Kootenay National Park: planning guide
Rockies park along the Banff–Radium corridor. Hot springs, fossil beds, and mountain valleys.
Kootenay National Park is in BC, Canada. The nearest town is Radium Hot Springs — roughly 29.3 km (18.2 mi) out, about 43 min of driving.
When to go
Best window: May through October. Shoulder season: April and early November.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Closest towns and cities
| Town | Distance | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Radium Hot Springs | 29.3 km (18.2 mi) | 43 min |
| Invermere | 40.4 km (25.1 mi) | 55 min |
| Golden | 79.4 km (49.3 mi) | 1 hr 37 min |
| Kaslo | 124 km (76.8 mi) | 2 hr 16 min |
| Elkford | 125 km (77.6 mi) | 2 hr 17 min |
| Kimberley | 135 km (83.6 mi) | 2 hr 26 min |
| Nakusp | 142 km (88.4 mi) | 2 hr 33 min |
| Revelstoke | 151 km (93.8 mi) | 2 hr 40 min |
Where Kootenay National Park sits
Official Kootenay National Park site — hours, closures, and fees.
Drive times from Kootenay National Park
Kootenay National Park sits close enough to Yoho National Park, Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park that one drive from home can cover more than one park.
| Park | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Yoho National Park | 65.1 km (40.5 mi) | 1 hr 22 min |
| Banff National Park | 69 km (42.9 mi) | 1 hr 26 min |
| Glacier National Park | 113 km (70.1 mi) | 2 hr 7 min |
| Mount Revelstoke National Park | 143 km (88.9 mi) | 2 hr 33 min |
Parks close by
- Yoho National Park
Rockies park west of Banff with Burgess Shale fossils, waterfalls, and the Kicking Horse valley.
- Banff National Park
Canada’s first national park in the Rockies — Lake Louise, Banff townsite, icefields, and busy alpine valleys.
- Glacier National Park
Columbia Mountains park around Rogers Pass — glaciers, avalanche country, and the Illecillewaet Glacier.
- Mount Revelstoke National Park
A short drive-up mountain above Revelstoke with subalpine meadows and Columbia Mountains views.
Common questions
Where is Kootenay National Park?
Kootenay National Park sits in BC, Canada. Radium Hot Springs, about 29.3 km (18.2 mi) away — roughly 43 min of driving.
When is the best time to visit Kootenay National Park?
Generally May through October, with April and early November quieter on either side.