Hamber Park is in British Columbia, Canada. It is on the Alberta border; the nearest town is Jasper, Alberta.
This is one of a group of Canadian Rocky Mountain parks that are collectively on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Hamber Park covers 24,000 hectares remote wilderness.It comprises a portion of one of the world’s largest blocks of protected areas. The park was designated as part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It has few facilities. The park sees 400-500 visitors annually.
Hamber Provincial Park was named to honour the late Eric W. Hamber, the lieutenant-governor of British Columbia from 1936-1941.
Vegetation around the lake is thick with spruce and balsam with a very heavy understory of false azalea and rhododendron.
Weather in Hamber varies depending on the season. Almost half of the days during the summer have rain and wind, so hikers should come prepared for these conditions.
- Fishing: Fortress Lake, home to brook trout, offers excellent angling opportunities. There is an air-accessed commercial fishing camp on Chisel Creek Fan (midway down the lake’s south shore). Fortress Lake is open for ice fishing in the winter season, but is a long way in to travel to fish. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
- Winter Recreation: There are backcountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in the park. There are no defined trails and is remote winter travel.
Fishing: Fortress Lake, home to brook trout, offers excellent angling opportunities. There is an air-accessed commercial fishing camp on Chisel Creek Fan (midway down the lake’s south shore). Fortress Lake is open for ice fishing in the winter season, but is a long way in to travel to fish. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Winter Recreation: There are backcountry skiing and snowshoeing opportunities in the park. There are no defined trails and is remote winter travel.
There are no services in the park. The nearest town, Jasper, has hotels, restaurants, shops and bars.
Bring your own drinking water or be prepared to boil or filter water, as potable water is not available in the park.
Windfalls are common and blow-down of large trees is a significant hazard during high winds.
Hikers must cross the Chaba River. The river crossing can be dangerous. Stream crossings can be treacherous at times, depending on seasonal daily run-off fluctuations.
Bear Country precautions are essential : grizzly and black bear habitats are extensive throughout the park. Bear poles are available at the campsites.