Backpacking

Safety is your responsibility. There are always hazards associated with outdoor recreation. When planning a backcountry trip to Kootenay National Park, select a trip which best suits your group’s abilities, experience, interests, equipment and the time you have available. Caution and self-reliance are essential.

• Plan ahead
• Check the weather forecast, current trail conditions, warnings and closures or visit a Parks Canada visitor centre.
• Mountain weather changes quickly and it can snow any month of the year. Ensure that you have adequate food, water, clothing and equipment for your trip. Don’t forget essentials including toilet paper.
• Know your physical limits. Always choose a trip suitable for the least experienced member in your group.
• At least one person in your party should be able to recognize natural hazards and have training in wilderness first aid
• Parks Canada does not maintain or patrol winter trails in Kootenay National Park. Some hiking trails are suitable for skiing and snowshoeing, but the park is a natural area and travel is at your own risk.
• Tell a reliable person where you are going, when you will be back, and who to call if you do not return: Parks Canada Dispatch – 403-762-1470.
• Check equipment
• Conditions can change from minute to minute and place to place. Generally, the higher you go, the colder and windier it gets. Ultraviolet radiation is also stronger at higher elevations. A toque, warm jacket and sunscreen may all be required on any given day during the summer.
• Study trip descriptions, maps and expected hazards before heading out. Guidebooks and topographic maps are available at visitor centres and retail outlets in Radium Hot Springs and Lake Louise.
• Carry a first aid kit, bear spray and a satellite emergency communication device like SpotX, inReach or Zoleo, and know how to use them.
• Prepare gear and supplies for at least one day longer than your planned trip. See a complete list of suggested equipment in the what to bring section below.
• Be alert
• Be alert for wildlife at all times. Avoid wearing earbuds or headphones. Learn how to travel safely in bear country.
• Ticks, which could carry Lyme disease, may be present in the park. It is important to check yourself and your pet after hiking.
• Boil, filter or chemically treat all water before drinking. Surface water may be contaminated and unsafe for drinking.
• In case of EMERGENCY, call 911 or satellite phone: 403-762-4506. Cell phone coverage is not reliable throughout the national park.

Snowy Trails

Snow can remain on some trails well into the summer. When trails are snow covered, route-finding can be difficult and travel through deep or hard snow and ice can be unsafe. Be prepared and check trail conditions before heading out.

Seasonal Avalanche Risk

Avalanches are possible from early winter to early summer. Trails above tree line (2,000 m) may be exposed to avalanche hazard at any time of the year. Travel only in terrain appropriate for your group’s experience, abilities and equipment. Training and experience can help you recognize and avoid dangerous avalanche conditions.

For more information on avalanche conditions, visit a Parks Canada visitor centre or check the Mountain Safety section.

Humans have an impact in the backcountry. Vegetation is fragile, especially at higher elevations, wildlife are not habituated to people, and backcountry users are seeking quiet and solitude.
Park management regulations and guidelines are in place to minimize our impact on the wilderness and each other.

• Backcountry Permit

A backcountry permit is required when traveling in the backcountry. Visit our backcountry reservations page for more info. Individuals must have a copy of their backcountry permit (paper or a screen shot) and present it to Parks Canada staff when requested.

• Climbing, mountaineering and glacier travel

Mountaineers are permitted to bivouac on specified routes, and may do so in non-vegetated areas only. For detailed information on bivouacking and to find out what routes are permitted, please visit the Parks Canada visitor centre in the Village of Radium Hot Springs or call 250-347-9505.

• Camping restrictions

Camp in designated campgrounds as indicated on your reservation and use the tent pads provided to minimize impact on vegetation.

• A maximum of 4 people and 1 tent are allowed per tent pad/site.
• The length of stay for any campground cannot be more than 3 consecutive nights.
• The maximum group size for a reservation is 10 people and 5 tents.

Random camping is not permitted in Kootenay National Park.

• Cooking and campfires

All backcountry travellers should carry a portable fuel or propane stove for cooking. Cook and eat in the designated cooking area.

Campfires are not permitted anywhere in the Kootenay National Park backcountry.

• Washing

Wash well away from any lakes, streams or river, and keep the use of soap to a minimum. Even biodegradable soap are pollutants. Strain out those last bits of food waste and pack them out. Disperse grey water on land, a good distance from water sources and campsites.

• Pack out garbage

If you pack it in—pack it out. Littering is against the law and hazardous to wildlife. Do not dispose of garbage in outhouses or leave it in food lockers.

• Food storage

To avoid attracting bears and other wildlife to your campsite, all food, garbage, toiletries and cooking equipment must be stored in the wildlife-proof food storage lockers or on bear poles provided at designated campgrounds. For areas where bivouacking is permitted, bring a rope to hang your food downwind of your campsite (see illustration), or a bear-proof canister for areas where trees are not suitable for food storage.
For more information, contact a Parks Canada visitor centre. Remove all garbage, food and belongings at the end of your stay.



• Properly dispose of human waste

Use the outhouses provided. If there are no outhouses nearby, select a spot away from trails, campsites and at least 70 m away from water sources. Dig a hole 12 to 16 cm deep to reach the dark-coloured soil layer. When refilling the hole with soil, do not pack it down. Pack out toilet paper and used feminine hygiene products.

• Pets

Pets are welcome in the backcountry but must be leashed at all times. To a wild animal, your pet is potentially a predator or prey. Wildlife may flee, endangering themselves or their young. Alternatively, they may respond aggressively, endangering you and your pet.

To prevent unsafe situations:

• Ensure your pet is on a leash and under physical control at all times.
• Pick up and dispose of your pet’s waste in a garbage bin.
• Consider leaving your dog at home when camping or hiking in the backcountry.
• Fishing

To fish in Yoho National Park, everyone aged 16 or older is required to have a National Park Fishing Permit. Children under 16 do not require a permit but must be accompanied by a permit holder. These permits can be purchased at a Parks Canada visitor centre. Provincial fishing licenses are not valid in the national parks. The possession limit for all fish caught in Yoho or Kootenay national parks is zero. See the Fishing Regulations page for more information.
Clean Drain Dry all water-related gear and complete a Self-certification Permit before recreating in any body of water in Banff, Yoho, or Kootenay national parks.

• Stay on trails

Short-cutting between trail switchbacks damages both the soil and plant life, making the area susceptible to further damage by erosion. Stay on designated trails at all times.

• Share the trail

Backcountry trails and campsites may be shared by hikers, trail runners, horse parties and mountain bikers. Respect for others can go a long way toward reducing conflicts. Make noise if you are travelling quickly or silently, move off the trail to allow larger parties to pass, and avoid sudden movement around horses as they may spook.

• Collecting natural or cultural objects

Leave all rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, wildflowers, berries, mushrooms, nests and other natural or historic objects where they are for others to enjoy. It is unlawful to remove, deface, damage or destroy any natural or cultural resources within the national parks. Visit leavenotrace.ca for information on low-impact backcountry travel.

• Firearms are prohibited

Firearms, including pellet guns, bear bangers, bows, slingshots and similar, are prohibited in national parks. Parks Canada recommends carrying bear spray and knowing how to use it for protection for protection from wildlife.