Kootenay National Park - Radium Hot Springs Hike

Hi Blog!

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016, we left Emerald Lake Lodge and Yoho National Park. On the way back to Fairmont Hot Springs, we decided to stop and have lunch in Kootenay National Park. Kootenay was established in 1920 as part of an agreement to build a new road across the Rockies. We actually drove though Kootenay on our was from Jasper to Fairmont Hot Springs, but since we had the trailer in tow, we didn't get a chance to stop. This was our chance to put boots on the ground and claim Kootenay National Park. Here's Dave at the trailhead for the Juniper Trail.

Since we got a late start, we picked a short, but scenic hike. After parking at the west gate, we quickly descend into the Sinclair Canyon.

Sinclair Creek has carved a narrow path through the bedrock. The sound of the waterfall echos from the canyon walls.

After taking in the falls, we begin our hike toward Radium Hot Springs. The hot springs were named after the radioactive element when an analysis of the water showed that it contained small traces of radon which is a decay product of radium. It was believed that these trace elements could cure whatever ails you. Kathy is thinking of the ales that await her at the end of this hike.

As with all good hikes in the Rocky Mountains, the trail will eventually go up and then up some more. We got a great view of the Columbia River Valley.

The higher we climbed, the more unusual the rock formation became. We also got to see more and more of the valley below.

The higher we went, the drier it got.

We were soon surrounded by sage brush and thorny thistles.

We soon reached the high point of our hike. As we looked down, we could see the grassy knoll where the former Radium Lodge once stood. Built in 1965, the Radium Lodge replaced a lodge and bungalows originally constructed in 1925 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. In March 2011, the Lodge was closed. In 2014, the building was torn down and the property returned to a natural state.

Very natural indeed, well, except for those two red chairs. From our vantage point we could look up and down the Kootenay Valley. The Radium Hot Springs pool complex was just below us.

The parking lots were packed, but we only passed a few hearty hikers as we worked our way back to our truck.

Back at Sinclair Creek, Kathy decided to cool down with a little spring water.

Kootenay National Park has a number of cool features including a Marble Canyon and Paint Pots that we didn't get to see on this adventure. So, we are looking forward a return trip.