Castle Wilderness
– A Special Place

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In South Western Alberta along the spine of the Rocky Mountains lies a ribbon of forested wilderness called the Castle Special Place. 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.

Why is the Castle such a special place? It is a water tower for much of Southern Alberta, providing one third of all water in the Oldman Watershed. It has profound cultural and sacred value to the Nitsitapii, Piikani (Peigan), Siksika, Kainaiwa (Blood), and Blackfeet First Nations, as well as the Nakoda (Stoney) and K'tunaxa First Nations. It is second only to Waterton National Park for species richness (number of species) in the province. It is home to over 120 provincially rare plant species and 59 species of mammals. It encompasses Alberta's second largest montane landscape. It is crucial to the state and health of the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem and the greater Rocky Mountain ecosystems. It is a critical connection for grizzly bears, and other wide ranging mammals, from Waterton-Glacier National Peace Park to other protected areas in Canada. It holds great recreational opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, and wilderness discovery.

Click to learn more: More on the Ecology and Biodiversity of the Castle Special Place Threats to the Castle Proposal to Protect the Castle Wilderness Hiking Guide: Exploring the Castle Ecological and Resource Report How You Can Help 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 Southern Alberta is currently participating in a citizen-led initiative and working group to protect the Castle as a combination of Wildland Park and Provincial Park. This group is made up of a variety of users and stakeholders including First Nations groups, adjacent landholders, community groups, guides and outfitters, recreation groups, and researchers. In November 2009, this citizen-led initiative submitted a conceptual proposal for legislated protection of the Castle to the Alberta Government, and the South Saskatchewan Regional Advisory Council. The report has been well received. Read more about this process and learn how you can get involved.