We had an amazing time visiting sites in Kootenay National Park while staying in Radium Hot Springs for a week. The is such a picturesque part of British Colombia, Canada. Our first stop was Olive Lake. A gorgeous green-blue body of water. A short trail from the parking lot. Our next stop was Paint Pots. Such a cool experience. We've never seen anything like it before. The colorful, iron-rich pools were so cool to see up close. The boardwalk to the paint pots was picturesque too. There are many stops and viewpoints along highway 93. Be sure to stop at the ranger station to get your park pass ($14/day) and map of all stops along the route. Most stops have restrooms available as well. Overall a must while visiting British Colombia, Canada. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this area and would highly recommend. read more

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Rumor had it that Kootenay National Park was, perhaps, the most underrated of the National Parks in the area. I'm all for supporting the underdogs (& avoiding the crowds). Compared to Banff, Kootenay was empty & there are plenty of bodies of Gatorade-like waters. We enjoyed the wide open spaces and the non-touristy vibe of the park. On our Stanley Glacier Hike, we only saw 3 other sets of people... no shoulder bumping or shuttles needed here. We opted for the annual family/group pass, a great value if you're spending a week or so in any combination of the parks &/or may come back. (& we will come back... already planning it) read more

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Kootenay National Park is situated right beside Banff. It's easily accessible. The park boundary is located about 40 kilometers or 25 miles from downtown Banff. An interesting fact about Kootenay and Banff is that they both lay side-by-side next to each other along the Continental Divide. So...there is a worthwhile sign you can pull off to the side of the road for to take a picture of. It is the Continental Divide Sign stating... - Banff, Alberta and the Atlantic Ocean towards the left. - Kootenay, British Columbia and the Pacific Ocean towards the right. This sign is a cool little monumental moment where you can be standing in 2 Canadian Provinces at the same time. And also, (for those who care...) when entering Kootenay National Park, there is a "Welcome to British Columbia" sign that people (like myself), again, stop and grab a picture of to at least announce having arrived in British Columbia! Now, for Kootenay National Park...I for the most part only needed 1 long and full day to hike and explore along. I started from Banff and eventually ended my day in the town of Radium Hot Springs about 105 kilometers away or almost 65 miles and spent the night there. Radium Hot Springs was a nice ending to my day journey of Kootenay. I grabbed myself a pie of pizza for dinner at Wildside Pizzeria and stayed at the Radium Park Lodge. Also in Radium Hot Springs is a small Visitor Center where you can purchase a couple of gifts/souvenirs from your time here in Kootenay. Now, I'll just give ya a recap of the highlights I passed along in Kootenay when I started in Banff and ended in Radium Hot Springs... - Continental Divide Sign - imo...worthwhile, lol. - First starting out driving...be on the lookout to pull your car over and grab pictures of the surrounding snowcapped mountains! It's beautiful when first starting out! - Kootenay Valley Viewpoint - for this I actually never discovered it. But...I had read it's a great vista point spot. I just never found a sign for it. Maybe others will have more success, lol. - Stanley Glacier Trail - about a 5.5 mile roundtrip trek that winds along the mountainside and offers good glimpses of more snowcapped mountains. Unfortunately about 3/4's of the way to the end, the trail just fades into fallen branches and weeds. I couldn't a way forward so I turned around. But along the hike...it was scenic. - Marble Canyon - this was a popular section. Short roundtrip hike of 1.5 miles that navigates you through twists and turns of the narrow canyon passageways. But, what I liked best here is that if you look at the surroundings of mountainous peaks, you will be pleased you stopped here. I snapped some beautiful landscape photos rather than enjoying the walk through the canyon. - Paint Pots - this was such a pleasant surprise! It's a short 1-2 mile roundtrip walk and it is through muddy and slushy conditions. At the end there are these yellow, orange and green looking pools of water that make for an incredibly colorful ambiance. These Paint Pots could have been the best part of Kootenay for me!! Definitely check them out! - Numa Falls - just a quick stop waterfall that was rather boring. From Numa Falls, it's still almost 81 kilometers to arrive in Radium Hot Springs! So yes, near Banff most of the best attraction landmarks are in this area. I didn't mind going the remainder of the drive towards Radium Hot Springs. I did have opportunities to just gaze at more snowcapped sceneries and also with little pullover side stops to simply stare at the mountains. Before arriving in Radium Hot Springs....there is the Radium Hot Springs Pools. I never visited these pools because I'm not really a fan of hot tubs. But when I did pass it by in late afternoon it still was very crowded. So...this is a popular stop on the left hand side just before entering Radium Hot Springs Town. Just...not for me, lol. That's really it. I enjoyed my Kootenay National Park experience. Definitely keep in mind you'll be driving among many picturesque sections to immerse yourself in nature. Lastly, the following day from Radium Hot Springs I returned back to the Banff area to visit wondrous Lake Louise and Moraine Lake before starting the incredible Icefields Parkway Drive. Alright...this is Kootenay National Park! read more

