Along Crowsnest Highway, just east of Bellevue, you’ll find Alberta’s most famous tree — and if you blink, you might just miss it! The Burmis Tree looks like something straight out of a Tim Burton film, and when you see it, it’s no wonder that it’s the most photographed tree in Canada.
But how does a dead tree remain standing for so many years?
The Dead Burmis Tree
According to the University of Calgary, the Burmis Tree is a limber pine that’s estimated to be between 600 and 750 years old. The tree died sometime in the late 1970’s and lost all its needles. But it’s still standing — albeit with a little help.
The tree is a treasured heritage symbol and a testament to the enduring and resilient nature of the people of Crowsnest Pass. After high winds toppled the tree in 1998, locals and the Alberta Government rallied to repair it. The tree was stabilized using steel rods and braces to support the remaining roots.
The Ghost of an Alberta Town
It’s fitting that the Burmis Tree in Alberta should look as ghostly as it does. The tree was already hundreds of years old when the Davenport Coal Company started its nearby operations in 1910. The industry boom led to the village of Burmis springing up. However, it didn’t last long.
Mine operations shut down in 1914, and Burmis quickly dwindled. While there was a small spike between 1933 and 1956 when the Burmis Lumber Company rolled in, the town no longer exists.
What was once the village of Burmis is now a few houses, recreational properties, and the eternal tree.
The Most Photographed Tree in Canada
While the Burmis Tree on the side of Crowsnest Highway doesn’t even have a designated turn-off, it still attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Park your car on the side of the road, snap a photo, and read the interpretive panel. You’ll learn that the Burmis tree is the most photographed tree in the country and the subject of many paintings, poems, and artworks.
Even if none of that matters to you, it’s still a beautifully forlorn landmark worthy of some appreciation. In many ways, it’s the perfect symbol for the Crowsnest Pass. A tableau of survival against all odds. Fitting, right?
Planning to visit? You’ll find the Burmis tree along the #3 Crowsnest Highway east of Bellevue.
So wipe off your camera lens and get those road trip snacks ready!
Where: Pincher Creek No. 9, AB – Directions here
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