Kootenay: From Icy Mountain Rivers to Steamy Hot Springs

Discover the unique contrasts of Kootenay National Park, from icy mountain rivers to steamy hot springs, on this day trip from Calgary.

Meet your guide at the centrally-located meeting point and travel to Marble Canyon. Along the way, stop at the Great Divide which marks the border between Kootenay National Park and Banff National Park for a photo and some incredible views. Upon arrival at the canyon, take the self-guided trail which leads along this ice-caved canyon and through the remains of a forest destroyed by wildfires in 2003.

Next, continue to the Kootenay Valley View Point. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Mitchell and Vermillion mountain ranges and the Kootenay River far below. Watch the river wind through the mountain forest following an ancient route to the great Columbia River.

If you feel like relaxing after all that walking, enjoy a dip in the naturally heated, mineral-rich hot pool of Radium Hot Springs. Finally, follow a scenic trail through the open Douglas-fir forest along the edge of Sinclair Canyon. Enjoy views of the Columbia Valley and verdant Sinclair Canyon falls before returning to Calgary in the evening.