(AB) Parks Canada Stanley Glacier Guided Hike – September 2024

Event Details

Kootenay National Park is located within the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa and Secwépemc peoples. We recognize their stewardship of the lands and waters in the area now known as Kootenay National Park since time immemorial.

This event is for BIPOC adults 18yo+

This Guided hike provides an excellent introduction to the Burgess Shale. Beginning in a fire-swept forest with wildflowers and lodgepole pine, this hike crosses a turquoise river, passes by waterfalls and offers views of the Stanley Glacier, while giving hikers a chance to interact with 500 year old fossils! 

This guided hike normally costs $91.61, but thanks to the support of Parks Canada we are charging $30.

This hike will have limited spots so register early!

Logistics:

Date: Sunday September 8th, 2024 

Main carpool meetup location: 5:45am 

Safeway NORTH HILL SHOPPING CENTRE 222, 1632 – 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1M7 We can carpool from here to save cost on gas and park pass. This location is also c-train accessible for those without a car. The expectation is to pitch in for gas and park pass.

HIKE DETAILS:

Stanley Glacier Burgess Shale Guided Hike departs at 8:00 a.m. MDT. Please arrive a few minutes early to meet the guide and go through hike preparations.

Trail head meeting Location: Meet at the Stanley Glacier trailhead in Kootenay National Park.The Stanley Glacier parking lot is 15 km (9.3 miles) south of Castle Junction on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park. It is 95 km (59 miles) from Radium Hot Springs, 45 km (28 miles) from Banff and 40 km (25 miles) from Lake Louise. Hike ends at the same location.

Hike length: 10 km (6.3 miles) round trip.

Trail description: The first 4 km (2.4 miles) of the trail is excellent and well maintained. The final sections to the fossil site include 800 m (874 yards) of rough trail and 200 metres (218 yards) of walking on rough rocks.

Duration: Approximately 7.5 hours, hike completed by approximately 3:30p.m.

Elevation gain: 450 metres (1476 ft).

Difficulty rating: The Stanley Glacier hike is rated moderate in difficulty. From the Stanley Glacier parking, the first 4 km of the trail are gently graded on well maintained, packed dirt trails. The final section of the trail includes 800 m of rough trail and 200 m of walking on rough and loose rocks. This hike is not advised for people with recurring knee, back or ankle injuries.Ensure you are prepared for this level of difficulty and all weather conditions, including heavy rains and snow.

Checklist to help you prepare:

• Warm layers of clothes (no cotton), rain jacket and rain pants, winter gloves, and a winter toque/warm hat (no cotton).
• Hearty lunch and multiple snacks.
• Drinking water: at least 2 litres or ½ gallon per person.
• Sturdy and worn-in hiking boots, hiking poles, extra wool socks.
• Sturdy and supportive backpack with waist belt.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, insect repellant.
• Toilet paper with a plastic bag for disposal, hand sanitizer.
• Personal medical supplies, blister kit, reading glasses (if you need them).

NOTE: Bring all the items on the checklist, regardless of the weather forecast.

NOTE: For safety reasons, if you do not have all the above items, or if you are not prepared for the hike difficulty level, you may not be allowed to complete the hike.

SPECIAL NOTES AND MESSAGES:

• Removal of fossils is strictly prohibited.
• Access to the Stanley Glacier fossil site is not restricted to guided hike participants.
• Pets are not allowed on the Burgess Shale Guided Hikes.
• The group will hike together and no group members shall be allowed to separate from the group.

NATIONAL PARK ENTRY FEES:

Please note that in addition to this reservation, all visitors must possess a valid national park entry pass for the duration of their visit. Please click here for more information on Parks Canada’s entry fees:

If you have specific questions about the hike, please feel free to contact Parks Canada staff in Yoho National Park at 1-250-343-6783 or by emailing [email protected]

For more information on the Burgess Shale check the Parks Canada website at

www.pc.gc.ca/burgessshale. To see animated versions of the fossils, explore the Virtual Museum of Canada at www.burgess-shale.rom.on.ca.

Inclusion Policy: 

At Colour the Trails, we are dedicated to fostering an environment that champions inclusivity, respect, and equality. We want to make it clear that we will not tolerate any form of anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous attitudes, racism, homophobia, ableism or transphobia within our organization or community. We firmly stand against discrimination and prejudice, and we are committed to creating a safe and affirming space for individuals of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and gender identities. Together, we strive to promote unity, understanding, and support for all trail enthusiasts, regardless of their background or identity. As a Black owned and Black led business, we recognize the greater prevalence of anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity and will always prioritize support and protection for Black and Indigenous communities.

Photo & Video Release Consent:

By purchasing a ticket you grant permission for Colour the Trails and sponsors to use any portion of the photos or videos from this event that have been taken by Colour the Trails videographers and photographers for the purpose of sharing experiences with the community and encouraging future participation in events which can include but is not limited to, print or digital versions, social media and websites without any more compensation or recognition given. Colour the Trails will not use the photographs in a manner that would exploit or cause malicious representation toward you.

Please contact [email protected] BEFORE the event if you do not want to be photographed or on video during an event.

Cancellation Policy

Participants are encouraged to communicate any cancellations or changes to their event attendance at the earliest convenience. This helps us manage our resources effectively and gives us the opportunity to offer the spot to other interested participants on the waitlist. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding of our cancellation policy. By adhering to these guidelines, we can continue to provide high-quality events and opportunities for all participants that is a fair and equitable system for event sign-ups.

Regular One Day Events Cancellation Policy

This policy applies to smaller one-day events. We would like to emphasize that even when the participation fee is low ($10-100) it is important to show up as last moment cancellations make us look bad as a group in front of partners that help us to create affordable events.

1. Cancellation At Least 7 Days In Advance: For cancellations made at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled event, no penalties will be incurred. Participants can request a full refund. In some cases when we pre-pay for spots with our hosts, we might need to fill in the spot in order to issue a refund.
2. Cancellation Within 7 Days: In the unfortunate event that a cancellation is requested less than 7 days before the scheduled event, or no shows the following policy will apply:

• Refund: Cancellations made less than 7 days of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
• Penalty: A three months ineligibility to attend future events. We leave a right to cancel any registration of the person under penalty in this time frame. After the three-month ineligibility period has elapsed, participants can once again sign up for future events without any restrictions.

Content Creation Statement

We ask to respect our work and not create content to promote any other brands or organizations during our events. Our team is putting a lot of energy and time into creating community spaces with little support and unrelated organizations should not benefit from our hard labour. You are encouraged to share about Colour the Trails work as it shows the welcoming and safe space we are creating and word of mouth helps our community to grow!

Please refer to our community guidelines for a full description of our policies and standards for community engagement.