During the summer of 2024, I got the opportunity to take a short-term assignment at work. I spent two months living in Rossland, BC and got to spend my evenings and weekends exploring the Kootenay region.
I am dying to go back to the area; in the meantime, here is some beta to use if you’ll be visiting the area!
Hikes around Nelson
Close to Nelson itself, there are some hikes with awesome views of the Columbia River and the town itself. A local favourite is Pulpit Rock (~6km roundtrip, ~650m elevation).
Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is about a 1 hour drive from Nelson. From the Gibson Lake trailhead, you can access Kokanee Lake (~11km, 550m elevation), or continue onwards to Keen, Kaslo, and Garland Lakes (~17km, ~720m elevation). Garland Lake is where the iconic Kokanee Glacier cabin is located.
I completed the hike to Kokanee Lake; however, we did not pick a good day to go. It was 2°C and bitterly raining … in August. Instead of continuing onwards to the cabin, we decided to turn around and get burritos in Nelson instead – no regrets.
Unfortunately, due to forest fires, Valhalla Provincial Park was closed for the duration of my time in the Kootenays. I was unable to check out Gwillim Lakes or Gimli Ridge but both are recommended by locals.
Hikes around Castlegar
There are a number of hikes near Castlegar that you should definitely consider if you are in the area and looking to stretch your legs:
- Brilliant Overlook (~6km, 450m elevation)
- Dove Hill Lookout (~3.5km, 150m elevation
I did Brilliant Overlook with a friend after work one day and it did not disappoint. We had stunning views across the valley while the sun set.
Hikes around Rossland
Rossland is known as a mountain biking mecca, and I would recommend getting out biking if you are in the area. When in Rome, right?
I am very much a beginner, and I mountain biked twice, which was super fun. Given some recent injuries I was pretty happy to primarily trust my own two feet this summer.
Some hiking highlights around Rossland:
- KC Ridge (~5km, 200m elevation)
- Deer Park Hill (~3.5km, 250m elevation)
- Red Mountain via Red Top (~7.5km, 420m elevation)
- Mount Roberts (~7.5km, 850m elevation)
- Old Glory Mountain (~19km, 1100m elevation)
I did KC Ridge and Deer Park Hill a few times as quick after-work hikes. Both had great sunset views of the town of Rossland. I also was able to hike up Red Mountain, which is a popular ski resort in the area. I did not get a chance to do Mount Roberts or Old Glory Mountain but both come highly recommended by locals.
Summary
I only scratched the surface of hiking in the Kootenays while I was visiting this summer; however, my interest is piqued! I’m already dreaming of my next trip to Nelson, and camping in Kokanee Glacier and Valhalla Provincial Parks.
Have you been to the Kootenays? Any other recommendations I’ve missed in this post?
