Features

Area

• Area is approximately 7,200 km² located within the Foothills east of Jasper National Park and bordering on the Wilmore Wilderness.
• The Little Smoky contains the last significant pockets of wilderness in the boreal forest region. It supports mature old growth coniferous forest and a variety of peatland and ecological features.

Township and Range map: JPG | PDF

Natural Subregions map:  JPG | PDF

Natural Region

• Upper and lower foothills, subalpine
  

Environmentally Significant Areas

There are several environmentally significant areas, at both the provincial and international levels of significance, which support critical moose, elk, bull trout and arctic grayling habitat. The Little Smoky area also encompasses four legislated protected areas:

• Wildhay Glacial Cascades Natural Area
• 25 km² in size
• A unique landscape developed from a glacier passing over the area over 10,000 years ago
• A convoluted terrain with narrow sharp topped ridges
• Wildhay River traverses the centre of the area
• Pinto Creek Canyon Natural Area
• 12.32 km²
• Preserves a foothills population of mountain goats (~ 10-30 individuals); the only canyon/forest dwelling herd of goats in Alberta
• Natural area declared under the Special Places 2000 program
• William A. Switzer Provincial Park
• 62.67 km²
• designated in 1958
• contains Jarvis Creek, one of the most relatively intact and productive river valley habitats in Alberta’s foothills
• nesting habitat for Osprey
• high plant diversity including rare plant species
• Rock Lake-Solomon Creek Wildland Park
• 347 km²
• Represents alpine, subalpine and montane sub regions of the Rocky Mountain Natural region as well as the upper Foothills region
• Designated in December 2000 as part of the Special Places 2000 program
• Rock Lake area is a significant wildlife movement corridor
• dense coniferous forests of lodgepole pine and white spruce forests, mixed and aspen woods, tall shrub communities, grassy slopes and wet meadow
• winter range for elk, deer and bighorn sheep, moose, grizzly and black bear, cougar and wolf
• Activities include camping, hiking, cross country skiing, horseback riding and hunting

Environmentally Significant Areas map:  JPG | PDF

Watershed

• Contains numerous major watersheds including the Berland River, Wildlhay and Athabasca Rivers and the headwaters of Little Smoky River.
• The Little Smoky River and tributaries contain one of the last unexploited Arctic grayling populations in Alberta. It is rated as the highest quality grayling recreational fishing opportunity and wilderness experience in Alberta.

 Wildlife

• Valleys of the Little Smoky, Athabasca and Berland rivers provide important habitat for large concentrations of elk, moose, mule deer, white tailed deer, black bear, wolves, lynx and beaver.
• The valleys support critical habitat for the most remnant population of caribou, the Little Smoky caribou herd. Organic fens predominate in the core range of the herd along with coniferous forests. Other Caribou herds which occupy the area include the A La Peche and Highway 40 herd.
• Little Smoky Herd: (see our Caribou pages)
• Boreal ecotype of woodland caribou living year round in range.
• 60-100 caribou in the herd
• Immediate risk of extirpation and Provincially and nationally threatened
• Little smoky caribou range is approximately 3200 km² of which an estimated 13,000 km of linear features exist.
• 85% of the Little Smoky Range is within 250 m of a linear corridor (Boreal Caribou Standing Committee)
• Declines in this species is due to the cumulative effects of industrial development and recreation over the years. Any further disturbance will greatly impact the populations.
• Valleys also support a significant grizzly bear population.
• Unique population of Foothills dwelling mountain goats.

Sustainable Activities

• Recreation: Various tourism and recreational opportunities including fishing, boating, and hiking.