort with scenery of rugged glacier capped mountains, sparkling lakes, and lush forests, as well as plentiful activities such as skiing, hiking, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.
Kamloops
Kamloops and Sun Peaks Resort is a four-season destination resort in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Known for its sunny climate, Kamloops receives more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. In the winter, the area offers visitors the second largest area to ski or ride in British Columbia.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fraser River
The mighty Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia and the 5th longest in all of Canada. The rushing waters carve through rock layers and carry sediment from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Georgia Strait and the Pacific Ocean. Heavy with sediment, the waters are a muddy brown to milky green. Named after Simon Fraser, who originally mistook the river to be the Columbia River, the Fraser produces more salmon than any other river system in the world. It is estimated that 10 million salmon travel up the Fraser River to spawn each year and First Nations people continue to use traditional fishing methods along its shores.
Fraser Canyon
South of Quesnel the Fraser has eroded a deep canyon that extends all the way to Hope, with steep sides soaring up to 600 metres (1980 feet) above the water.
Hell's Gate
The thundering waters of the renowned tourist attraction, Hell's Gate, are a fascinating sight. Located at the most narrow and intimidating point in the Fraser River, as much as 909,218,000 litres (200 million) gallons of water surge through the 33.53 metre (110 foot) gorge each minute.
Mount Robson
Soaring a majestic 3,956.5 metres (12,972 feet), this heavily glaciated peak is the highest of the Canadian Rockies. Dropping into Berg Lake to the North and Kinney Lake to the South, this mountain is a towering giant compared to the snow tipped peaks that surround it. Originally, this great mountain was named Yuh-hai-has-kun, meaning "The Mountain of the Spiral Road" by the aboriginal people in the area.
Pyramid Falls
As you pass the magnificent Pyramid Falls, cascading 91.5 metres (300 feet) beside the train tracks, the train will slow down to allow you a close-up view of this spectacular site. When the wind is right, you might enjoy a misty spray from the falls.
Albreda Glacier
This is a great vantage point to observe the Albreda Glacier. Glaciers are permanent snowfields formed in locations where snowfall exceeds snowmelt each year. The weight of the accumulated snow compresses the under layers into ice, which then melts, allowing the glacier to move downhill. The movement grinds rocks into a fine powder, which is deposited in the lakes and rivers below giving the water a beautiful turquoise blue color.
Jasper National
Park
Declared a protected area in 1907, Jasper Park is the largest of the Canadian Rockies National Parks. Parks Canada oversees the management of the national parks with the goal to preserve them foremost as a place of nature but also as a place for people to visit, experience and learn. Significant numbers of elk, moose, bighorn sheep and other large animals make Jasper National Park their home. Other highlights include Miette Hot Springs, Maligne Canyon, Maligne Lake and the northern portion of the stunning Icefields Parkway.
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