Top Things to do in Kootenay National Park
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What to do and see in Kootenay National Park, Kootenay Rockies: The Best Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia including Marble Canyon, Stanley Glacier, Sinclair Canyon and the Redwall Fault, Paint Pots, Numa Falls.
1. Marble Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 259 reviews
This place is temporarily closed.
Reviewed By Tigerman777
If you have limited time, make sure to check out this canyon because it is SPECTACULAR!!! If you're staying in Banff, it's only a half hour northwest off highway 93, from Lake Louise about a half hour southwest. It's only 15 minutes off highway 1/transcontinental. I couldn't believe how beautiful and peaceful it was. I got there about 6:00pm after spending some time checking out the Radium Hot Springs (highly recommend, reasonable price for soaking, only $5.50CAD), Verdant Creek (also highly recommend, water a different color from others, with interesting views of the shale rock), Sinclair Canyon and Paint Pots. The whole area is simply beautiful, but I think Marble Canyon (known as a slot Canyon) is the best!!! When I was there later in the day, the water reminded me of my favorite drink, pure white almond milk????. Simply spectacular!!! One of the neatest things here is to see two different colors of water meeting: the emerald rock flour brought in from glacial water from the Tokumm Creek and that milk white water from the Vermillion River. It's really obvious the white water wins. The white brilliance of the rock makes it obvious why it's called Marble Canyon. Near one of the sets of steps you'll see a chain link fence with a latch on the left to open a gate to go down to the river. I did so, not to swim, which is not a good idea( water quite fast moving, with a lot of boulders to crash into), but to put my hand in it. I put my hand in it three times to smell it. Twice to get any smell off my hands, once to get the true sense of its aroma. I even cleaned out my nose a little to make sure I would get the true smell of it. I was surprised how good the aroma was. . It smelled a little bit like coconut and cinnamon. Really cool????. There are some stones you could put in the water to see just how much like shiny marble the dolomite rock looks like (caused by the swirling water of the river). There are a couple of areas in the canyon where it might be possible to touch both sides at the same time if you could get close enough, but please don't try it. You get a nice view between the Canyon walls on several of the bridges. When you think you're done, please keep going until the waterfalls. There are several waterfalls to be aware of. One of them you may not even see until you turn around to go back after seeing one of them. You won't get a great view of it though, unless you go in winter and are an ice climber. They're marvelous to see????. Make sure to take a seat on the cool red chairs up a hill a little, it's the only place I stopped to do so. You can see Vermillion Peak when looking back over the first bridge over Marble Canyon. It is quite imposing. Mount Whymper is also visible behind the red chairs. I can't forget the fact you can find flowers as well in some areas on the trail not too far from the falls, like near those chairs. In conclusion, due to the serenity, the astounding beauty with so much diversity, simplicity to see the Canyon (an elderly person in decent shape could do it pretty easily, maybe someone with a walker would not be recommended though, there are several flights of steps to navigate) and the lack of crowds here, I would recommend to anyone to visit here. Most people don't even know it's in the area. It's not the largest Canyon by any means in the Rockies, but in my opinion it's the prettiest????. Thanks for reading. If you feel this information has benefited you, it would be appreciated if you would tap the ???? button below.
2. Stanley Glacier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By greengalil
This hike has amazing views and offers easy to moderate difficulty hiking depending on how far and hard you want to hike. If you hike all the way to the glacier, be prepared to encounter more strenuous hiking on the unmaintained trail which is on fallen rock from prior avalanches. The air gets thin, you need to hydrate and be careful. Easy to slip and fall. Gloves are strongly recommended as rocks are mostly sharp edges closer to the glacier. A fall can easily result in cut hands. I saw various animals, rodents and groundhog size creatures some of which make shrieking noises that echo in the canyon. Don't freak out! Another tourist apparently saw a blackbear just before I hiked. Great place for serene hiking.
3. Sinclair Canyon and the Redwall Fault
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Tigerman777
This is a great area to see bighorn sheep and on occasion mountain goats. The sheep actually were right in town when I was there. I saw them just before complete darkness as they were on the road heading towards the cliffs. They climbed the trail up one of the cliffs when I was there in fact that evening. This area is kind of unique, where you drive between quite narrow canyon walls on both sides of the road at the same time. At the end of the canyon, you have the Hot Springs in town. You can take some photos of Sinclair Falls from the sidewalk near the bridge in the canyon near the parking lot to take the Juniper Trail. (It's interesting to note that when walking on the sidewalk, there are areas the cliffs actually slightly hang over it.). The Juniper Trail is a fairly steep trail downward that takes you near the base of the falls, but it is kind of obscured by trees. You would have to get in the middle of a fast moving creek and walk upstream a bit for a really good view, which would probably sweep you off your feet. Not necessarily advisable. You can cross a few bridges to get a better view of the canyon to the top, which gives you great views. I took the sidewalk back to my car. The trail for me, even though I'm almost 50, was pretty easy. When in the canyon, make sure to check out the different mosses and flowers, which are beautiful and unique. After leaving the parking lot, not far down the road on the left mostly (if you're heading toward Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper) you'll see the beautiful Redwall fault. It reminds me of the red rock you see in Sedona, Arizona, although to a very very small scale. It only lasts for a short distance, which is what makes it so unique. Another beautiful part of Kootenay National Park not to be missed on the lesser traveled path. Thanks for reading. If you feel this information has helped you, it would be appreciated if you would tap the ???? below. Thank you.
4. Paint Pots
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By TJTerryJo
This is an interesting stop on your way through the Kootenay’s. This place shows another way that nature is so diverse and fantastic. Worth your time to stop!
5. Numa Falls
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By buttercup1211 - Winnipeg, Canada
The falls is a quick 2 minute walk from the parking lot off the side of the highway. Worth spending ten minutes here enjoying the view and taking photos. It is also a great picnic spot!
