Kootenay National Park
National Park Rocky Mountain park with hot springs and wildlife
A Canadian Rocky Mountain park in southeastern British Columbia, Kootenay National Park offers hiking trails, Marble Canyon, alpine lakes and nearby hot springs - popular for backcountry walking and scenic drives along Highway 93.
Kootenay National Park is a Canadian national park in southeastern British Columbia, established in 1920 to protect portions of the Rocky Mountains and the Kootenay River valley. It preserves a mix of montane forests, alpine terrain and thermal springs across roughly 1,400 square kilometres.
Highlights along accessible corridors include Radium Hot Springs with developed bathing facilities, Marble Canyon with short canyon trails and viewpoints, and the Paint Pots, ochre-rich springs with interpretive boardwalks. The park also offers longer backcountry routes, wildlife viewing and scenic drives along Highway 93.
The park was created through agreements between federal and provincial authorities in the early 20th century to protect hot springs and surrounding landscapes while allowing highway access. Over time visitor facilities and trails were developed to concentrate use and protect sensitive areas.
Kootenay National Park lies in the Canadian Rockies of southeastern British Columbia, bordering other mountain parks to the north and east. The small community of Radium Hot Springs sits at the park’s western entrance and the Trans-Canada/Highway 93 corridors provide the main access routes.
- Size and establishment: The park was established in 1920 and covers roughly 1,400 square kilometres, protecting a cross-section of Rocky Mountain environments.
- Access: Highway 93 runs through the park, providing easy day-access to major features like Marble Canyon and the Radium Hot Springs village.
What to See #
- Radium Hot Springs: A developed hot-springs village and public bathing complex that provides geothermal pools and visitor facilities on the park's western edge.
- Marble Canyon: A short limestone canyon with boardwalks and a popular viewpoint, formed where erosive streams cut through bedrock and offering brief hiking options.
- Paint Pots: A set of ochre-rich springs and small interpretive boardwalks that display iron-oxide deposits historically used by Indigenous peoples and now interpreted for visitors.
How to Get to Kootenay National Park #
Kootenay National Park is reached by major highways: the Trans‑Canada Highway (Highway 1) and Highway 93/95 (Banff-Radium corridor). If driving from Calgary, expect about a 3‑hour drive (roughly 270-300 km) west on Highway 1 and then south on Highway 93 toward the park; from Banff the park’s northern entrances on Highway 93 are roughly an hour to an hour and a half away. Most trailheads and viewpoints have roadside parking; Radium Hot Springs and other nearby towns provide services and act as common access points.
Tips for Visiting Kootenay National Park #
- Start at Marble Canyon or the Paint Pots early in the morning-parking at these popular trailheads fills quickly and the trails are far quieter before mid-morning.
- Combine the park's scenic drive with a soak at Radium Hot Springs at the southern end of the park to turn a day drive into a relaxed outing; plan your route so the hot-springs visit is at the end of the day when parking and facilities are less crowded.
- If you want fewer people, head for higher-elevation or backcountry trails on the park's less-visited northern side rather than the short, popular canyon loops off the main highway.
Best Time to Visit Kootenay National Park #
For hiking and full access, visit in summer (July-September); winter offers snow activities but many alpine routes are closed.
Weather & Climate near Kootenay National Park #
Kootenay National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -14°C to 23°C. Moderate rainfall (513 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -6°C and lows of -14°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -11°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 5°C and lows of -7°C. The driest month with just 23 mm and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 16°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 68 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 17°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -8°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -13°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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