Hiking

Explore Canada’s East Kootenay Rockies

How to Make the Most out of Your Staycation in the Columbia Valley

Enjoy access to some of the most spectacular hiking in the Canadian Rockies when you stay at Bighorn Meadows Resort.

The Kootenay Rockies region of beautiful BC has long been known as a hotspot for hiking activities, suitable to anyone’s level of ability. Radium Hot Springs is one of the gateways to Kootenay National Park, which boasts over 200 km of hiking trails with endless panoramas, river valleys, lush forests, and glacial peaks.

Radium Hot Springs is also located mere minutes from many provincial and regional parks, making Bighorn Meadows Resort the perfect home base for exploring this area’s natural beauty.

Old Coach Trail
This is a 9km walking route that runs between Radium Hot Springs and Dry Gulch. This historic route was traveled by Model Ts in the 1920s and winds along above the river, with spectacular views of the wetlands below.

Sinclair Creek Trail
This trail can be accessed from Rotary Park in Radium Hot Springs or by vehicle past the Canfor Sawmill. Enjoy the relaxing scenery of the beautiful trees and creek, and keep an eye out for information kiosks outlining points of interest along the length of the trail.

Cobb Lake Trail
From the parking area, this hike provides a pleasant walk to Cobb Lake, winding 1.7 km downhill through a thick forest of lodge pole pine and white spruce.

Kindersley Pass Trail
This hike takes about 4-5 hours and features fabulous views of the local mountains, including Devil’s Tooth, Mount Sinclair, and Mount Kindersley. The initial part of the trail is heavily wooded, but after about 2.2 km, an avalanche chute opens up the trail to a kaleidoscope of brightly coloured flowers.

Dog Lake Trail
This gentle hike ends at Dog Lake with a view of Mount Harkin. The trail’s first 900 metres parallel the highway as it passes through the McLeod Meadows picnic site.

Jumbo Pass
A long, rough drive into the heart of the Purcell Mountains leads to a pair of trails—only a few miles apart—that will take your breath away. They are short, steep routes to the spine of this glaciated range, but the exertion isn’t as breathtaking as the scenery.

Honeymoon Pass
It’s a steep hike up to Honeymoon Pass, with views of Hawk Ridge and the Ball Range, before a quick descent into the valley bottom. If you’re looking for solitude, you’ll find it on this trail.

Lake of the Hanging Glacier
This is one of the most popular hiking trails in the area, taking you across numerous creeks, moderate switchbacks, and gradual climbs through alpine meadows before you reach the north shore of the lake with the sharp glacier on the opposite short.

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