Where else on earth can you drive past glaciers and cacti, photograph mountains and wildlife, and enjoy a soak in Canada’s largest natural hot springs? All of this and more is possible in Canada’s majestic Kootenay National Park. 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of Parks Canada and there is no better time to experience this awe-inspiring place.
Set in the stunning Kootenay and Columbia Valleys, Kootenay National Park is a protected area of 140,000 hectares of grasslands, forests, towering peaks, hanging glaciers, jagged chasms and colourful mineral pools. Steeped in both human and natural history, Kootenay is part of the larger UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, with Yoho, Banff, and Jasper National Parks.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the park's mountain passes and river valleys were Aboriginal trading routes for thousands of years. History tells us that the First Nations and early European pioneers used the Paint Pots — ochre mud beds found 82 kilometres north of Radium Hot Springs — for important ceremonies and trade.
The park as it stands today was created in 1920 as part of an agreement between the province and the Dominion of Canada. The federal government agreed to build the Banff/Windermere Highway (#93) on the condition that eight kilometres of land on either side be preserved as parkland.
This beautiful, unspoiled area is filled with wildlife and the often-spotted Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep are some of the park's best-loved residents. Also seen regularly are mountain goats, deer, elk, moose and black bears. You can even spot the occasional grizzly on the avalanche slopes.
When driving through the park on Highway 93 there are three major scenic viewpoints at Continental Divide, Kootenay Valley and Hector Gorge. There are also numerous stopping areas from which you can explore the many hiking trails that the park is famous for. The short but challenging Juniper Trail is a good option for those seeking a visually stunning adventure near Radium, while the Rockwall Trail is one of the most beautiful multi-day backcountry hikes in the Rockies. For more on hiking in Kootenay National Park, check out the Summer Trails section on pages 46 and 47.
With 11 picnic areas and four seasonal campgrounds, the park offers visitors a wide range of day-use and overnight options: Redstreak, near Radium; McLeod Meadows, 26 kilometres north of Radium; Crook’s Meadow, 34 kilometres north of Radium; and Marble Canyon, 69 kilometres north of Radium, all offer water, fire-pit and washroom facilities. Campers at Redstreak can enjoy an evening presentation from a Parks interpreter, who will share their intimate knowledge of the area.
Accommodations are also available at the Kootenay Park Lodge, and south of the park at the motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and private rentals in the Village of Radium Hot Springs, home to the largest naturally occurring hot pools in Canada.
During the day, outdoor enthusiasts can explore to their heart's content. The area is ripe with trails for walking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling and cross country skiing. Mountain bikers are encouraged to try out the extensive fire roads dotted throughout the park. Traditionally used and maintained to aid wildfire suppression, these back roads are now popular with cycling enthusiasts. Many trails start near the Kootenay Crossing Warden Station.
The sparkling rivers and lakes of the park are fantastic for anglers, but a National Parks fishing permit is required. The Mountain Parks Fishing Guide, with opening dates and restrictions, can be found, along with fishing licenses, at the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre in Radium. Canoeing is allowed on the fast flowing Kootenay River, but recommended only for experienced paddlers.
Other notable features as you drive through the park include the fire-affected landscapes in the northern end. During a single day in July 2003, lightning started five different fires in Kootenay and Banff National Parks, which eventually merged into one, burning 12.6 percent of Kootenay National Park. The breathtaking beauty of these fire-affected landscapes can be viewed from trails such as the Great Divide, Stanley Glacier, Hawk Creek and Numa Falls. When a flood of mineral-rich ash and sunlight blanketed the forest floor after the fires, the area became abundant in plants — and one of the best places in the park to spot wildlife.
Designed by Shawn Wernig © 2011 Columbia Valley Pioneer • www.columbiavalleypioneer.com