Kootenay National Park: Day Trips and Tours from Banff

Just west of the Alberta-British Columbia border lies Kootenay National Park, a quick drive from Banff, Alberta. Here you’ll find a wilderness formed by glaciers, water and volcanic activity.

Towering mountains surround pristine lakes and rivers, canyons and waterfalls, forests and meadows. A Kootenay National Park day trip from Banff is a breath of fresh air at any time of year.

Here's all you need to know about Kootenay National Park, one of the most exciting day trips from Banff.

How to get to Kootenay National Park from Banff?

Kootenay National Park lie just over 40 kilometers to the west of Banff in southern British Columbia, Canada. The drive passes over the provincial border and takes around 30 minutes.

From Banff to Kootenay National Park by car

From downtown Banff, take Mt. Norquay Rd west to Trans-Canada Hwy/AB-1 W and continue for about 30 kilometers until you reach exit 50 to AB-93 S. Continue on AB-93 S for 10 kilometers until you reach the national park entrance.

Guided tour to Kootenay National Park from Banff

Make a day trip to Kootenay National Park easy with a guided tour from Banff. With round-trip transportation, park fees and equipment rental included if needed, a fully-guided tour to some of the park’s hotspots is ideal.

How much does the entrance ticket to Kootenay National Park cost?

Individual entrance fees to Kootenay National Park vary by age, and group rates apply for up to seven people per vehicle.

• Adult (18-64): Can$10.50 (US$7)
• Senior (65+): Can$9 (US$6)
• Youth (6-17): Free
• Group (arriving in the same vehicle): Can$21 (US$15)
  

What is the typical itinerary?

Half- and full-day trips to Kootenay National Park start with pickup in Banff at either the Mt. Royal Hotel or the Banff Aspen Lodge. The 1-hour drive to trailheads in Kootenay National Park winds through some of Canada’s most picturesque countryside. Your guide will point out wildlife and landmarks as you make your way to the park.

Snowshoe treks into Marble Canyon involve an easy, flat hiking excursion of about 2 hours with a snack break at your turn-around point. Before starting, your guide will help fit you with snowshoes and provide basic instruction on how to use them.

Full-day park visits last around 8 hours and offer scenic drives and short hikes, plus entrance to Radium Hot Springs. Your driver-guide will usher you to overlooks, waterfalls, glaciers and lakes before stopping at the hot springs. Relax and take in the wilderness views on the 1.5-hour return drive from the hot springs to Banff.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Kootenay National Park?

Guided day trips with Marble Canyon snowshoeing tours

Hidden within the peaks of Kootenay National Park is a 40-meter-deep gorge carved out by glacial meltwater. The easy 3-kilometer hike into Marble Canyon is great for first-time snowshoers. The route takes you over bridges and to cliff edges that afford breathtaking vistas. The relatively flat trail is not strenuous, making absorbing the views easy.

Pause at the colorful Paint Pots mineral springs for hot chocolate and the Canadian specialty maple taffy, made by pouring hot maple syrup on packed snow. Take a turn on a “carpet slide” down a slope before returning to the trailhead and to Banff.

Full-day guided tours to Kootenay National Park

See the top sites at Kootenay by road and on foot. A full-day guided tour shows you the park’s highlights like Sinclair Canyon Falls, the Kootenay Valley overlook and Marble Canyon. Hop out of the van and explore at your own pace before capping off your experience with a soak at Radium Hot Springs.

How much does a day trip to Kootenay National Park from Banff cost?

Half-day snowshoeing tours in Marble Canyon cost around US$70 per person. Treks last 4 hours and are fully-guided. Use of snowshoes and poles plus hot chocolate and a maple snack are included in the price of winter Marble Canyon tours.

Full-day tours cost US$120 per person for an 8-hour outing. Tours conclude with a visit to Radium Hot Springs, so don’t forget your swimsuit!  

All tours to the park include round-trip transportation from Banff, hikes and drives led by passionate guides, park entrance fees and taxes.

What will you see and do?

Marble Canyon

Cutting through the center of Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon is a gorge boasting waterfalls, natural bridges, turquoise waters and exquisite views. Winter in the canyon brings frozen walls of water and ice caves that attract intrepid climbers.

At the end of the trail lie the Paint Pots, colorful mineral deposits in spring-fed pools that the area's native tribes once used for paints. Listen as your guide tells of First Nations that inhabited the area for centuries, check the snow for moose and wolf tracks and hear how the park’s wildlife is adapting to a changing climate.

Radium Hot Springs

A full-day tour to Kootenay concludes with a relaxing dip in geothermal waters. Radium Hot Springs is one of the biggest hot spring destinations in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Soothe tired muscles in the hot pool and refresh yourself in the odorless mineral waters that average a delightful 39 degrees Celsius.

When is the best time to visit Kootenay National Park?

A visit to Kootenay National Park can be great at any time of year. July and August are the busiest months and show the park in its colorful growing season. The changing leaves draw crowds in fall, and winter sports are feasible from November through March or April.

What other day trips can you do from Banff?

• Banff National Park day trips from Banff
• Day tours to Lake Louise from Banff
• Johnston Canyon day trips from Banff
• Day trips to Moraine Lake from Banff
• Banff day tours to Icefield Parkway
• Athabasca Glacier day tours from Banff
• Kicking Horse River day trips from Banff
• Lake Minnewaka day trips from Banff

Travel tips

• Meal options are limited in the park, so pack food and drink for full-day tours.
• Dress in layers to prepare for low winter temperatures in the park.
• If guides deem your clothing unsafe for weather conditions, you may be turned back from the tour without a refund.
• Winter outerwear is available for rent in Banff.