Near Field in Columbia-Shuswap, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)
Kicking Horse Pass
⎯⎯⎯
Le Col du Cheval-Qui-Rue
Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 1, 2008
1. Kicking Horse Pass Marker
First recorded in the report of the Palliser expedition of 1857-60, this pass takes its name from an incident in which Dr. James Hector, surgeon in the expedition, was kicked by his horse while exploring in this vicinity. The pass was virtually unused until after 1881 when the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to adopt it as their new route through the Rockies, foregoing the earlier preference for the more northerly Yellowhead Pass. This decision altered the location of the line across western Canada and dramatically affected the development of the West.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.
Location. 51° 27.209′ N, 116° 17.197′ W. Marker is near Field, British Columbia, in Columbia-Shuswap. It is on Transcanada Highway (National Route 1), on the right when traveling west. Located at the Spiral Tunnels Overlook in Yoho National Park just west of the Alberta-British Columbia boundary. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Field BC V0A 1G0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the BC Interior and in Thompson-Okanagan. Globally, it is in North America, in the Rocky Mountains, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chateau Lake Louise (approx. 6.3 kilometers away in Alberta); Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (approx. 6.3 kilometers away in Alberta); Rumbles of Excitement / À Fond de Train (approx. 7.3 kilometers away in Alberta); Parting of the Waters (approx. 7.5 kilometers away in Alberta); Lake Louise-Welcome (approx. 8.1 kilometers away in Alberta); Baldwin #7717 Steam Locomotive (approx. 10.3 kilometers away); Canadian Pacific Railway Log Houses - circa 1928 (approx. 15.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Field.
Other markers no longer nearby. Canadian Pacific Railway Stone Monument
Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 1, 2008
2. Wideview of Kicking Horse Pass Marker
Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 1, 2008
3. Kicking Horse Pass
Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 1, 2008
4. Train Entering Tunnel
There are two spiral tunnels at Kicking Horse Pass that trains must pass through as they make their way across the mountains.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2008, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 3,303 times since then and 62 times this year. Last updated on June 18, 2014, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2008, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
