Introduction

The Kakwa region is adjacent to the northernmost border of Jasper National Park along the (North-South) border of British Columbia. The Kakwa forms the most northerly portions of the chain of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and includes South Kakwa and Caw Ridge. The area varies from mountainous terrain and alpine meadows in the southern area to rolling hills covered in forest in the north and east areas. The Wild Kakwa is a wilderness area of provincial significance. Kakwa contains an ecologically important area known as Caw Ridge. This area provides key habitat for Alberta’s largest population of mountain goats as well as a host of other wildlife. Wild Kakwa together with Willmore Wilderness Park and BC’s Kawka Provincial Park have long been proposed as an inter-provincial Tri-Park.

Caw Ridge is an alpine ridge of provincially and nationally significant estimated at 21600 ha or 21 km² in size. Located 35 km NW of town of Grande Cache (TWP 58 and 59 RNG 9,10,11 W6) and 7 km east of Willmore Wilderness Park, it is within the Rocky Mountain Alpine Natural Subregion (Northwest Boreal). Caw Ridge is noted as being one of six remaining unprotected biological hotspots in the Rocky Mountain region and is representative of a relatively intact alpine ecosystem. All of Caw ridge was once part of the Willmore Provincial Park, which was established in 1959 and renamed Willmore Wilderness Park in 1965. Caw Ridge was nominated as a candidate for protection in Alberta’s Special Places 2000 campaign.

Vision:

• Caw Ridge protected as part of Willmore Wilderness Park
• Expansion of Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park to include the rest of the Kakwa wilderness

Status:

The Kakwa Wildland Provincial Park was designated in 1996.