Province British Columbia | ||
Pink Mountain is an unincorporated community in British Columbia, Canada. Nestled in the Rocky Mountain foothills, the town is located 113 miles (180 km) NW of Fort St. John and 140 miles (224 km) NW of Dawson Creek, on Mile 143 of the Alaska Highway. Approximately 100 people inhabit the community.
Map of Pink Mountain, BC, Canada
Only part of the mountain itself, aptly named after the pinkish burnt rock seams which it is locally famed for, has been designated provincial park status. Located 10 miles (16 km) south-west of Mile 147, Pink Mountain Provincial Park is one of the region's designated areas for wildlife. However, because much of the park area is on a fairly steep slope, it is only sparsely covered with vegetation and is not suitable butterfly habitat. Prime butterfly habitat for the rare arctic butterflies in the southernmost part of their range is threatened by the proposed development of a wind farm with its large concrete footprint. The park’s primary role is to protect a significant palaeontological site containing examples of large marine fossils from the Mesozoic Era, including the largest ichthyosaur ever discovered.
Pink Mountain is also the only place in the province where wild plains bison roam. The 1000 plus bison found roaming the area are not naturally occurring, but rather descendants of an escaped herd of 50 from those imported by local guide and outfitter R. Lynn Ross in 1968.