Kootenay National Park of Canada

What to See and Do

Kootenay National Park is a place rich in variety, from glacier-clad peaks along the Continental Divide to the dry grassy slopes of the Columbia Valley, where cactus grows.

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VILLAGE OF RADIUM HOT SPRINGS

Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre

Parks Canada Visitor Centre 250.347.9505, Tourism BC and Chamber of Commerce 250.347.9331 information services

• Friends of Kootenay gift shop
• Exhibits feature Ktunaxa history and culture

1.5 km from Radium
A dramatic park entrance, just inside the west gate.

• Ahead are the iron-rich cliffs of the Redwall Fault.
• Watch for bighorn sheep.

 Radium Hot Springs Pools

3 km from Radium
Enjoy the canyon setting of the spacious facility with hot and cool pools.

• towels, bathing suits, lockers for rent
• day spa
• cool 25 meter pool

BANFF-WINDERMERE HIGHWAY

Speed limit: 90 km/hr (55 mph)
Completed in 1922, this scenic 94-km drive through the park was the first motor road to cross the Canadian Rockies.

Olive Lake

13 km (15 minutes) from Radium
This has always been a natural stopping place. Interpretive trail bordering the clear, shallow lake explains why.

Kootenay Valley Viewpoint

16 km (20 minutes) from Radium
Stop here for a dramatic view.

• Interpretive exhibits explain how the view has changed over time.

Kootenay Park Lodge Visitor Centre

63 km (45 minutes) from Radium
Located at Vermilion Crossing.

• Offers most Parks Canada info services
• no telephone

Paint Pots

85 km (1 hour) from Radium
A 20-minute walk from the road.

• Cold, iron-rich mineral springs bubble up through small pools, staining the earth a deep ochre.
• Panels describe the Aboriginal and mining history.

Marble Canyon

89 km (1 hour) from Radium

Continental Divide

Vermilion Pass, Fireweed Trail
95 km (1.2 hour) from Radium
The dividing line between Pacific and Atlantic watersheds.

• A 15-minute interpretive trail loops through the regenerating forest, the site of a large wildfire in 1968.

SPECIAL PRORAMS AND EVENTS

Evening Programs
Listen, laugh and learn as Parks Canada Interpreters share their intimate knowledge of the area. Redstreak Campground Theatre interpretive programs, July and August.

Children's Programs
Are your kids looking for something fun to do? Friends of Kootenay National Park Junior Naturalist Programs for kids aged 6-10 are offered during July and August. Check Information Centre for dates and times.

Events  

Roving Interpreters
Parks Canada staff are ready to answer your questions and share stories at major points of interest throughout the park.

KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS

Open dates are weather dependent. Arrive early - sites assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

SELF-GUIDED INTERPRETIVE TRAILS

A great way to get an appreciation of Kootenay's diversity is a first-hand experience on one of the park's interpretive trails. These short trails are designed for easy walking, and many are wheelchair accessible. Along the way, colourful interpretive displays reveal the stories behind the park's landscapes, ecology and human history.

ACTIVITIES

To fully enjoy Kootenay National Park, plan on spending one to two days. For a more leisurely pace, time your visit for months other than July and August. Some activities to enjoy while visiting the park may include:

• biking
• camping
• hiking and walking
• photography
• swimming and soaking

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