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Banff - Alberta
Crater Lake -
Oregon
Glacier - British Columbia
Glacier -
Montana
Gwaii Haanas - British Columbia
Jasper - Alberta
Kootenay - British Columbia
Mount
Rainier - Washington
Mount Revelstoke - British Columbia
Nez Perce - Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Washington
North
Cascades - Washington
Olympic -
Washington
Pacific Rim - British Columbia
Waterton Lakes - (Alberta), Montana
Yellowstone -
Idaho, Montana, (Wyoming)
Yoho - British Columbia
Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument - Washington
Nez Perce National Historical Park
Big Hole National Battlefield
The Northwest
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British Columbia
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The Pacific Northwest
National Parks
The Go Northwest! definition of the Pacific Northwest includes the province of British Columbia, with a small extension into Alberta via Banff and Jasper national parks situated on the Rocky Mountains border, and via Waterton Lakes National Park on the US/Canada border.
National Parks in Canada are administered by Parks Canada, which is part of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Areas appropriate for designation as a national park are "representative natural areas of Canadian significance." Representative is a key definition here, for the park system is aware "there should be at least one national park located in each of Canada's 39 natural regions. To achieve this, 17 additional national parks are needed." In addition to their natural features, many national parks contain areas of cultural and historic significance. By law, national parks are protected for public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment, while being maintained in an unimpaired state for future generations. As well, management of the parks must ensure the protection of their "ecological integrity." That is, "a condition where the structure and function of an ecosystem are unimpaired by human activity and are likely to persist."
British Columbia and southwestern Alberta are situated within the so-called "Western Mountains" geographical unit. Within the Western Mountains are 9 of those 39 identified natural regions mentioned above.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and South Moresby Island/Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve are in the fjordal Pacific Coast Mountains natural region. Glacier and Mount Revelstoke national parks are in the rugged Columbia Mountains natural region. Banff, Yoho, Waterton Lakes, Jasper and Kootenay national parks are in the forested Rocky Mountains natural region.
Since the 1885, with the establishment of Banff National Park, the system has grown to include 38 national parks and national reserves, and 4 marine areas encompassing about 224 466 km2, or about 2% of Canada's land mass.
Historically some parks were created around national transportation corridors, and incorporated communities and recreational facilities such as golf courses and commercial downhill skiing areas. Although these continue to exist, Parks Canada regards such land usage as inappropriate for future parks. No additional lands will be made available for the expansion of golf courses and skiing areas, or for private cottages and camps or seasonal camping areas.
The parks are managed according to a system of zones. The zones are:
- Zone 1 - Special Preservation
Contain unique or endangered natural or cultural features. Motorized access is prohibited and this may sometimes extend to any public access. - Zone 2 - Wilderness Areas
Motorized access prohibited. None or rudimentary visitor services and facilities provided, such as trails and campsites. - Zone 3 - Natural Environment
Motorized access allowed with an emphasis on public transit. Minimal services and facilities of a rustic nature provided. - Zone 4 - Outdoor Recreation
Motorized access allowed - Zone 5 - Park Services
Communities in existing national parks which contain a concentration of visitor services, support and administration facilities.
It is the policy of Parks Canada that sport hunting is not permitted in the national parks, although sport fishing may be permitted in designated areas.
Parks Canada
Home page for the national parks section of the official web site.
Canadian Parks Partnership
United States
The Go Northwest! definition of the Pacific Northwest includes the states of
Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, with a small extension into Wyoming
via Yellowstone National Park.
National Parks in the United States are administered by the National Parks Service (NPS), which is headquartered in Washington, DC. The NPS is one of four United States federal land management agencies. The other three are the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The NPS is designated by law to "promote and regulate the use of the...national parks...which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein".
Since 1872 the National Park System has grown to include more than 370 areas covering more than 80 million acres. All have been found to have natural, cultural, or recreational resources of national significance.
National Park System "units" come in many forms:
- National Battlefields (1 in the Northwest)
- National Cemeteries
- National Historical Parks (3 in the Northwest)
- National Historic Sites (3 in the Northwest)
- National Lakeshores
- National Memorials (1 in the Northwest)
- National Monuments (5 in the Northwest)
- National Parks
The NPS describes these as "generally large natural places having a wide variety of attributes, at times including significant historic assets. Hunting, mining and consumptive activities are not authorized." (7 in the Northwest)- National Parkways
- National Preserves
- National Recreation Areas (3 in the Northwest)
- National Reserves (2 in the Northwest)
- National Rivers
- National Seashores
- National Trails
- Affiliated Areas (2 in the Northwest)
NPS Web Site
ParkNet
This is the "home page" for NPS. To find pages on a particular National Park
at this web site, click "Visit
Your National Parks" and then, scroll down to "Find a Park". (Go
Northwest! also has direct links to the individual Parks.)
National Park Reservation Service
Official NPS web site for making online campground and tour reservations.
Pacific
Northwest NPS Map
Large, easy-to-read map showing the National Park System units in
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Might take over a minute to download.
Park
Geology Tour of National Parks
Great tours with descriptions, photos and maps.
More Web Sites
National Park
Foundation
The official nonprofit partner of the NPS, and whose activities include
fundraising and land acquisition. To find pages on a particular National
Park at this web site, click "Guide
to National Parks". (Go Northwest! also has direct links to the
individual Parks.)
National Park Photos
A database of photos from various US national parks, including, Crater Lake,
Mt St Helens, Olympic and Yellowstone.
Click
for a Go Northwest! map
of National Parks and other attractions in the Pacific Northwest.
Go Northwest!
Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
Click
here!
Fodor's
Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West, 4th Edition by Fodor's. This guide provides information on 36 national parks in
the northwest including an overview of each park, illustrated features, trip planning tools, outdoor recreational activities, recommendations and advice.
Order now...
The
Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges, 6th Edition by David L. Scott
and Kay W. Scott. This book is an insider's guide to finding the best lodges
throughout the United States-and to securing a reservation well in advance to
beat the crowds.
Order now..
Wildlife
of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles,
Amphibians, and Invertebrates by David Moskowitz. This book includes
illustrated descriptions for more than 180 mammals, birds, reptiles,
amphibians, and invertebrates in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia,
northern California, Idaho, and western Montana plus maps.
Order now...
Fodor's
Pacific Northwest: with Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, 21st Edition.
Written by local experts, this guide has the latest information with
expansive insights, illustrations, recommendations, advice and trip planning
tools, such as easy to read maps, to plan your exciting adventure in the Pacific Northwest.
Order now...
Best
Places to Kiss in the Northwest: A Romantic Travel Guide by Teri
Citterman. Hundreds of detailed reviews cover the coziest inns, resorts,
B&Bs, hotels, and restaurants in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia,
with all-new "lip" rankings that rate each spot's kiss-ability.
Order now...
A
Field Guide to Alpine Flowers of the Pacific Northwest by Phillipa
Hudson. This portable 8-fold guide features 112 spectacular photos of
flowers found from the mid to alpine elevations on Vancouver Island and the
Coast Mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Labeled with both English and
Latin names with descriptions of each species' distribution range and
average plant height and flower size.
Order now...
Where
To Find Hundreds Of Spectacular Waterfalls In Washington, Oregon, And Idaho
by Gregory Alan Plumb. At-a-glance table for selecting waterfalls by scenic
rating, form, how to access, best season to go and defining characteristics.
To help you select, each waterfall is keyed for accessibility by car, on
foot, or by canoe or raft and rated for magnitude and aesthetic value.
Order now...
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