18 Best Sights in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

This 17.3-km (10.7-mile) loop hike with an elevation of 1,325 meters (4,347 feet) is well worth the challenge. The trail passes through forests and valleys streaked with multiple avalanche paths and follows a meadowy ridgeline to the summit that provides 360-degree views of the surrounding snowy peaks. Bears love the vegetation that grows on the avalanche paths, so it's best to heed the signs posted at the trailhead and have a group of at least four to hike the trail. The final 1.2 km (0.7 mile) of the loop is along the highway. Difficult.

The first recorded visit to Radium Hot Springs was by Sir George Simpson, the governor of the Hudson Bay Company. Construction of cement bath pools and a bathhouse happened in 1914, but by 1922 the springs were expropriated and taken over by the park after it was formed in 1920. The subsequent U-shaped aquacourt that you see today was constructed between 1949 and 1951 and is claimed as the first major post-war building project in the western parks. Its construction helped the region gain international recognition as a spa destination and is the reason that the nearby village of Radium was constructed. The healing mineral-rich waters are still the main tourist attraction within the Kootenay National Park. Today there's a cooler swimming pool with a diving board and slides and a large hot pool for soaking. Although popular year-round, the hot springs are a truly magical experience when it's snowing. It's recommended that you bring a water bottle to stay hydrated, and swimsuits and towel rentals are available on-site.

A layer of rock deposits containing amazingly well-preserved fossil specimens, Burgess shale formations were first discovered in 1886 by a railway worker in nearby Yoho National Park. Subsequently in 1909, Smithsonian Institute paleontologist Charles Walcott started collecting and analyzing specimens. The current site at the base of the Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park was not discovered until 2012 and contains fossils with clearly visible details of the bones and insides of creatures from the underwater ecosystem that existed for a short time after the first explosion of multicellular life on earth over 505 million years ago. The Burgess Shale fossils are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site.

This day-use picnic area with accessible picnic tables and restrooms allows for the unique experience of standing on the dividing line between the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. The trailhead for the Fireweed Loop trails is here, a ½-km (0.3-mile) and a 2-km (1-mile) loop trail with minimal elevation gain, where you can walk through a quiet forest and read the interpretive signs that tell the story of the region after the 1968 wildfire.

As the only day-use area in the park with small playground climbing structures, if you have children, you won't want to drive past this rest area. There are also several interpretive signs explaining how Parks Canada is helping wildlife (including bears, wolves, cougars, and ungulates) stay safe with the construction of underpasses and fencing. Read the signs before walking through Dolly Varden underpass (there are nine of them in the park) that the animals use to cross the highway to access important habitat and connect with mates. The site also has picnic tables and toilets.

One of Kootenay's most popular hikes, this 21-km (13-mile) out-and-back hike is a mix of easy stretches and steep switchbacks, with 1,110 meters (3,642 feet) of elevation gain. The views along the way offer a bit of everything: meadows, burnt forest, glaciers, and peaks, with a large spectacular lake at the end. The lake has a backcountry campground, which is the most southern point for the Rockwall Trail, a multiday 54-km (34-mile) trail that stretches in a northerly direction from here through Numa Pass and beyond. Difficult.

Known for its spectacular setting on a glacier-cleared field close to the shores of Floe Lake, this cabin was constructed in 1960 along one of the patrol trails that formed part of the network established by the National Park Warden Service to enforce fish and game regulations and fight forest fires within the park boundaries. The one-story log structure on a lovely rubble stone foundation is a good example of the typical rustic architecture and design.

With only one highway through Kootenay National Park, many travelers choose this route as a scenic option to get from Banff to Windermere Valley. The park's terrain is rugged and natural with amazing views of the mountain ranges and the glacial blue rivers that often run alongside the highway. More so than the neighboring Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks, wildfires have been significant in Kootenay National Park, and, especially in the northern portion of the park, the large stands of burned trees allow a stark view of the mountain peaks and give a romantic, haunting feel to the terrain. These burn areas quickly grow over with lush greenery and wildflowers, providing an important ecosystem for several species of flora and fauna within the park.

Located just outside the town of Radium Hot Springs, on the edge of Kootenay National Park, this moderately easy 6.4-km (4-mile) loop trail is popular with hikers and runners. The trail, which can be started at either the trailhead behind the hot springs or the trailhead at Redstreak Campground, goes through the forest, and alongside cliffs where you may spot the local mountain sheep herds, and eventually offers outstanding views down the Columbia Valley. Moderate.

This viewpoint arguably provides the best vistas in the entire park. Situated as you begin the ascent to Sinclair Pass (from the north), stop at this pull-out for stunning views up and down the Mitchell and Vermilion mountain ranges.

A definite highlight of Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon trail starts immediately from the parking lot at the side of Highway 93. The short hike (1.4 km [0.9 mile] with minimal elevation) takes you across seven bridges that crisscross the deeply carved limestone gorge, as the torrential glacial blue waters rush downward far below. At the top of the trail, you can see a small waterfall on the river, right where it drops into the canyon. New interpretive panels detail the formation of this impressive gorge.

This picnic site is located right next to rushing waterfalls; a very short walk brings you to the bridge that crosses in front of them. There are toilets and an abundance of picnic tables.

As the name indicates, the strong green color of this lake is stunning. Immediately next to the parking lot, there are a shelter, picnic tables, and outhouses, with other tables scattered throughout the forest. A hike on the interpretive lakeshore boardwalk trail takes you through the forest around the lake, where you can often see brook trout leisurely swimming in the crystal clear water.

The paint pots are a geological formation formed by rich deposits of iron oxide that bubbles up from mineral springs, resulting in liquid with pigments ranging from red to orange to brown. The area is sacred to the Ktunaxa people, who have gathered the ocher liquid to color their clay and paints since ancient times. By the early 1900s, European settlers also started to mine the pigments for manufacturing paints. This mining stopped when the area became a park in 1920, but the paint pots continue to bubble the brightly colored pigments to the surface. In late 2023, in consultation with Indigenous partners, 175 meters (575 feet) of raised boardwalk was constructed to address poor trail conditions on a muddy section of the trail.

The visitor center is located in the village of Radium Hot Springs just outside the south entrance to the park. Parks Canada and the Tourism Radium office are housed within the same building. Parks Canada can provide you with all the information you need about the park, including camping, hiking, and interpretive programs. Tourism staff provides comprehensive information about restaurants, accommodations, and tour operators in the region. Of note is that the Tourism side is open all year long, while Parks Canada is only staffed from May 1 to October 14.

It takes 3--5 days to complete this stunning 54-km (34-mile) hike that winds through subalpine meadows and past hanging glaciers while traversing three alpine passes and requires overnighting in backcountry campgrounds. The namesake "Rockwall" is a massive limestone cliff that towers above the trail in several locations. Reservations are necessary and are open for booking at the end of January each year through the Parks Canada website or via phone; book early to ensure a spot. Difficult.

This 17.6-km (11-mile) return trail has an elevation gain of only 135 meters (443 feet), but it's still rated as difficult, with many up and down sections. There are interpretive panels along the first part of the trail educating you about the regeneration of this forest via lightning and wildfire, which is very evident in the burned forest around you for most of the trail. Ultimately you will arrive at a three-valley river confluence. Difficult.

Located directly across from the Kootenay Park Lodge (now closed), this beautiful picnic area is just off the highway with ample parking, outhouses, and tables placed along the scenic banks of the fast-flowing Vermilion River.