Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
General safety tips
- Bugaboo Park is a remote area. There are no supplies, equipment, or transportation arrangements of any kind available in the park.
- Be prepared for outdoor living in a mountain environment and weather conditions that can change suddenly. Lightning storms with hail and snow are common in summer.
- When visiting this park, always wear strong, waterproofed, lug-soled boots and carry a daypack with food, rain gear, and additional warm clothing.
- For overnight trips, a sleeping bag, ground pad, waterproof tent or bivouac bag, and lightweight stove are essential. Hut accommodation is not available in winter because of avalanche danger.
Vehicle safety
- You may encounter loaded logging trucks and other industrial traffic while accessing this park. Drive with extreme caution and, for your safety, always yield to industrial traffic.
Climbing safety
- Only experienced climbers, properly roped and practiced in crevasse rescue, should venture onto snowfields and glaciers.
- Climbers are responsible for their own safety. Rescue services are not readily available. Public communications services are not available.
- Climbers should check with the hut keepers on current conditions and destinations before departure. A register is kept in the Conrad Kain Hut for this purpose and your convenience.
Special notes
Mountain biking, drones, fires, and domestic animals are prohibited in Bugaboo Park.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Reservation policies
Get information on:
Maps and location
- Park map [PDF]
- Trail report [PDF]. This document is updated regularly between May and August, as the snow melts. The most recent report is from June 21, 2023.
- National Topographic Series Maps 82K/10 (Howser Creek) and 82K/15 (Bugaboo Creek) are at a scale of 1:50,000 and cover all but the western limits of the park. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.
- The Bugaboos: One of the World’s Great Alpine Rockclimbing Centres by Chris Atkinson and Marc Piche is a comprehensive and accurate guidebook to climbing and mountaineering in Bugaboo Park. It is published by Elaho Publishing (ISBN #0-9733035-1-4).
Getting there
Bugaboo Park is in southeastern B.C., between Golden and Radium Hot Springs, west of Highway 95. Access is via about 50 km of gravel road from Highway 95. This gravel road, which is open late spring through late fall, begins at Brisco, 27 km north of Radium Hot Springs and 76 km south of Golden on Highway 95.
You can access to the northern portions of the park via the Vowell and Malloy Creek drainages by leaving Highway 95 at Spillimacheen, north of Brisco, then crossing the Columbia River and turning left on the West Side Road. After travelling 0.8 km, turn right onto Bobbie Burns Creek drainage and drive past the lodge of the same name. Logging roads up Vowell Creek and Malloy Creek lead to semi-open terrain, which can be hiked into the park. The status of bridges in inactive logging areas may vary in upper drainages.
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is not required, but decent ground clearance is recommended. The last three-kilometre section of the gravel road is rough. Low-riding compact vehicles should go slow.
Winter access
If you plan to visit the park in the winter, you will need to either ski the long access road, use a snowmobile as far as the summer parking lot, or arrive by helicopter. Any independent party (non-helicopter skiing clients) requires a letter of permission to fly into the park by helicopter. You can get more information on winter access by calling 250-489-8540.
Access roads are not maintained in winter. Snowmobiles are not permitted in the park and must be left at the summer parking lot.
Camping
Backcountry camping
Backcountry campgrounds are provided at Boulder Camp below the Conrad Kain Hut and on the bare rock slabs of Applebee Dome, one kilometre above the Conrad Kain Hut.
Registration
To stay at the backcountry campgrounds, you must register for a backcountry permit. For more information, see the backcountry permit registration page.
You can purchase your permit in advance through the BC Parks reservation service. This does not reserve a campsite, but it does allow you to pre-pay for your permit, so that you do not have to carry cash on your trip. If possible, please register in advance.
In case you are unable to register in advance, a self-registration station is located inside the Conrad Kain Hut. Backcountry permit fee collection is provided by the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC).
Keep the permit with you throughout your visit. You may be asked to present it to an ACC custodian during a routine campground check.
