WEST KOOTENAY LOOP

An alpine circuit over ridges and two summits just outside Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

Difficulty: Difficult 
Elevation Gain: 1025 m 
Key Elevations:
Distance: 12.3 km round trip 
Time: 6-7 hours 
Season: mid-July to late September
Access: High clearance. 4WD helpful 
Map:

Drive: From Nelson, drive 17.8 km east on Highway 3A. Turn left onto Kokanee Glacier Road at 18.7 km 
0.0 km Kokanee Glacier Road
2.3 km Left on the main road.
6.4 km Left on the main road
7.2 km Turn left on West Kokanee FSR. Waterbars.
8 km Right on signed Kokanee West FSR.
10.9 km Switchback right on the main road.
13.3 km Park 

Route/Trail: See the South Selkirks Backcountry Association for a map and download a KML file. This describes the largest loop hiked counter-clockwise. 
0.0 km Start on an overgrown road 
0.9 km Cross West Kokanee Creek. Start climbing 
1.4 km Cabin
2.5 km Right at a junction and cross the creek to start the loop counter clockwise. At the east basin, cross meadows and follow the flagging tape ascending to the ridge leading to the East Summit.
5.2 km East Summit with views of Kootenay Lake and many peaks. Head down the good trail on the ridge. 
6.3 km The lowest point on the ridge nicknamed the “Nilsik Notch”  Continue the loop leading to the West Summit or take the connector trail down. 
Continue to the West Summit across a boulder field with cairns and access the ridge with steep drops to both sides. 
7.2 km West Summit at 2359m with great views. Continue by descending the ridge.
9.3 km Meadows where the Connector trail rejoins the loop. Stay right. 
9.9 km. Complete the loop and turn right to return to the trailhead at 12.3km.

References:
West Kootenay Hiking
South Selkirks Backcountry Association