Mount Revelstoke National Park

What is Mount Revelstoke National Park?

Mount Revelstoke National Park is a protected area located in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1914, the park covers 100 square miles (260 square km) along the western slope of the Selkirk Mountains, overlooking the city of Revelstoke.¹²

The park is well-known for its accessibility; an 18-mile (29-km) road connects the Trans-Canada Highway to the summit of Mount Revelstoke. From this vantage point, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Monashee, Selkirk, and Purcell mountain ranges. The city of Revelstoke serves as the administrative headquarters for both this park and the nearby Glacier National Park.¹²

What are the different mountain ranges found in British Columbia?

British Columbia is defined by the Western Cordillera, a vast mountain system that divides the province into a series of ranges and plateaus. These mountains generally trend in a northwest-southeast direction.⁴⁵

Major Mountain Systems

• Canadian Rockies: Located in the eastern part of the province, these rugged mountains form the Continental Divide and contain many peaks exceeding 10,000 feet.⁴⁵
• Coast Mountains: Situated in the west, this system includes the St. Elias Mountains, which contain the highest elevations in the province.⁴⁵
• Columbia Mountains: Found in the southeast, this system comprises four distinct ranges: the Cariboo, Monashee, Selkirk, and Purcell mountains.⁶⁵

Northern and Interior Ranges

The interior of the province features a broad plateau region cut by deep canyons and surrounded by various mountain groups, including the Cassiar, Omineca, Skeena, and Hazelton mountains. In the far north, primary groups include the Richardson, Mackenzie, Selwyn, and Pelly mountains.⁴⁵

How do avalanche sheds help keep mountain highways safe?

Avalanche sheds are specialized protective structures designed to maintain the safety of mountain highways by managing the impact of snow movement. While the provided search results focus on general avalanche control—such as the use of explosives to trigger slides intentionally and the installation of diversion structures like dams or wedges to deflect snow—they highlight that these measures are essential for protecting fixed infrastructure and transportation corridors.⁸

In practice, avalanche sheds (also known as snow sheds) function as a form of “roof” over a highway. By covering the road in areas prone to frequent or high-risk avalanches, these structures allow snow and debris to slide harmlessly over the top of the road and down the slope, rather than burying the highway and endangering motorists. This ensures that critical mountain routes remain open and secure even during periods of high avalanche danger.

What kind of wildlife lives in the Selkirk Mountains?

The Selkirk Mountains, located in southeastern British Columbia, support a diverse range of wildlife typical of the Western Cordillera’s varied terrain and vegetation.⁹⁴

Common large mammals found throughout the southern mountains, including the Selkirk range, include:

• Black bears¹⁰⁴
• Mule deer⁹⁴
• Elk⁴
• Bighorn sheep¹⁰
• Mountain goats⁴

In addition to these species, the broader region of British Columbia is home to various other animals that inhabit its diverse ecosystems, such as moose, grizzly bears, wolverines, marmots, and lynx. The forests of the Selkirk Mountains themselves are characterized by a transition from Engelmann spruce at higher elevations to western red cedar and western hemlock on the lower slopes, providing a complex habitat for these species.¹⁰⁴