Fees
| Adult (16+) | $10 per person per night |
|---|---|
| Youth (6-15) | $5 per person per night |
Areas off limits to camping
To prevent contamination of the water supply and damage to the sensitive alpine environment, camping in the park is not permitted elsewhere in the vicinity of the main spires (Bugaboo, Snowpatch, Crescent, Pigeon, and Howsers) or the Cobalt Lake area. Bivouacking is not permitted unless circumstances dictate its necessity.
Wilderness camping is allowed in other, more remote areas of the park, such as the Vowell Group. For more information, see the ‘wilderness camping’ section, below.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Backcountry areas
Cabins and huts
Operational season reservations
The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight bookings through the Alpine Club of Canada (403-678-3200) during the operational season (end of June to end of September), when hut systems are operational, and a custodian is present. Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) advanced booking policies do not apply to the Conrad Kain Hut. Visitors can make bookings for this facility up to one year in advance.
Any unreserved spaces are allocated on a first come, first served basis. During the peak climbing months of July and August, the hut is often full, so reservations are highly recommended.
The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 35 people.
A nightly, per-person fee is levied during the period from June 1 to September 30. Occupancy is limited to seven consecutive days. Fees are payable to the ACC.
The ACC charges the following fees for use of the cabin:
- $25 per person per night
- $50 per family per night
Winter season
From November 16 to April 30, the hut is closed to all overnight use due to avalanche hazard.
Shoulder season
During the shoulder season (May 1 to end of June, end of September to November 15), a custodian is not present, all bottom floor windows are covered with protective winterizing shutters, and all hut systems (water, propane, hydro, grey water) are winterized and non-functional.
While use of the hut is possible during this time of the year, it is not recommended.
If you do choose to visit the Conrad Kain Hut in the shoulder seasons, please be prepared for the following:
- The bottom floor will be totally dark (shutters cannot be removed by the public)
- There will be no water, lights, heat or cooking facilities
- You will be required to clean up after your group’s use
- The conditions will be rustic and wintery
Facilities
- A small hydroelectric plant provides power for electric lighting and cooking, with propane stoves and lamps as backup to the electrical system
- The kitchen is supplied with hot and cold running water as well as all necessary cooking and eating utensils
- Foam mattresses are provided in the dormitory-style sleeping quarters located on the second floor and in the loft
- Visitors must bring all other necessary equipment and utensils
Special regulations
These special regulations are in effect for the Conrad Kain Hut, so that every visitor may enjoy their stay, and to minimize fire hazards:
- Boots cannot be worn in the hut. Place them in the racks provided.
- Smoking is not allowed inside the hut.
- Lighted candles are not allowed in the hut.
- The use of personal stoves is prohibited in the hut.
- Stoves, sinks, and utensils must be cleaned up immediately after use.
- There is a strict no-noise policy between 10pm and 7am.
- Familiarize yourself with the location of the fire extinguishers and emergency exits.
- Please use the sanitary facilities provided.
- All garbage must be packed out to a proper disposal site.
- All washing water must be disposed of in the sinks. Personal washing is prohibited in all streams and lakes.
- Personal equipment and belongings must not be left without permission from the park ranger or hut custodian. An increasing number of thefts have been occurring, so please be careful with your equipment.
- Occupancy is limited to seven consecutive days and a maximum of 14 days per year.
Cabins and huts
Wilderness camping
Wilderness camping is allowed in remote areas of Bugaboo Park, such as the Vowell Group. Leave No Trace wilderness ethics should be followed.
To prevent contamination of the water supply and damage to the sensitive alpine environment, camping in the park is not allowed elsewhere in the vicinity of the main spires (Bugaboo, Snowpatch, Crescent, Pigeon, and Howsers) or the Cobalt Lake area. Bivouacking is not permitted unless circumstances dictate its necessity.
See the ‘backcountry camping’ section, above, for information on camping at Boulder Camp below the Conrad Kain Hut and on the bare rock slabs of Applebee Dome.
When visiting the backcountry, always follow Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. To learn more about staying safe in the backcountry, read our backcountry guide.
Things to do
Some trails in the park do not require technical mountaineering skills. Others, like the trails to Conrad Kain Hut and Cobalt Lake, offer superb scenic adventures to experienced, physically fit, and well-equipped hikers.
