Best trails in Kootenay National Park

4.3(16,371 reviews)

Canada
:
#6 of 49 national parks

Kootenay National Park, a core component of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a spectacular and often quieter alternative to its famous neighbors, Banff and Jasper. Running the length of the Kootenay Parkway (Highway 93S), the park is a journey in itself, with incredible trails and viewpoints accessible right from the roadside.

Kootenay is defined by its powerful geology and its story of regeneration. A massive wildfire in 2003 swept through a significant portion of the park, and today, hikers can witness the remarkable process of a forest reborn. Young, vibrant green growth contrasts sharply with the silvery skeletons of old trees, creating a unique and poignant landscape backdropped by snow-dusted mountains.

The park's trail network offers something for every level of adventurer. The park is open year-round, though visitor center hours vary.

Top trails

Marble Canyon is a beautiful natural space, with great viewpoints of some of the best views in the Rocky Mountains. The route is very approachable and there are side trails if you are looking to increase the difficulty or length. This is one of the easiest canyons to access in the area, so it is usually busy here all year-round. In winter, wearing crampons or snowshoes is recommended, but in summer, running shoes are sufficient. The trail is not paved and is uneven, so it is not suitable...

#2 - Stanley Glacier Trail

4.7(3688)

•Hard

•6.8 mi

The first step in planning your trip to the Stanley Glacier is consulting the park trail condition page here: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/bc/kootenay/activ/randonnee-hike/etat-sentiers-trail-conditions The segment from the trailhead to the beginning of the ascent is relatively easy, but the ascent is challenging. The trail starts off with a creek crossing and then gains steady elevation on long switchbacks through a new-growth forest. The section close to the Lower Falls can be a little...

The Paint Pots are a really interesting feature of Kootenay National Park and only requires a short hike to reach. The pathway passes through marshes, creeks, rivers and small lakes, to the area with coloured water and streams. The small ponds are iron-rich mineral springs and get their name from the history of people putting their hands in the coloured water and clay-like mud, which then makes them an orange colour that they could paint with. It can get extremely muddy and flooded in the...

#5 - Sinclair Canyon via Juniper Trail

This is an easy hike with good trail conditions, and a great option for those staying at Redstreak Campground. There are a lot of changes in elevation but nothing too strenuous. The road is not too far away from the path and can be heard at certain points on the way. There is a lovely view of a waterfall at the end and there are many mountain goats to see on the way there.

#6 - Marble Canyon from Paint Pots Trailhead

This route begins at the trailhead to the Paint Pots and follows the highway and the Vermilion River to Marble Canyon. The Paint Pots themselves are not part of the route but can be visited with a small extension at the beginning to the left at the first trail junction. This is one of the easiest canyons to access in the area, so it will be very busy here during all seasons.

This absolutely stunning trail is only 300 metres to the falls! The bridge is right over the beautiful falls, giving hikers an amazing close-up view. The blue water looks magnificent over the black rocks. If wanting to extend the hike, you can carry on to the Numa Creek Trail to see the famous Rockwall.

#8 - Paint Pots from Marble Canyon

Marble Canyon is a beautiful natural space, with great viewpoints to take photos of some of the best views in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This is one of the easiest canyons to access in the area, so it is usually very busy here during all seasons. The trail to the Paint Pots follows along the Vermillion River, where hikers will eventually come to the area of coloured water and streams. These small ponds get their name from the history of people putting their hands in the coloured water and...

#9 - Sinclair Falls Trail

The Sinclair Falls Trail takes you through a lush forest to the picturesque Sinclair Canyon, where you can enjoy the sight and sound of water cascading over rocks. The path is well-maintained, with a few gentle inclines, making it accessible for hikers of all levels. The quiet forest and surrounding cliffs make this a perfect spot for a quick nature retreat or a peaceful stop when visiting Radium Hot Springs.

Juniper Loop is an easy trail, great for those looking for a trail within walking distance from Redstreak Campground. It starts on the road in the overflow parking lot of the hot springs. There are nice views of the mountain and valley, and lots of mountain goats. The path runs close to the highway all along the route, so there are frequently traffic noises that can be heard.

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(250) 347-9505

Kootenay National Park charges a fee to enter.

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Top Picks in Kootenay National Park

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Trail reviews for Kootenay National Park

20,401 trailgoers Busiest in August

Nancy Felts

Oct 16, 2025

Easy to parkGreat conditionsGreat views

Easy trail with great views - a few steep steps/climbs. Note you may use a (valid for the date) Canada Parks pass from another park, such as Banff, to access. It does not have to be a Kootenay National Park pass. This was confirmed for us by the Information Center in Radium Hot Springs.

