Rocky Mountain Trench

The Rocky Mountain Trench is a long, linear valley running roughly 1,600 kilometers through western Canada. It is a major continental physiographic corridor that stands out for its length and continuity.

The trench contains extensive lowland terrain with rivers, lakes, and broad valley floors that provide habitat for fish and large mammals and serve as routes for roads, rail lines, and resource access. Many sections are used for forestry, ranching, and outdoor recreation including fishing and backcountry travel.

The trench was carved and shaped by tectonic forces and long-term erosion over geological time and has served as a travel and trade corridor for Indigenous peoples and later for fur-trade and settlement movements.

It runs predominantly north-south through British Columbia and forms the prominent separation between the Rocky Mountains on its east side and the Columbia and other mountain ranges on its west side.

• Length: Extends for roughly 1,600 kilometers, making it one of North America's longest continuous valleys.
• Geographic role: Marks a clear geographic divide between the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Columbia and other western ranges, and contains extensive river and lake systems used as travel and resource corridors.