Central Kootenay H

The hike to Gimli Ridge is one of only two hikes in the Valhallas that reach up to the alpine area. It provides stunning scenery of the surrounding range, and an intimate experience with the huge monolith that is Gimli Peak.The trail steadily climbs elevation. From the trailhead, Gimli seems deceptively close, but it will take about 2 hours walking uphill through a beautiful forest to reach the...

The trail to Gwillum Lakes is a must do when in the West Kootenay. It's iconic with the locals for being one of the best day hike or overnight camp trips in the region. A 6km hike through true wilderness rewards you with an alpine meadow dotted with small lakes perfect for swimming in and camping around.The trail begins with a long drive - about 45km from the nearest highway on logging roads. B...

Silver Spray Cabin is a beautiful cabin nestled high in the Alpine of Kokanee Provincial Park - a perfect spot to spend a clear summer night.The hike to the cabin is strenuous - there is no hiding that. 6km of pretty much straight uphill gets you from the valley bottom to the Alpine, where the hut is nestled in against Sunrise Mountain.The reward is what makes it all worth it. The hut, when boo...

Please note, the path to this waterfall crosses private property. The early portion of this trail passes through the Marsden Face Conservation Property, which is privately owned conservation land. Visitors to this property are asked to respect the ecological values of the property. Please follow the designated trail and keep dogs on leash. The trail continues onto a separate, privately-owned pa...

Ask most people about the mountains of eastern British Columbia and they'll likely think you mean the Canadian Rockies. But mention the Purcell Mountains and you're more than likely to get a blank stare back at you. And that's a good thing.The Purcell Mountains in British Columbia run parallel to the Canadian Rockies to the west. They are little known outside of the Northwest. But it is a huge ...

This local trail starting from Johnstone Road is locally famous and really well maintained. Located off the other shore of Kootenay Lake, this hike reveals a beautiful view of the town of Nelson and the surrounding mountains.This trail is doable in all seasons and although it can be steep at some sections, the short distance and well maintained trail make it friendly for all ages and abilities....

The Lyle Lakes hike starts with the access - as most do in the Kootenays it requires finding the trailhead! Turn off HWY 31A onto Rossiter Road, about 24km's from Kaslo and 23Km from New Denver. Here, follow the main route on the forestry roads for 7km to the trailhead, noting to bear left at 5.9km up the road. Park at the switchback at 7km - from here your trail starts.Follow the trail up to a...

The trail begins at the end of Railway avenue near downtown. The trail passes through the red bridge above the river, where you may just see salmon in the stream if you're lucky!The trail has something for everyone. From the gushing icy river with a snow-capped mountain range in the distance, to green lush rain forests full of hundreds of different mushrooms.It is a relatively flat walk and the...

The hike up Toad Mountain provides a great view over Nelson and it's surrounding mountain peaks. From the summit, a 360 degree view gives you a great spot to look at the distant Valhallas, Kokanee Glacier, Purcells and lower Selkirks.The main challenge to hiking Toad Mountain is access. The road to the trailhead is quite steep and challenging - 4wd or clearance is recommended. To get to the par...