Yoho National Park of Canada

The Burgess Shale: a treasure of ancient fossils

Burgess Shale Centennial Celebration

In 2009, celebrate the centennial of the discovery of one of world’s most famous ancient marine ecosystems - the 505 million year old Burgess Shale fossils in Yoho National Park.

Spiral Tunnels and Burgess Shale Centennial Celebration

Parks Canada, Canadian Pacific Railway, the Friends of Yoho, Field Community Council, the Village of Field and the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation have planned a public event to mark these important anniversaries, the Spiral Tunnels and Burgess Shale Centennial Celebration on September 5th, 2009.

Learn more....

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

July – August
Parks Canada Guided Hikes to the Burgess Shale Fossil Beds
Award-winning Parks Canada Heritage Interpreters will once again offer guided hikes to the Burgess Shale. Complementing those offered by the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation they incorporate traditional interpretive techniques such as storytelling, interactive games and hands-on activities.

Walcott Photography Exhibit
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff)
Parks Canada and the Royal Ontario Museum are hosting a Burgess Shale exhibit at the Whyte Museum. The exhibit features oversize panoramic photographs of the Canadian Rockies taken by Charles Walcott that were first published in National Geographic in 1911, excerpts from Walcott's handwritten journal, and artefacts from Walcott’s field camp collected and restored by the Royal Ontario Museum.

Burgess Shale Outdoor Theatre Program
Kicking Horse Campground Theatre, Yoho National Park
Throughout the summer, Parks Canada offers free family-oriented evening theatre programs about the Burgess Shale to the public.

August 3 – August 8
Burgess Shale Conference
Banff Centre, Banff
The Royal Ontario Museum, Canadian Geological survey and Smithsonian Institution have organized an international science conference at the Banff Centre where geologists, palaeontologists, biologists and members of the general public will gather to share knowledge and discuss all things related to the Burgess Shale and the Cambrian Explosion.
www.burgess-shale.info

Burgess Shale Speaker Series
Max Bell Auditorium, Banff Centre, Banff
As part of the Burgess Shale science conference, Parks Canada and the Royal Ontario Museum are hosting a public speaker series featuring the world’s top authorities on the Burgess Shale.

September 5
Spiral Tunnels & Burgess Shale Commemorative Event
Field, BC
Canadian Pacific Railway, Parks Canada, the Friends of Yoho, the community of Field, the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation and others are planning an exciting event to commemorate the centennial anniversaries of both the discovery of the Burgess Shale and the construction of the Spiral Tunnels.

Fall, 2009
Unveiling of New Burgess Shale Exhibit
Field, BC
Parks Canada’s completely new Burgess Shale fossil exhibit will be unveiled to the public this fall. Interactive, entertaining and highly educational, this beautifully designed exhibit will appeal to children and adults alike.

Waves of mountains now stand firm where ocean waves once rippled with ancient life.

In 1909, high on the western slope of Mt. Field, Charles Walcott, paleontologist and Secretary to the Smithsonian Institution, discovered fossils. Now known as the Burgess Shale, this site is home to some of the world's earliest modern animals. These exquisitely preserved fossils are a legacy that draws many visitors to Yoho National Park each year.

In recognition of the unique and exceptionally well preserved fossils of soft-bodied marine organisms that lived in Cambrian seas 505 million years ago, the Burgess Shale was identified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. The diverse and sometimes bizarre animals preserved in the shales represent a complete ecosystem that existed only a very short time, relatively speaking, after the first explosion of multicellular life on earth.

Since their discovery, the fossils of the Burgess Shale have provided scientists with a wealth of information about the variety of Cambrian life forms, some of which are difficult to classify into familiar categories of modern or fossil taxonomy .

These life forms have given scientists a valuable glimpse into the nature of evolution itself. The fossils provide evidence that suggests the evolution of life on Earth has been characterized by rapid diversification and random extinction rather than by an orderly progression of "survival of the fittest". Continued research by the Royal Ontario Museum here in Yoho, and by other scientists elsewhere in the world will further our understanding of the process of evolution.

Protection of such a unique, fragile and globally important site is the responsibility of the park. At the same time, we recognize that opportunities must exist for people to learn about their world heritage. To accommodate both of these goals, access to the fossil beds is by guided hikes.

The collecting of fossils and other natural objects or artifacts is strictly prohibited.

Walcott's Quarry lies along a ridge on Mt. Wapta, across Burgess Pass from Mt. Burgess. Mt. Burgess has two peaks; the highest of these will officially be named "Walcott Peak" in honour of Dr. Charles Doolittle Walcott. Mt. Burgess, best viewed from Emerald Lake, once graced the back of the ten dollar bill.

The fossil sites

• The hike to the Mount Stephen Fossil Beds is a moderate 6-kilometre round-trip hike that takes about 7 hours to complete. Elevation gain is 780 metres (1700 ft.).
• The hike to Walcott's Quarry is a moderately difficult 20-kilometre round-trip hike that takes about 10 hours to complete. Elevation gain is 760 metres (2888 ft.).

Guided hikes to the Burgess Shale

Parks Canada launches an exciting new hike!

Beginning in the summer of 2009, award-winning Parks Canada Heritage Interpreters are once again offering guided hikes to the restricted Burgess Shale fossil beds. These hikes incorporate traditional interpretive techniques such as storytelling, interactive games and hands-on activities. Book early as there are only 12 spots available per hike.

Booking starts May 1st, 2009. Call 1.800.759.2429 for more information or to book a spot!

Walcott Quarry (20 kilometres roundtrip, approximately 9.5 hours)
Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from June 27th to September 17th
Adult (17 to 64 years)- $70
Youth (6 to 16 years)- $35
Seniors (65 years and over)- $59.50
Children (5 years and under)- Free, but not recommended due to trip length and difficulty

Map of the hike to Walcott's Quarry, Yoho National Park
© Parks Canada

Mount Stephen (6 kilometres round-trip with steep elevation gain, approximately 7 hours)
Every Wednesday and Friday from July 1st to September 18th
Adult (17 to 64 years)- $55
Youth (6 to 16 years)- $27.50
Seniors (65 years and over)- $46.75
Children (5 years and under)- Free, but not recommended due to trip length and difficulty

Map of the hike to the Mount Stephen Fossil Beds, Yoho National Park
© Parks Canada

Hikes are long and strenuous and may not be suitable for all people.

Licensed private guides

Licensed private guides of the Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation offer science-based hikes to both the Walcott Quarry and Mount Stephen. All hikes are by reservation only; a limit of 12 people per hike ensures a quality experience and security of the fossil site. Reserve early.

For more information on the guided hikes, contact Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation :

To make reservations

Hiking tips

A day of hiking in the Rockies requires preparation. Higher elevations increase your exposure to the sun and also bear the brunt of stormy weather. Conditions can change rapidly in the mountains. You will need to bring:

• good hiking boots or very sturdy shoes
• a rain jacket
• a fleece jacket or warm sweater
• sunglasses & sunscreen
• lunch, a snack & water
• a hat, light gloves/mitt & extra socks
• blister-kit (just in case!)

Glossary

UNESCO : United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Ecosystem : A system formed by the interaction of groups of organisms with each other and with their environment.
Taxonomy : The orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships.

Related Links

• Burgess Shale Centennial International Conference, Banff, Alberta, August 3 - 7, 2009
• Past lives: Chronicles of Canadian Paleontology
• Calgary Herald: Interactive: Creatures of the Burgess Shale NEW!