A national park near the Alta./B.C. border has a HUGE fossil field
Did you know that you can touch some of the oldest animal fossils on Earth right here in B.C.?
Preserved for over 500 million years, the Burgess Shale fossils are a landmark piece of natural history that predate even the dinosaurs.
According to Parks Canada, 2025 marks 50 years of Burgess Shale research by the Royal Ontario Museum, and visitors of Yoho National Park can get a front-row seat to see them.
The prehistoric fossils offer a glimpse into the strikingly diverse marine ecosystems that once covered the area, thriving in expansive, shallow seas.
“Today, these fossils are found nestled among the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with incredible details such as eyeballs and brains intact – a testament to the rich biodiversity that once thrived on our planet,” says Kootenay Rockies Tourism.
Embedded into “shale-y” rock beds, the famous fossils are known across the globe not only for their age but also their remarkable level of preservation. But you’ll have to journey high into the mountains if you want to see them for yourself!
How to see and touch the Burgess Shale fossils
Ready to hold hundreds of millions of years of history in your hands? Parks Canada hosts guided hikes to three distinct fossil locations, two of which are restricted UNESCO sites. This includes Mount Stephen, Walcott Quarry, and Stanley Glacier.
The latter is considered a “moderate” hike at 10 kilometres (approximately seven hours) roundtrip, beginning at the national park’s Stanley Glacier trailhead. On the journey, hikers learn how newly discovered fossils reveal exciting findings in ancient animals, from third eyes to “jackknife-like claws,” according to Parks Canada.
The hike to Mount Stephen is much steeper but no less rewarding. Hikers are led on a 7.5-hour journey to see fossilized trilobite (extinct marine anthropods).
Finally, we come to the famed Wakcott Quarry, AKA one of the most important paleontological sites in the world. According to Parks Canada, this hike takes visitors to soft-bodied fossils that reveal surprising connections between ancient and modern sea life. And not to mention — sweeping views of Emerald Lake from above.
With an elevation gain of 900 metres and a total distance of 24 kilometres, this hike takes 11 hours to complete, commencing at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot. But the experience (and the stories to come out of it) are too good to pass up!
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How to book a guided hike
Those interested in accessing the Burgess Shale fossils and traversing through the park’s stunning mountain wilderness can book the guided tour of their choice online by reserving their spot via Parks Canada.
All guided hikes require a valid national park pass, which can be purchased in the form of a day pass for $11 per adult (free for youth), or $74.25 per adult for an annual discovery pass.
Day passes can be purchased a day prior to your hike, and after hours from vending machines at the Yoho Visitor Centre or Lake Louise Visitor Centre.
Note that the Parks Canada guides do not sell park passes.
To access the guided hikes, you can drive along the TransCanada Highway 1 from Calgary or Vancouver, following the Rainforest to Rockies route to reach Yoho National Park.
Those ready to take on even more National Historic Sites have plenty more options in B.C.
Happy adventuring!
Burgess Shale fossil hikes
How to get there: Drive eight hours from Vancouver via BC-5 N and Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 E to Yoho National Park