Walcott Quarry

Walcott Quarry is a protected Burgess Shale fossil site high on Mount Field. Visitors can go only on a scheduled guided hike or with a research permit; it isn't a roadside stop or a place to explore on your own. The guided trip is difficult: 22 km round trip, 900 m of climbing, and about 11 hours. Make it a priority if you love fossils and want a full day in the mountains.

Meet at the Yoho Lake/Iceline Trail parking lot near the end of Yoho Valley Road, not at the quarry's mapped coordinates. The first 5 km climbs steep switchbacks to Yoho Lake; from there, the route climbs more gently for 5.4 km toward the quarry trail. The final 600 m is steep and rocky. You return to the same lot, and Parks Canada advises against the hike for people with recurring knee, back, or ankle injuries.

More than 500 million years ago, this part of the Rockies lay beneath a shallow sea. The Burgess Shale is known for soft-bodied animals preserved in unusual detail, including features such as eyes, brains, and internal organs that usually decay. Guides explain how these animals were fossilized and how the fossil beds came to sit high on a mountain. Their scientific and historical importance is also why access is restricted.

The quarry is the focus, but the route also crosses dramatic mountain terrain and climbs high enough for views of Emerald Lake from above. Those views are part of a full mountain day, not a quick overlook stop; there is no short route to the site.

Reservations are required, and hikes run on a seasonal schedule. Have a valid park pass and at least 2 litres of water ready for the day. The access road has tight switchbacks: vehicles over 7 m and trailers aren't allowed on the road to the meeting point; Parks Canada identifies a parking lot across from Monarch Campground for trailers. Pets can't join, children under 10 aren't permitted, and hikers 15 and younger need an adult.