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Beside the well known caves, this is the short interpretive trail above ground. Location: Cody Caves Provincial Park west of Ainsworth Difficulty: A1 easy Elevation Gain: +117m Distance: 2.6kms Time: 45 minutes Season: June through October Access: Good 2WD low … Continue reading →

MT. ECCLES   2161 m.   7090’ Located in the Baldface/Grohman drainage, this uncommonly climbed mountain is in the northwest corner of the Baldface Creek Valley. It is drained in the west by Trozzo and Winlaw Creeks. It is remote enough that … Continue reading →

Glacier Creek provides access to some of the best hiking in the West Kootenay – Monica Meadows, Jumbo Pass and MacBeth Icefields. But there are other equally inviting destinations: Glacier Dome overlooking Lake of the Hanging Glaciers, the Egyptian Peaks … Continue reading →

THANKSGIVING MOUNTAIN   2365m  7760′ This is the mountain on the north side of Grey Creek Pass. Named by the locals who like to hike it on the holiday, the summit has a wide panorama of Kootenay Lake and the Purcells. … Continue reading →

WHITE QUEEN WEST RIDGE TRAIL  2180m  7152’ This trail to the summit of a local winter snowshoeing favourite was new in 2020. Accessed from Whitewater Ski Hill, there are great views to local mountains including Ymir. Larches are spectacular in … Continue reading →

SANDON is a ghost town, but was once the unofficial capital of the mining region known as the “Silvery Slocan”, only some of it remains standing. History. In 1891 vast amounts of galena ore were discovered in the area by Eli Carpenter … Continue reading →

The Carpenter Pass Trail gives access to Silver Ridge and the Mount Carlyle alpine area, all steeped in mining history. Because of the distances and all the things to see, this area is best explored on a backpacking trip or … Continue reading →

Boulder Pass crosses the southwest ridge of Mount Carlyle. The hike is from Carlyle Lodge and traverses the Mt. Carlyle Bowl through to the pass. Views from the pass are to the Purcell Mountains. Larches Rating: ♦♦♦◊◊ Location: Cross the bowl … Continue reading →

This trail extends from Carlyle Pass and the nearby Carlyle Lodge west along Silver Ridge. Larches are a highlight in the fall. Rating: ♦♦♦♦◊ Location: At the remote headwaters of Carpenter Creek above Cody and Sandon. Difficulty: B1 moderate Elevation Gain: … Continue reading →

The Smallwood viewpoint is possibly the best in the West Kootenay – situated on a bend in the Kootenay River, almost the entire river between Nelson and Castlegar is visible. The view is as big as the bench.   Part … Continue reading →