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Kootenay National Park Travel Guide
- petermorley200
- Nov 21
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Contents
1. Introduction
It takes about one hour to drive through Kootenay National Park without stopping. However, you need a whole day or more if you want to see the main sights, soak in the Radium Hot Springs' pool and do the Stanley Glacier hike.
The scenery in Kootenay National Park is not as spectacular as in the Banff and Jasper National Parks. The scenery becomes impressive nearer the northern boundary with Banff National Park. However, Kootenay National Park is definitely worth visiting.
Most of Kootenay National Parks Attractions are in the northern end of the park with the exception of Radium Hot Springs.
We stayed at Invermere for 2 nights and then drove through Kootenay National Park to Canmore near Banff. We saw all the sights in the north of Kootenay National Park on our drive to Canmore.
See my blog Vancouver to Canadian Rockies Road Trip for information about this road trip and what to do and see.
2. Kootenay National Park Admission Fee
You must have an annual Parks Canada Discovery pass, or a Parks Canada day pass, to stop in Kootenay National Park. Passes aren't needed if you drive through Kootenay National Park without stopping.
The annual Discovery Pass costs $75.25 for adults, $64.50 for seniors, $151.25 for families (up to 7 people in a vehicle) and it's free for under 18's.
A daily pass costs $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors, $22 for families (up to 7 people in a vehicle) and it's free for under 18's. The daily pass is valid until 16.00 on the day after purchase. Therefore visitors can use it for almost 2 consecutive days of sightseeing in Canada's National Parks.
It's more convenient to buy an annual pass and if you are spending more than 7 days in Canada's National Parks it can work out cheaper. Park's Canada doesn't have offices at all the entrances to the National Parks and this can make visiting the National Parks difficult if you are relying on one day passes.
If you are coming from the west there is a Parks Canada Office in the town of Radium Hot Springs and passes can be bought there. The town is just outside Kootenay's National Park's southern boundary whereas the Radium Hot Springs' pool is a few kilometres away in Kootenay National Park.
3. Sinclair Canyon
Sinclair Canyon is just within the southern boundary of Kootenay National Park. Highway 93 runs through the canyon so it's not exactly peaceful!
There are car parking areas at both ends of Sinclair Canyon and it's roughly a 5 minute walk through the canyon. Sinclair Canyon isn't spectacular but it's worth stopping to walk through.
There is a hike on the Juniper trail from the southern end of the Sinclair Canyon to Radium Hot Springs. The Juniper trail goes above the Sinclair Canyon. It's 2.9 kilometres long each way and the hike takes about 2 hours. Mosquitoes can be an issue in mid summer.
4. Radium Hot Springs
The pools at Radium Hot Springs are not in the town but 3 kilometres further north in Kootenay National Park. Radium Hot Springs has a large hot pool which is at a temperature between 37 and 40 centigrade. There's also a swimming pool at a temperature of about 28 centigrade.
We really enjoyed the Radium Hot Springs pool and spent 2 hours soaking in it. It was very sociable and people were chatting to each other. It wasn't crowded in early September and the hot pools in Banff are far busier.
It's advisable to get out of the water every so often as the water is hot. There is drinking water and paper cups at the hot pool. There are changing rooms, toilets and free lockers. Towels cost extra so it's best to bring your own. Towels can be taken out to the pool area.
Radium Hot Springs costs $17.50 for an adult and there are discounts for seniors and youths. The pool are open from 08.30 to 20.00 in the peak summer months. After Labour Day Radium Hot Springs doesn't open until 11.30 which is very late. It's advisable to check the opening hours before going.
5. Numa Falls in Kootenay National Park
It's a 50 minute drive from Radium Hot Springs to Numa Fall. The car park is just off Highway 93 and the falls are a 2 minute walk from the car park. There's a bridge over the river which provides a good view of the falls. It doesn't take long to see Numa Falls.
6. Paint Pots in Kootenay National Park
The parking lot for the Paint Pots is only a 3 minute drive from Numa Falls. The Paint Pots are 1 kilometre from the car park and it's a 15 minute scenic walk. The Paint Pots are 3 colourful pools of mineral water.
7. Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park
Marble Canyon is a 2 minute drive from the Paint Pots. It's possible to hike between the Paint Pots and Marble Canyon but the trail can be muddy. Most people drive there.
The trail from the car park to Marble Canyon follows the canyon upwards and there are 7 bridges crossing it. The 700 metre long path is steep at times. There are good views of the canyon and river along the trail.
8. Stanley Glacier Hike
The best scenic hike in the Kootenay National Park is to Stanley Glacier. The hike on the maintained trail takes about 4 hours and is about 4.5 kilometres each way. It's possible to continue hiking up on a rocky unmaintained loop trail and this takes a couple more hours.
The Stanley Glacier parking lot is a 3 minute drive from Marble Canyon. It can be full by mid morning during the peak summer months.
9. The Continental Divide
The Continental divide is at the boundary of Kootenay and Banff National Parks and is the dividing line between the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. Most people stop to take a quick photo of the sign. There isn't anything else to see.
10. Scenery along the Highway
The photos below were taken when driving northwards through Kootenay National Park and give an impression of the scenery seen from the highway.
11. Where to Stay
The northern section of Kootenay National Park contains most of the main sights and is only a 35 minute drive from Banff. However, accommodation is expensive in Banff.
There is plenty of more reasonably priced hotel and motel accommodation in the town of Radium Hot Springs. We stayed 2 nights in Invermere, which is only a 15 minute drive away from Radium Hot Springs, and rented an excellent apartment.
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