Kootenay National Park
Radium Hot Springs, Columbia Valley, Kootenays, BC, Canada

Kootenay National Park is a year round recreation destination situated in the Rocky Mountains and on the Continental Divide in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada.

The south entrance of the wilderness park is located on Highway #93 near the Village of Radium Hot Springs. The northeast entrance is located on the same highway near the BC / Alberta Border and Banff National Park.

Kootenay National Park was established in 1920 and covers 1,406 sq. kms. The elongated park extends north to south. South being the Rocky Mountain Trench. North being more high mountain peaks and glaciers.

The park is full of First Nation history and is very much left in its wilderness state. The forest eco system includes mountain peaks, alpine glaciers, roaring rivers and meadows of grasslands. In fact, the national park is the only BC National Park containing a grassland eco system.

During the simmer months the park creates many outdoor opportunities for hiking, backpacking, wilderness camping, mountain biking, mountaineering, rock climbing, fishing, river kayaking, horseback riding and sightseeing.

During the winter months, after the snow has covered the trees and trails.. and after the lakes have frozen over and the waterfalls ice up, people visit the park to enjoy snowshoeing, cross country skiing and ice climbing.

Some of the highlights of the Kootenay National Park include the white cliffs of Marble Canyon, the mineral springs and red earth of the Paint Pots, Radium Hot Springs, wildlife sightings and the adventures enjoyed in the backcountry traveling hiking trails and fire roads.

Some hiking routes are short trails and only take 1-3 hours to complete like the Juniper, Redstreak, Cobb Lake, Valley View, Numa Creek, Nixon Lake, Haffner Creek and Dog Lake hiking trails. There are full day hikes that take 5-8 hours to enjoy like the Kimpton Creek, Kindersley Pass, Sinclair Creek, Hawk Creek, Dolly Varden and the Stanley Glacier hiking trails.

Some of the multi day backpacking hikes to overnight wilderness campgrounds in the Kootenay National Park include the Floe Lake, Rockwall, Tumbling/Helmut Creek Circuit, Tokumm Creek to Fay Hut and Redearth Pass backcountry trails. Access to the Kootenay National Park requires a park permit.

The campsites in the backcountry are wilderness campgrounds with few amenities and operate on a pack-in, pack-out mentality. Some of the wilderness campgrounds include tent pads, bear poles and pit toilets but not all. The wilderness campgrounds include the Floe Lake, Verdant Creek, Ottertail Pass, Tumbling Creek, Helmut Falls, Tokumm Valley, Kaufmann Lake and Numa Creek.

The Kootenay National Park includes, both, drive in and wilderness backcountry camping. The drive in campgrounds are easily located off of Highway #93 -- Cook's Meadow Group Campground, Dolly Varden, Redstreak, MacLeod Meadows and Marble Canyon Campgrounds.

Mountain biking is only permitted on the gravel access fire roads in the park. These are the forestry roads used by the park rangers to maintain the park. Horseback riding is also permitted on the fire roads but permission from the park is required.

Wildlife in the Kootenay National Park includes the badger, wolf, bighorn sheep, rubber boa, caribou, black bear, grizzly bear, coyote, lynx, wolverine, elk, mule deer, cougar, moose, mountain goats and plains bison.

Birdwatching is popular. The best birdwatching destinations require hiking and some effort to enjoy. Although, Olive Lake, is an easy access destination with a short trail and some viewing platforms for birdwatching. Birds in the Kootenay National Park include the common nighthawk, lewis' woodpecker, warbler, olive sided flycatcher, short eared owl and bald eagle.

How to Get to Kootenay National Park:

BC Entrance: Travel to the Village of Radium Hot Springs on Highway 93/95 (also called the Kootenay Parkway). In Radium Hot Springs look for Highway #93 which is the main road through the middle of the park covering over 94 kilometres.

Alberta Entrance: Travel north of Banff and Calgary on Highway #1 to the intersection of Highway #1 and Highway #93. Travel south of Lake Louise, Jasper and Edmonton on Highway #1 to the intersection of Highway #1 and Highway #93. Highway #93 will lead all travelers into the Kootenay National Park.