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Nice little park but there's a lack of souvenirs. Seriously. Not even a coffee cup or a magnet - which was disappointing to someone like me who wants to commerate my travel expenses with a token or two. Radium Hot Springs were very nice - although very commercial. Would have preferred if they were more like a hole in the ground rather than a community swimming pool. Price was very reasonable and we were grateful they rent towels. read more

I came here to do Floe Lake as well as Arnica / Twin Lakes. Pretty views, not too crowded, lakes were pretty. Paths were clear and signed, would recommend! read more

This is one of the less visited parks. I still say...go. The drive is beautiful and the stops along the way take you to some beautiful places. It borders Alberta and British Columbia. 5 stars - Marble Canyon. As soon as you get out of your car, you can hear the rushing water. It's a short hike down to get up close. 5 stars - Painted Pots. These lakes have a specific lakebed, orange ochre, that's makes the colors so unique. I took a picture from way above using zoom, and I can still see how much of an orange-y teal color it was. 5 stars - Continental Divide. All along the Rockies you'll find places advertising the continental divide. This one has two things going for it. You can stand in two provinces at once while standing in two national parks at once. Yeah. I'm aware. It's a touristy thing to do. At least I did it. Now I'm good. If you take Hwy 93 from Banff, you can keep going until you hit the hot springs. The highway takes you to some great vistas because of how much this road climbs it's way through the mountains. read more

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Kootenay National Park of Canada is at the lower end of of Canadian Rockies. This national park is not the most visited park by tourists. But it has a hot springs run by the national park. The park is the most easier access by car to the point of interests include Radium Hot Springs, Sinclair Canyon at the Junction, Paint Pots, and the Marble Canyon. This point of interest is great and short walk. I would include the hot spring at the end the day to relax your muscle. After bath in the hot spring enjoy the red rock canyon at Sinclair. It has the water fall at the two cliff opening for BC 93 highway. Paint pot is the Indian painting material use for the rock wall or their bodies. The natural color of the stone is perfect cooling material. At the end the paint pot trial, you can discovered three pool. One particular green at it reflection with the sunlight. The marble canyon has a walk a long the river is very pleasant. It is uphill walk, but river cut the canyon is very impressive. God made nature is greatly appreciate here. Every short distance, they have bridges cross over the canyon. It allow to peek at deeper section of the canyon. They have overlook for waterfall at the canyon. Sometimes you can see the blowing mists. read more

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Kootenay National Park is very beautiful, less crowded and a great park to visit. It may not be as popular as Banff National Park, but it is just as beautiful. While driving through Kootenay National Park on highway 95/93, we saw more wildlife than we did while driving through Banff. We saw wolves, bears and deer (nice to see the wolves and bears safely in the car rather than on a trail). Within the park, they have many areas to stop, hike or have a picnic. I highly recommend to stop by Olive Lake, Marble Canyon, Stanley Glacier and The Paint Pots! At The Paint Pots, the trail can be a little boggy, but they do have blocks of wood out for you to walk on. Here you can see how the Native Americans, who once inhabited the area, used to get their dyes. The mud is beautiful colors of red, orange and yellow. It's a short hike/stop so maybe give yourself 45 minutes to walk and enough the scenery/mud. The Marble Canyon was another gorgeous spot. You can give yourself another 45 minutes here to hike, enjoy the canyon and read the little tidbits of info posted along the way. read more

