Castle Wilderness

In South Western Alberta along the spine of the Rocky Mountains lies a ribbon of forested land called the Castle Wilderness. It is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity and incredible landscapes including alpine lakes, old growth forest and wetlands. It is a unique place of irreplaceable spiritual, recreational and ecological values but it is under threat from industrial exploitation and irresponsible recreational use.

Hiking in the Castle Wilderness The Castle is home to over 120 provincially rare plant species as well as 59 species of mammals. It is a critical wildlife corridor, connecting protected areas in the United States with large protected areas in Canada.

Click to learn more: More on the Ecology and Biodiversity of the Castle Wilderness Threats to the Castle Proposal to Protect the Castle Wilderness How You Can Help Hiking Guide Ecological and Resource Report Recent News See also: Y2Y, Big Wild, CPAWS BC Flathead Campaign ("See also" links open in new windows)

Rare north-south valleys within the Castle provide critical wildlife corridors that allow the movement of large animals and keep wildlife populations in touch with each other. This flow of individuals and of genetic information is essential to their survival and their ability to cope with changes in their environment, including disturbances, disease and climate change. (You can read more about the international efforts underway to establish and connect large protected areas in the Rocky Mountains through the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y)). There are also important east-west wildlife linkages between the Castle and British Columbia's Flathead Valley, uniting the two valleys into a single regional ecosystem.

CPAWS and other organizations and individuals are working to preserve the Castle Wilderness in memory of the great Albertan Andy Russell, and in honour of the Piikani first Nation by establishing the Andy Russell - I'tai sah kòp Wildland Park & Provincial Park. To learn more and find out how you can support the protection of the Castle, explore the links above.