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Taking shortcuts destroys plant life and soil structure.
For detailed trail information, download the trail conditions report [PDF]. This document is updated regularly between May and August, as the snow melts. The most recent report is from June 21, 2023.
Conrad Kain Hut
- Length one-way: 5 km
- Suggested hiking time: 1.5-3 hrs
- Elevation change: 700 m
This trail, which begins in the parking lot, follows the northern lateral moraine of Bugaboo Glacier. The trail is very steep and strenuous, with exposure to steep drop-offs as it climbs through granite bluffs. Extreme caution should be exercised along its route. Strong, reliable footwear is essential.
Cobalt Lake
- Length one-way: 8.5 km
- Suggested hiking time: 2-4 hrs
- Elevation change: 800 m
This trail, which begins along the park access road across from the CMH Lodge, begins by climbing a series of steep switchbacks up an old skid road, followed by a trail through a forest of alpine larch trees. It eventually leads to an open alpine ridge with good views to Cobalt Lake and the Bugaboo Spires.
To reach the lake, descend off the ridge to an alpine pass and contour under Northpost Spire to below the waterfalls draining Cobalt Lake. Bypass the waterfalls on the left to reach the meadows surrounding the lake. Note that the last two kilometres of trail to the lake requires route-finding skills as it is infrequently marked.
The un-marked alpine traverse route between Cobalt Lake and the Conrad Kain Hut crosses talus slopes, snowfields, and a small-but-crevassed glacier. It should only be attempted by those with appropriate skills and experience.
Malloy Igloo
- Length one-way: 13 km.
- Elevation change: 762 m
This demanding mountaineering excursion begins at the Conrad Kain Hut (which is the starting point for many routes that lead to climbing destinations) and terminates at the Malloy Igloo, a small shelter with no amenities located near Osprey Peak. Only roped parties should attempt this route because several glaciers have to be crossed.
Alternatively, access to the Malloy Igloo via Malloy Creek is possible. For groups of mixed experience, it poses several obstacles. It is recommended that you stay on the east side of the creek due to two formidable stream crossings, and gain access via a small, steep gully from which the crest of the moraine can be reached. The final headwall is easier in early summer (there is lots of snow), but may require roped climbing later in the season.
Bugaboo Park is significant climbing destination. The spectacular Bugaboo Spires attract all levels of well-equipped climbers. There are a few easy to moderate routes, but most routes involve crossing the glaciers and negotiating difficult traverses. Crampons, ice-axe, and ropes are essential.
For climbing safety tips, see the know before you go section.
Hunting is permitted in Bugaboo Park subject to the following conditions:
- No person shall possess a firearm, bow, or crossbow in a park, conservancy or recreation area except a firearm, bow, or crossbow that is carried in a vehicle and during an open season specified under the Wildlife Act.
- No person is permitted to discharge a firearm, bow, or crossbow in a park, conservancy, or recreation area except during an open season specified under the Wildlife Act and only for the purposes of hunting.
- No person shall hunt or discharge a firearm, bow, or crossbow in a park, conservancy, or recreation area within 400 m of either side of the centre line of a park road or highway.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Bugaboo Park offers world-class backcountry skiing opportunities.
The park was the birthplace of helicopter skiing in North America. In 1965, Hans Gmoser hosted a small group of skiers at a logging camp just outside the present-day park boundary and explored the nearby mountains using a small three-seat helicopter. In 1968, one year before the establishment of the park, the Bugaboo Lodge was constructed on the site of the logging camp and since then it has earned a reputation as one of the premier helicopter skiing destinations worldwide.
The park is also renowned as a fantastic destination for self-propelled ski mountaineers. There are many classic ski tours that can be completed for parties based at the Kain Hut basin. The park is the starting point for the Bugaboos to Rogers Pass high-level ski traverse.
Anyone considering visiting the park in the winter should be aware that the terrain is predominantly high alpine and very complex, with few safe options when avalanche danger is elevated.
