Where is Vermilion Pass?

Where is Vermilion Pass?

Canada, north-america

Length

9 km

Elevation

1,647 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: You're cruising along Vermilion Pass, a seriously stunning mountain route straddling Alberta and British Columbia, right in the heart of Canada. This beauty sits pretty high at 1,647 meters (5,403 feet) above sea level, smack-dab on the Continental Divide within Banff National Park.

Why "Vermilion"? Blame the iron oxide springs nearby – they give everything a reddish hue! Historically, this pass was a hotspot for fur traders and explorers. Now, it’s a paved dream drive: British Columbia Highway 93 (aka the Banff-Windermere Highway).

The whole shebang stretches 105 kilometers (65 miles), winding from Radium Hot Springs in BC to Castle Junction in Alberta.

Word to the wise: You're in the Canadian Rockies, so expect a subarctic climate! Winter means heavy snow and icy roads. Summer? Cool and crisp. Drive carefully and soak in those views!

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Road Details

Country
Canada
Continent
north-america
Length
9 km
Max Elevation
1,647 m
Difficulty
hard

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