With such a relatively short documented history the Rockies are far from being a hotbed of history and culture. But that perhaps helps make several the sites that do exist essential stops on any itinerary.

Geological beginnings

The Rockies in their current form are probably about 55 million years old, that's when the crumpling of this former sea-bed took place, though glaciers have shaped the land much since then.

Early Human Presence

A human trace in the mountains goes back some 5000 years, though presumably First Nations used various passes on their way to hunting grounds on the prairies. One such was the spectacular hill site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

Europeans

It wasn't until the end of the 18th century that the first European explorers began to chart the land. A few hardy ones settled in mountain trading posts, but it wasn't until around 100 years later – in the 1880s – that there was a proper influx of settlers with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)