Kootenay National Park
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Contact Information:
Kootenay National Park
P.O. Box 220
Radium Hot Springs, B.C.
Canada V0A 1M0
250-347-9615
Size: 1,406 sq. km.
Location: Kootenay National Park lies in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, 888 km east of Vancouver and 170 km west of Calgary. It can be reached from the north at two access points on the Trans-Canada Highway: Castle Junction in Banff National Park (via Highway 93 South - the Kootenay Parkway) or Golden (via Highway 95); or from the south via Highway 93/95. The closest full service towns are Radium Hot Springs, just outside the park's West Gate, and Banff, 33 km east of the park's north entrance.
Description: Park is noted for its remarkable diversity of climate and landscape, from glacier-clad peaks along the Continental Divide in the north, to the dry, grassy slopes of the Columbia Valley in the south, where even cactus grows. Kootenay, Yoho, Banff and Jasper national parks, and Mt. Robson, Mt. Assiniboine and Hamber provincial parks, form UNESCO's Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, one of the world's largest protected wilderness areas. Open year-round, the Radium Hot Springs facility is home to Canada's largest hot springs pool.
Activities: Visitors can enjoy camping, hiking, mountaineering and climbing, wildlife viewing, boating, canoeing, rafting, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, interpretive programs, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Starting at Radium Hot Springs in the south or the Banff/Kootenay National Park boundary in the north, a drive along the scenic 94-km Kootenay Parkway (Hwy 93 South) is the best way to sample the whole park in one day. Allow time for stops at points of interest, picnic sites and interpretive trails.Places to Stay: Parks Canada operates four campgrounds (with 430+ campsites) in Kootenay National Park, which are all available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Campsites with hookups are available at Redstreak Campground only. Group campsites, which can accommodate tents only, are available for non-profit groups with a minimum of ten people. Call 250-347-9615 for reservations. For further information on nearby accommodations, including hotels, motels, B&Bs, and lodges contact the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce (800-347-9704).
Operating
Hours:
Kootenay National Park is open year round. All major travel routes are maintained throughout the year, although temporary closures
are possible due to adverse weather conditions. Peak season is in July and
August. Two seasonal information centers operate in the park.
History: Established in 1920.
See other Canadian
National Parks
See other British Columbia National Parks