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This national park is located southwest of Banff national park down highway 93 and 95. It has a lot to offer those seeking a mountain vacation without the crazy business and expense of Banff or Jasper. The most scenic stop would definitely be marble canyon. It's crystal blue rushing water and so picturesque and cooling on a hot summers day. If your brave and want to get close to the water near the bottom on the canyon be wary of the silt sand on the stones as it get quite slippery and my friend actually feel into the icy river water. Luckily someone was there to pull her out. Unfortunately the bridge to the Numa falls is out but the stop is still worth while as you can get some stellar photos of the river. A sign was posted that the washed out bridge to the fall is slated to be repaired late fall 2017. Eventually this park will take you to Radium where there is a beautiful commercial hot springs that I have truest fallen in love with. read more

Kootenay National Park - The stop at Numa falls. Unfortunately the bridge to the falls was out but is slated to be repaired Fall 2017. - Hiking Near Me - Radium, British Columbia

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Great National Park. Still recovering for the 2003 wild fire, but still a beautiful drive. Lots of wildlife. Lots of stops also for short hikes. Be sure to download the driving app as it tells you a little about the drive. read more

Kootenay National Park - Hiking Near Me - Radium, British Columbia

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Great National Park. Still recovering for the 2003 wild fire, but still a beautiful drive. Lots of wildlife. Lots of stops also for short hikes read more

Kootenay National Park - Kootenay National Park BC Canada. Fabulous park. Very beautiful At the continental divide - Hiking Near Me - Radium, British Columbia

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My grandpa has had a cabin out in Windermere since the 70's so all my life I've spent many a trip cruising through Kootnay National Park on my way to Windermere. The park has had its share of forest fires over the years but its still a beautiful drive. All along highway 93 there are tons of places to stop and sight-see as well as a countless number of hiking trails and a few camp sites. My personal favourite hike is the easy wander up Marble Canyon, traversing over the waterfall underneath you. Throughout the spring and summer you're almost guaranteed to see elk or deer and a herd of big horned sheep. If you're lucky you might even spot a grizzly or black bear in the spring munching on the fresh growth and berries at the side of the highway. read more

Only 1.5 hours from Banff, it is well worth the trip. Eventhough we arrive after dinner, the hot springs pool was still open, we we went for an after dinner dip under the stars. No problem if you don't have a swimsuit. just rent that classic looking 1 piece swimsuit for $10 bucks. And my highlight of Kootenay was our drive back to Banff at 9:30pm when mamma grizzly was out with her 2 cubs along the highway. read more

My friend and I drove through the park along highway 93, stopped by a few viewpoints and trials and enjoyed the scenery around. The Kootenay Valley viewpoint was a nice lookout. We stopped by Numa Falls, which does not really look like a fall to me, but a river that flows with higher speed. But the colour and the scenery around is nice. The paint pots are awesome. There were boards of explanation on the colours, history and their formation along the trail. Educational and nice to look at. Though you would need to balance on the woods if you do not want to stain your shoes red/brown. I love Marble Canyon most. Seeing the water flow from high above and there were 7 bridges along the way for you to flow with the water. You could feel and hear them soar through the rocks. We took about 4-5hrs along the highway from Radium Hot Springs to Banff. Though I guess it would only take less than 2hrs if you are not stopping by. read more

This park is amazingly beautiful. I'm so fortunate that we were able to drive through here, it was a wonderful experience. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. You must drive through here and continue to Banff national park. One day I will camp here and visit the hot springs. read more

Kootenay National Park - One of the most beautiful views ever, we found a great picnic area - Hiking Near Me - Radium, British Columbia