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Geography
The park protects the complete Stein River watershed as it flows down from the eastern Pacific Ranges into the Fraser River, including several lakes and tributary creeks. Cirques and tarns are scattered along the upper range of the river watershed. Two canyon sections of the Stein River can be found on each the east end and the west end of the valley. The main valleys except the lower canyon are consisted of glacial landforms, U-shaped valleys and hanging valleys, that indicates the existence of vast glacier formation in the past ecosystem of the Stein Valley.

The park's elevation ranges from 220 metres above sea level at the eastern end up to 2954 at the summit of Skihist Mountain. There are other peaks that are over 2,438 metres and other significant features around the park mentioned by BC Parks such as:


 * Main (eastern) trail head 220 metres
 * Cottonwood Creek mouth 675 metres
 * Stein Lake 1,025 metres
 * Elton Lake 1,825 metres
 * Tundra Lake 1,875 metres
 * Lizzie Lake 1,325 metres
 * Blowdown Pass 2,175 metres

The south-facing slopes on lower valley is relatively drier and warmer compared to the north-facing slopes because it is located in the rain shadow of the Coast Mountains.

The Stein Valley was heavily glaciated and is dominated by glacial landforms. All of the main valleys except the lower canyon have the characteristic U-shape of glacial eroded troughs, and many of the tributaries to the Stein River exhibit “hanging” valleys. The upper reaches of the watershed are dotted with a large number of small mountain lakes (tarns), many of which occupy cirques.

The Stein River has two extensive canyon sections, one at the east end of the valley and one at the west end. The park has a wide range of elevations, from about 220 metres above sea level at the eastern end to 2954 metres at the summit of Skihist Mountain. There are about a dozen other peaks along the boundary that are over 2,438 metres. Some of the key elevations in and around the park are:


 * Main (eastern) trail head 220 metres
 * Cottonwood Creek mouth 675 metres
 * Stein Lake 1,025 metres
 * Elton Lake 1,825 metres
 * Tundra Lake 1,875 metres
 * Lizzie Lake 1,325 metres
 * Blowdown Pass 2,175 metres

Preliminary efforts are underway to monitor glaciers within the Stein Valley Heritage Park

The U-shaped valleys and hanging valleys present on the main valleys of Stein Valley indicates the past ecosystem being dominated by glacial landforms.

The lower valley experiences a strong rainshadow effect from the Coast Mountains and the climate is relatively dry and hot. In the lower valley the south-facing, north shore of the Stein River is xeric, with abundant ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and sparse understory vegetation. The north-facing slopes of the lower valley are wetter and cooler with more abundant understory herbs and shrubs and increased dominance of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) relative to ponderosa pine