Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Park Corridor Protected Area, Protected wilderness area in Regional District of Central Kootenay, Canada.
The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park and Protected Area covers 131,500 hectares in the Purcell Mountains of southeastern British Columbia, encompassing six large drainages. It contains high peaks such as Mount Hamill (3,274 m) and Mount Toby (3,222 m), alpine meadows and ridges, deep creek and river valleys, and hot springs at Dewar Creek.
The northern sections once served as a vital passageway for First Nations peoples, linking the Rocky Mountain Trench with Kootenay Lake through Toby Pass. This route held importance for travel across the mountain landscape for generations.
The trail through Toby Pass was used by First Nations peoples for centuries, linking the Rocky Mountain Trench and Kootenay Lake. In 1908 Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey, Governor General of Canada, travelled it and it was named in his honour; he built a cabin on Toby Creek. Equipment from the Argenta Mine, which operated only in 1904 and 1905 near Hamill Peak, is still found inside the park.
Visitors need advanced wilderness navigation skills and must be completely self-sufficient, as this place has no facilities and prohibits mechanized access. Careful planning and experience in remote terrain are essential for safely traveling here.
Dewar Creek Hot Springs sits within the park boundaries, offering natural thermal waters surrounded by five different biogeoclimatic zones. These geothermal waters create an unexpected contrast in this otherwise icy mountain landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,131 contributors worldwide.