Columbia Mountains Mountains

The Columbia Mountains are a major mountain system in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, situated west of the Rocky Mountains and comprising several distinct subranges including the Selkirk, Purcell, Monashee and Cariboo ranges.

The region offers technical alpine climbing, glacier travel, backcountry skiing and long-distance hiking across varied terrain from forested valleys to steep, glaciated peaks. Recreational infrastructure and access points vary widely across the system; some valleys host well-known ski and outdoor-recreation centres while much of the area remains remote wilderness.

The ranges are part of a complex geological province distinct from the Rockies, with a long history of exploration, industrial forestry and hydroelectric development in river valleys. Mountaineering in the Selkirks and Purcells expanded in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The system extends across southeastern British Columbia and spills into adjacent U.S. states to the south, forming a major topographic feature west of the Rocky Mountain Trench.

• Highest peak: Mount Sir Sandford is the highest peak in the system at 3,519 metres and is a key objective for mountaineers in the Selkirk Range.

What to See#

• Selkirk Range: Selkirk Range - contains the range’s highest peak, Mount Sir Sandford, and extensive glacier systems important for alpine climbing.
• Purcell Range: Purcell Range - noted for steep, rugged peaks and long alpine ridges used by mountaineers and backcountry skiers.
• Monashee and Cariboo ranges: Monashee and Cariboo ranges - form the northern and western components and include extensive forested slopes and river valleys.

• Visit in late June or early September (shoulder season) to catch good weather while avoiding the bulk of summer day‑hikers at popular spots such as Glacier National Park (BC) and Rogers Pass.
• Base yourself in gateway towns like Golden or Revelstoke to access different subranges (Selkirks, Purcells, Monashees) and pick quieter trailheads; the main access points around Rogers Pass and Highway 1 attract the biggest crowds.
• If you plan technical routes or glacier travel, hire a local guide-many visitors stick to established valley trails and miss remote alpine lakes and backcountry bowls that require route‑finding and glacier skills.