Kootenay National Park
Address City
P.O. Box 220 Radium Hot Springs
Province Country
BC Canada
Postal Code Phone
V0A 1M0 (250) 347-9615
 
Kootenay National Park is nestled into Banffs western border. It can be reached in less than an a half hour from Banff or Lake Louise. This is the least developed of the Rocky Mountain Parks, if your looking to get away from the crowds, Kootenay is a good choice. Of course it shares the same spectacular scenery as its sisters, so you don't give up anything when you visit. There are excellent areas for hiking, biking, backpacking and paddling. There is only one town in the park, Radium Hotsprings, located at the southern entrance.  
 
 
 
Location: The park is situated just to the west of Banff, making up a large part of Banffs western borders with British Columbia. From Calgary take highway 1 through Banff and pick up the 93 south which will take you into the park. From Lake Louise take the highway 1 south to pick up the 93 goint west into the park. From Jasper take the 93 (Icefields Parkway) south passed Lake Louise and into the park. From Vancouver take the 1 east to Golden then take the 95 south passed Lake Louise then head west on the 93 into the parkto Radium Hot Springs. Alternatively you can take the slower route along the 3 through southern British Columbia just passed Cranbrook where you pick up the 95 or 95A north to the gates of the park. National Parks in British Columbia - Locator Map

Rocky Mountain Parks

Jasper National Park
Banff National Park AB
Yoho National Park BC
Mount Robson Provincial Park BC

Distances

Radium Hotsprings - Banff - 130km
Radium Hotsprings - Calgary - 260km
Radium Hotsprings - Columbia Icefields - 260km
Radium Hotsprings - Edmonton - 550km
Radium Hosprings - Field (Yoho National Park) - 160km
Radium Hosprings - Jasper - 360km
Radium Hostprings - Lake Louise - 130km

Size: 1,406 sq. km

Mountain Biking: Mountain biking is permitted only on the East and West Kootenay fire roads. These routes are described in the Kootenay National Park Backcountry Guide.

Mountain Climbing: The Kootenay National Park Climber's Guide gives detailed information about climbs, ridge walks and scrambles within the park. Park Wardens may be contacted for current climbing conditions at 250-347-9361. Climbers are encouraged to use the Voluntary Registration System.

 
Backpacking: Many of Kootenay's trails offer overnight backcountry opportunities. There are 114 backcountry campsites. You need a Wilderness Pass to stay overnight in the backcountry. The Kootenay National Park Backcountry Trail Guide contains detailed information on the trails. To make a reservation, please call the West Gate Information Centre 250-347-9505 or fax 250-347-6307.  
 
 
 
 
Hiking: There are over 200 km of trails in Kootenay National Park from short walks to full day hikes.

Canoeing: The Vermilion and Kootenay rivers are for experienced paddlers. Route descriptions are available at the information centers. For information on commercial canoeing and rafting operations on the Kootenay River, contact the Western Canadian River Assn. The telephone number is 403-470-0072 or the Kootenay River Runners at 250-347-9210

Kayaking: Flat Water & River, The Vermilion - Kootenay River.

Backcountry and Cross Country Skiing: Nordic trails recommended have a sign depicting a cross-country skier. These trail are not groomed. There are backcountry ski trails as well but they cross dangerous avalanche areas and are designated as ski mountaineering only. For more information, get the Kootenay National Park Nordic Trail Guide.

Snowshoeing: The park has snowshoeing and winter camping.

 
 
 
 
Front Country Camping

Redstreak Campground: 242 serviced sites. Located just north of the town of Radium Hotsprings at the southern entrance to the park. The campground has flush toilets, showers and a trailer dump.

McLeod Meadows: 98 unserviced sites. Located in the south of the park north of Sinclaire Pass. The campground has flush toilets and a trailer dump.

Mable Canyon: 61 unserviced sites. Located at Crooks Meadows in the south central region of the park. The campgound has flush toilets and a trailer dump.

Dolley Varden: (Fall, Winter, Spring) Located in the parks northern region just south of Vermillion Pass. The campground has vault toilets.

Winter Camping: Dolly Varden is open for camping in the winter.

Hostels

There are no hostels in Kootenay National Park. You will find hostels nearby in the other Rocky Mountain Parks, Banff, Jasper and Yoho.

 
Books:

The following are all recommended reading depending on your area of interest:

The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton & Bart Robinson, Summerthought Books
Backcountry Biking in the Canadian Rockies by Doug Eastcott & Gerhardt Lepp, Rocky Mountain Books
Canadian Rockies Access Guide by John Dodd & Gail Helgason (Leslie & Mark Degner), Lone Pine Books
Sports Climbs in the Canadian Rockies by John Martin and Jon Jones, Rocky Mountian Books
Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies by Sean Dougherty, Rocky Mountain Books
Canadain Rockies Whitewater - The Southern Rockies by Stuart Smith, Headwaters Press
Ski Trails in the Canadain Rockies by Chic Scott, Rocky Mountain Books
Pets: Pets must be on a leashed at all times. For their protection, never leave your pet unattended. Bears, coyotes, and elk and even deer (particulary females) may present a danger to your pet.

Maps:

1:50,000 Topographical Maps Covering the Park
82 N/8, 82 N/1, 82 O/4, 82 K/16, 82 J/13, 82 K/9, 82 J/12

The list includes maps with very small sections on the edges of the park.

There is also a wall sized 1:100,000 scale map available of Jasper as well as a special wall sized topographical map at 1:200,000 that covers Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks, 107cm x 104cm (42"x 41").

Yoho National Park has an individual toporgraphical wall map at 1:50,000, also has details on the park Approximately 125cm x 90cm (48"x36")
 
Kootenay is one of Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks. It is one of the four national parks, (Jasper, Banff, Kootenay & Yoho) that were declared a World Heritage Site in 1985 by the United National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Large numbers of elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer and other large animals live in the park. Of course, this includes their predators such as grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolves and wolverines. Kootenay National Park is one of the great protected ecosystems remaining in the Rocky Mountains.

Check out Out-There's British Columbia

Travel & Transportation

Via Rail
Rocky Mountianeer Railtours
Air Canada
Calgary International Airport
Edmonton International Airport

Area Guides for the BC Rockies - Outside the Park

Fernie Guide
Ski Fernie
Kimberly
Trail
Revelstoke - Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke Snowsports - Revelstoke, British Columbia
Golden - Area Guide, Golden, Columbia Valley, BC Rockies, British Columbia
Golden - Chamber of Commerce

Accomodations in the Park

Motel Tyrol - Motel, Radium Hot Springs
The Canyon RV Park - Radium Hot Springs
Big Horn Meadows - Radium Hot Springs
Radium Resort - Redium Hot Springs
Park Inn - Inn, Radium Hot Springs

Skiing and Snowboarding in the BC Rockies - Outside the Park

Great Northern - Snow Cat Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Hiking - Revelstoke/Golden, British Columbia
Kimberly - Kimberly, British Columbia
Panorama - Invermere, British Columbia
Red Mountain - Rossland, British Columbia
Powder Springs - On Mount MacKenzie. Snow Cat Skiing, Telemark Skiing, Hiking. Revelstoke, British Columbia

Rocky Mountain Parks

Jasper National Park
Banff National Park AB
Yoho National Park BC
Mount Robson Provincial Park BC


Official Site: Kootenay National Park - Parks Canada
British Columbia Rockies Tourism
British Columbia Tourism
 
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