Because the Conrad Kain Hut can be threatened by avalanches, it is closed from November 16 to April 30 each year. Ski touring parties wishing to base camp in the vicinity of the main Bugaboo Spires (Bugaboo, Snowpatch, Pigeon and so forth) are required to stay at Applebee Dome campground.
Facilities
There are hot and cold taps in the Kain Hut. To ensure drinking water is safe, it must be boiled for at least five minutes.
Bugaboo Park has a day-use and picnicking area at the Conrad Kain Hut.
There is a pit toilet in the parking lot at the Bugaboo Park trailhead.
The toilet facilities provided in alpine areas are all barrel system toilets. A urine-only toilet is located at the Conrad Kain Hut. Two barrel toilets are near the Conrad Kain Hut, one is at the Boulder Campground, and two are at the Applebee Dome Campground. Barrel toilets are also provided for mountaineers at the Snowpatch col, the base of Pigeon Spires west ridge, and the East Creek camp.
A RESTOP bag system is also provided to reduce human waste impacts within the Spires climbing area. Please use these bags everywhere in Bugaboo Park that a conventional toilet cannot be accessed. A $2 donation is encouraged to help with future RESTOP purchases.
Where there is adequate soil (at least six inches) but no toilets, bury human waste and burn toilet paper. Otherwise collect and deposit human waste in toilets.
About this park
In 1969, Bugaboo Glacier Park and the Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area were set aside to preserve and protect this outstanding area of the Purcells. In 1972, the Alpine Club of Canada erected a three story quonset building for climbers. The Conrad Kain Hut was named after renowned alpinist who made many first ascents in the Purcell and Rocky Mountains during the early 1900s. In 1995, the park and part of the surrounding recreation area were combined to create the Bugaboo Park.
Over time, the erosive forces of mountain weather and glacial ice removed much of the weaker overlying rock, revealing granite masses and sculpting them into the spectacular spires that characterize the Bugaboo region. The heavy snowfall of the Columbia Wet Belt continues to create the vast glaciers that dominate and shape the rugged Purcell Mountains.
The steep, V-shaped valleys of the Purcells challenged early explorers, miners, loggers, and climbers from Europe and North America. News of the spectacular spires of the Bugaboos was a magnet for some of North America’s most renowned mountaineers. Harmon, Longstaff, A.O. Wheeler, and the legendary guide Conrad Kain visited the Bugaboo region in 1910.
Kain returned with the MacCarthys in 1916 and climbed the North Howser Tower and the south ridge of Bugaboo Spire, which he considered his most difficult Canadian ascent. Thorington mapped the area and then climbed with Kain in 1933 on Crescent Spire. In 1938 and 1939, the Northpost, Eastpost, and Brenta Spires were ascended by easy routes.
Snowpatch, beyond the techniques used in Kain’s era, was climbed by its southeast ridge in 1940 by Arnold and Bedayn. By the 1950s, climbers such as Fred Beckey, Ed Cooper, and Layton Kor put up the first ‘face’ routes on Snowpatch, Bugaboo, and Pigeon Spires. Chouinard traversed the Howsers in 1965 and Chris Jones pioneered on their 600m ascent of West Face in 1970.
Today, those early routes, first done with many pitons and bolts, are often repeated by free climbers who use only the less damaging aluminium chocks for protection against falls. Free-climbing techniques enable faster ascents, resulting in reduced exposure to the frequent lightning storms. Modern climbers have continually opened new lines of ascent in an area where the elements of glaciers, firm rock, significant altitude and violent weather all combine to create world-class mountaineering challenges.
Alpine ecosystems are particularly fragile, and all users are requested to practice Leave No Trace camping and climbing techniques.
- Gas stoves must be used for all cooking. Open fires are not allowed.
- BC Parks is attempting to rehabilitate alpine meadows damaged by human activities. Please help us in our efforts by not walking on these areas.
- The park’s lakes and streams are the source of drinking water.
- Wash yourself, clothes, and dishes at least 30m from lakes and streams. Even biodegradable soaps will pollute water as will food scraps from dirty plates.
- Where there is adequate soil (at least six inches) but no toilets, bury human waste and burn toilet paper. Otherwise collect and deposit human waste in toilets.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
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