Beehive Natural Area
Last Review/Updated: May 10, 2002
P. Lee (AB Gov.) |
The more than 800 hectares of pristine old-growth forests within this vast natural area provide a specialized habitat for such species as marten, fisher, woodpeckers and wood warblers. The entire protected area, situated along the Continental Divide and eastern slopes of the Rockies, is a diverse complex of cool, dark lodgepole pine and subalpine fir forests, fast-flowing trout streams, windy alpine meadows, scree slopes, bare ridges, moist herb meadows and undisturbed old spruce-fir forests. Prominent inhabitants are grizzly and black bears, wapiti, moose, and bighorn sheep.
© C. Wershler
Birds include Townsend's solitaires, Townsend's warblers, Hammond's flycatchers, Clark's nutcrackers, gray-crowned rosy finches and white-tailed ptarmigans.
Wildlife viewing in this huge area may require energetic hiking or cross-country skiing on the many kilometres of trail. Routes start at the Oldman River and ascend Beehive Creek and Cache Creek with good spots for fishing. Another route parallels the Continental Divide.
