Kootenay National Park

Kootenay 31/08/2025 

After three nights in Banff it was time to move on.

We we're heading for two nights at Emerald Lake lodge.  But making a detour into Kootenay National Park. 

The route was Stanley Glacier Hike, Marble Canyon, Paint Pots, Numa Falls, The Continental Divide, Vista Lake then onto Yoho, Upper Spiral and the Natural Bridge before heading to the hotel.

We got to Kootenay at about 08:00, it was quiet, and the sun was playing on the peaks

We parked up at Stanley Glacier and watched the sun play on the peak opposite the car park

Stanley Glacier

Looking up from the road it looked as though it was a fair climb up thtough the woods

In the end it was not a particularly difficult climb, the path zig zagged up the side of the valley.  It was also very refreshing walking through the new growth as the sun was always visible and regularly got views over the park.

The walk levelled out and there were a lot of more mature trees. 

As with all good walks I remembered to look behind me

Near the end of the maintained path, the rain that had been forecast arrived about 3 hours early.  The path was more open and we decided that we were on a tour not a hiking holiday and more than happy with the view we saw.

It took us around 90 minutes to walk back, by which time the rain had passed and the weather was glorious.

Marble Canyon 

Down the road a few KM to reach Marble Canyon, with the temperature going up to around 30degrees C.

The walk at Marble Canyon is along the top ridge, rather than in the canyon itself.  The canyon is relatively narrow, probably no more than 10m, and the water is about 35-40m down.  The best views into the canyon are from the several bridges which criss-cross it.

There are some dramatic views over the canyon to the surrounding peaks. 

The water drops dramatically into the canyon

Above the waterfall there is a wonderful view upstream.

Paint Pots

Paint Pots, we stopped for lunch and then went for the walk, not expecting much.  After dropping down through the woods the path crossed the river, with great views up and down the valley.

  

The early views were limited

After a few minutes, the colours became more dramatic

The view back was striking.

Numa Falls

This was a photostop, and basically our turn-round point in Kootenay.  

It was one of the best views from a car park of the day

The falls were only a short walk away.

The downstream view was through a relatively straight canyon.

We then turned back up the National Park, with a quick stop at the Continental Divide and then Vista Lake. 

Vista Lake was glorious but the photo does not do it justice.

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