Marble Canyon

Roxanne Sanchez

Aug 10, 2025•Hiking

Good conditionsNot crowded

this was a last minute stop the day i did this hike. since i had downloaded the entire kootenay national park the night before, i figured i’d just stop places that sounded interesting, and figure it out from there. i parked at paint pots and headed toward marble canyon. not long after i started the hike, i didn’t pass or see another person until i got all the way to marble canyon. marble canyon was cool but i didn’t see a point in spending a bunch of time there as it was getting later in the day. the trail from paint pots to marble canyon was virtually flat. i would definitely rate that as easy. since i was there in mid-august there was a number of wildflowers but not an abundance. it’s worth noting that i did see quite a bit of fireweed which makes sense bc there were many signs that this area was affected by a wildfire in the past few years. the benefit i guess is that you get more wildflowers since there is no longer shade from the forest. even though this area had burnt tree debris, it was still enjoyable as it had numerous mountain view’s and much of the trail was in close proximity to the beautiful kootenay river. as i walked back to the paint pots trail i looked at the all trails map of the area and tried to make my own loop to hit the paint pots. as soon as i turned off of the marble canyon portion of the trail, things got weird. kid you not the. sun disappeared and i paused when i walked through a spiderweb. i began to turn back but convinced myself to follow my plan. 30 seconds later i saw a very fresh bear print and we looked to be walking in the same direction. i stopped immediately and walked back to the junction i turned off on! i’m sure it’s evident by looking at my hike details. not sure why i felt relief getting back on the other trail as it wasn’t bear proof but i’d eventually run into people! i made my way to the paint pots and it was interesting but nothing i’d go out of my way to see. i have to believe on a sunnier day you could take pretty awesome photos there. the mix of blue skies w the deep greens and vibrant browns would be cool! overall easy hike that was just a walk in the woods :)

Conditions: Wildflowers

Marble Canyon from Paint Pots Trailhead

Casey Scott-weathers

Jul 1, 2025•Hiking

I mean, you're in Kootenay National Park, this isn't the coolest hike you'll go on, but it is pretty cool to see the top of Sinclair's Canyon, and seeing the falls down below was also nice. Pretty easy hike, buggy though. As others have mentioned start at the canyon end, it makes the waterfall more interesting. I wouldn't bother walking up to the other parking lot after the waterfall. Cool down in the shade before you ascend.

Conditions: Bugs

Sinclair Canyon via Juniper Trail

Puneet Dargar

Sep 1, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkBathrooms availableDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Reading the reviews beforehand was incredibly helpful in deciding to tackle this hike. Following the advice we found, we started off through the forest and opted to take the trail in an anti-clockwise direction—a choice that turned out to be excellent. Along the way, we passed stunning waterfalls and even stumbled upon a cave, which was an unexpected delight. Later, we decided to push ourselves and climb all the way up to the glacier. It was a demanding ascent, but we made it! After reaching the top, we descended and completed the second half of the loop. That portion was much trickier, with lots of loose rocks—I slipped several times. If I were to do this hike again, I’d stick with the anti-clockwise route and retrace my steps rather than completing the full loop. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Near the glacier, we heard a loud cracking sound—it only happened once, but it was intense and unforgettable. We also ventured off the main trail to climb the glacier itself, which added an extra 5 km to our journey. It was tough going, but totally worth it. Hopefully, this info helps others planning their hike. We arrived around 1 PM and found the parking lot completely full, though we eventually managed to snag a spot. There was a sign warning that parking on the shoulder in Kootenay, BC could result in your vehicle being impounded. I’m not sure how strictly that’s enforced, but I didn’t want to risk it and waited until I found a proper space.

Parking: Permit required, Free, Large lot

Difficulty: Hard

Stanley Glacier Trail

Krista Viglienzoni

Aug 31, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

This trail is easy in terms of length but does feature uphill hiking and stairs. The canyon was super cool and the interpretive signs were very informative. The area wasn't too busy later in the afternoon. Easy enough to tack onto other activities or hikes in this part of Kootenay - highly recommend a stop here if you're in the area!

Conditions: Great!

Marble Canyon

Harsh S

Jun 30, 2025

Great conditions

Beautiful trail in Kootenay and a perfect fall hike. Took us around 7hrs

Floe Lake Trail

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Kootenay National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Kootenay National Park is Marble Canyon, which has a 4.7 star rating from 2,780 reviews. This trail is 0.9 mi long with an elevation gain of 160 ft.

What is the longest trail in Kootenay National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Kootenay National Park is Great Divide Trail Section C: Kananaskis - Field. This trail is estimated to be 127.7 mi long.

How many trails are in Kootenay National Park?

There are 76 trails in Kootenay National Park. These trails have an average 4.3-star rating from 16,371 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Kootenay National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Kootenay National Park has you covered. Great Divide Trail Section C: Kananaskis - Field boasts the most elevation gain with 28,851 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is The Rockwall: Alt Route via Goodsir Pass, which will get you 10,652 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Kootenay National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 43 camping trails in Kootenay National Park and the most popular is Stanley Glacier Trail with an average 4.7 star rating from 3,688 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Kootenay National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 33 running trails in Kootenay National Park and the most popular is Marble Canyon with an average 4.7 star rating from 2,780 community reviews.