An iconic road to Kicking Horse Pass in the Canadian Rockies

Kicking Horse Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,683m (5,521ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia, in Canada.

Kicking Horse Pass

Is the road to Kicking Horse Pass paved?

Set high in the southern Canadian Rockies, within Yoho and Banff National Parks, the road to the summit is fully paved. It's part of the Trans-Canada Highway, which was constructed through the pass in 1962. This pass represents the highest point on the highway. The area frequently experiences rockslides, debris torrents, and avalanches.

How long is Kicking Horse Pass?

The pass stretches 25.8 km (16.03 miles) east-west, running from Lake Louise, a hamlet in Banff National Park, to Field in southeastern British Columbia, situated within Yoho National Park.

Why is it called Kicking Horse Pass?

In 1858, during the Palliser Expedition, Scottish geologist Dr. James Hector was the first European to discover Kicking Horse Pass. According to legend, the pass got its name after Hector's horse kicked him in the chest at this location.

 

 

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