Kootenay. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Safety information
- Trail Conditions Report [PDF]
- This is a high elevation park and that severe weather events can happen throughout all seasons. This is particularly the case in late spring and autumn. Snow and sleet are not uncommon in summer. Rainy weather, occasionally thunderstorms, can be expected in the spring through autumn. Count upon heavy snowfall accumulations to ensure excellent ski conditions from late autumn to early spring. Snow can occur in October at all levels in the park and the higher elevations are not likely to be snow free until July. Avalanches are prevalent on the open alpine slope, limiting ski touring possibilities to certain routes.
- Kokanee Glacier Park is a wilderness area without supplies or equipment of any kind. Visitors should equip themselves with suitable clothing, hiking boots, a warm sleeping bag, a tent with a waterproof fly, and an outdoor stove for cooking, as campfires are not permitted.
- Hikers planning to venture off established trails should have skills in map and compass reading. Only experienced mountaineers with ropes, ice axes, and crampons should attempt traverse routes or venture onto glaciers and snowfields.
- In the event of an emergency, contact the RCMP. Everyone entering wilderness areas should inform a responsible person of their intentions, including an estimated time of return.
Special notes
- Dogs are not permitted in Kokanee Glacier Park.
- Campfires are not permitted in the park at any time
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
Getting there
Kokanee Glacier Park is located in the Selkirk Mountains, between Slocan and Kootenay Lakes. For an update on the access roads into the park check the most recent trail report [PDF] . These roads may not be suitable for vehicles with low clearance:
- From Hwy 3A, 19 km northeast of Nelson, drive up Kokanee Creek for 16 km to Gibson Lake.
- From Hwy 31, 10 km north of Ainsworth, drive up Woodbury Creek for 13 km to the trailhead.
- From Hwy 6, 8 km south of Slocan, drive up Lemon Creek for 16 km to the trailhead.
National Topographic Series Maps 82F/11 and 82F/14, at a scale of 1:50,000, cover the Kokanee Glacier Park area. These maps are available from most map retailers in British Columbia.
Camping
Backcountry camping
Backcountry permits are required to camp at this park. Visit camping.bcparks.ca to register for a backcountry permit. This is not a reservation and does not guarantee you a campsite when you arrive.
There are 12 backcountry hike-in campsites in the park, available on a first come, first served basis.
Kaslo Lake Campground offers 10 tent pads, a pit toilet, secure food storage and a cooking shelter.
Tanal Lake Campground offers 2 tenting areas, a toilet throne and secure food storage.
Check the Trail Conditions Report [PDF] before heading out.
Fees
- $10 per adult (16+) per night
- $5 per youth (6–15) per night
Backcountry areas
Cabins and huts
Kokanee Glacier, Woodbury and Silver Spray cabins are maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada.
For information on cabin rates, booking policies and reservations, visit the Alpine Club of Canada website. User fees are payable to the Alpine Club of Canada and pay for the maintenance of the facilities.
Several peaks and traverse routes can be reached from these cabins. These are only for experts with appropriate mountaineering skills and equipment.
Kokanee Glacier Cabin
Reservations are available through a lottery system from November 1 through to May 31, and occupancy is limited to 15. There is no availability for walk-in use in the winter. Cabin users must fly in.
From June 1 through to October 31, the cabin can accommodate 20. Walk-ins can register at any time, but it is recommended that you make a reservation. Cabin users must hike to the cabin in the summer.
Woodbury and Silver Spray Cabins
The Woodbury and Silver Spray cabins, are available only during the summer season. A reservation system is in place, as walk-ins are not guaranteed space. Both cabins are closed during winter due to the hut locations being associated with avalanche hazard.
Woodbury sleeps 8 and Silver Spray sleeps 10. You must be prepared to camp out if the cabin is full.
Cabins and huts
Things to do
Access to the park was developed from old mining and forestry roads. The trails leading off of these roads offer a variety of hiking opportunities ranging from short day trips to challenging cross-country routes.
For a list of hiking routest, visit the Kokanee Glacier hiking page.
For trail conditions and status of access routes, download the Trail Conditions Report [PDF].
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. During the winter season, all trails are under snow.
Fishing and angling are popular at Gibson, Kokanee, Kaslo and Tanal Lakes.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Hunting is permitted in this park.
Anyone hunting in British Columbia must comply with BC hunting regulations. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
Ski mountaineering is available. Snowmobiling is prohibited in Kokanee Glacier Park.
Users are responsible for their snow stability evaluation (avalanche hazard) route finding, self rescue and first-aid. Visit the page on Staying safe in winter weather for more information. There is Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) mapping available for a portion of Kokanee Glacier Park on the Avalanche Canada webpage. Please refer to Avalanche.ca to assist in winter trip planning.
Facilities
There is a boat launch at Gibson Lake. Please be aware that only non-motorized boats are allowed on Gibson Lake.
This park has a day-use and picnic area.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
About this park
Established in 1922, it is one of the oldest parks in the province. Geologically, this area is composed of an immense system of granite rock known as the Nelson batholith. During the earth’s cooling process, mineralized solutions were subjected to great pressure that caused them to be pushed into holes and cracks in this granite mass. These became the deposits rich in gold and silver that caused the local mining boom of the 19th century. Several mines paid quite well but most were worked for only a few years. Many of the park’s trails were originally built for miners hauling ore and supplies.
The park’s primary roles are to:
- Represent the ecological resources of the Selkirk Mountain ranges.
- Conserve grizzly bear and mountain goat habitat.
- Maintain the natural environment.
- Conserve cultural heritage of the early alpine mining history of the West Kootenays.
Lichens and a few other hardy plants survive in the exposed bedrock and gravel moraine near the peaks. Stunted Engelmann spruce and white-bark pine are common at the timberline, with subalpine flower meadows in the wetter areas. The numerous steep slopes and avalanche paths support slide alder and huckleberry. The lower, more protected slopes are forested with Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, hemlock, western red cedar as well as a few subalpine larch.
Bird species such as the blue grouse and Franklin grouse inhabit the forests. Ptarmigan and golden eagles are often seen in the open areas. Small animals such as the hoary marmot, pika, ground squirrels, and marten are common, while larger species such as the mountain goat, mule deer and black bear are present in lesser numbers. Protection of significant grizzly bear habitat was the main reason for the expansion of the park in 1995. Areas such as the Coffee Creek drainage have no development and use is discouraged. Other trails are carefully designed to avoid bear habitat or close at certain times of the year when bears are known to be nearby. Separation of people and grizzlies is an important management objective.
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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