The Best Things to do in Kootenay National Park (Between Invermere & Banff)

If you're planning a drive from Invermere to Banff (or vice versa), there are plenty of great stops along the way! We've travelled through Kootenay National Park many times, and we always seem to discover something new. In our opinion it rivals Banff National Park in terms of its beauty, and makes for a stunning drive. But it's not just about scenic mountain views -there are lakes, waterfalls, and even the famous Paint Pots to visit along the way. Here are the best places to visit between Banff and Invermere, to make the most of your journey.

ABOUT US: We are a family of four who moved to Alberta in 2012 and have explored extensively throughout Alberta and British Columbia. We write travel guides with families in mind, so the majority of the suggested stops on this route are kid-friendly.

This guide covers the drive from Banff to Invermere along Highway 93, and includes maps, the best things to see and do, and plenty of photos to help you plan your journey. If you are travelling in the other direction, then this itinerary can easily be done in reverse as well.

You will need to purchase a Canadian Rockies Park Pass for this itinerary. Make sure to read our comprehensive Q&A blog post, that answers all of your burning questions, and helps make sure you get the right Park Pass for your trip.

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

Kootenay National Park is a stunning yet less-visited alternative to its famous neighbour, Banff National Park, and in our opinion offers just as much beauty as Banff... but without the crowds.

Along Highway 93, you’ll encounter breathtaking waterfalls and canyons, that rival Johnston Canyon in Banff. There are a variety of hikes to enjoy, ranging from short walks to longer treks. If you’re up for it, the Stanley Glacier is an incredible hike, where you can get up close with a glacier, and it's even possible to find fossils in the mountains!

The park also boasts crystal-clear turquoise lakes, towering rock walls, and sweeping mountain views. After a day of exploring, there’s no better way to unwind than by soaking in the famous Radium Hot Springs - or discover a hidden natural hot spring by a stunning creek, that we highlight in this guide.

EXPLORE KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

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So without further ado, here is our list of best things to do in Kootenay National Park, in between Banff and Invermere, starting with a map to show where everything is located.

MAP OF ATTRACTIONS IN KOOTENAY

Whenever we plan a trip, we always start with Google Maps. It helps us visualize locations and create efficient itineraries. We’ve added all the sights and attractions to the map below to help you see where everything is and choose which attractions you'd like to stop at and visit.

To use this map, click the tab in the top left corner to toggle between layers and for more details about each attraction. To save the map to your Google Maps account, click the star next to the title. To access it later, open Google Maps, go to “Your Places,” and find it under “Maps.”

OVERVIEW OF THE JOURNEY

DISTANCE: 152km from Banff to Invermere

DRIVING TIME: The journey takes around 1 hour 45 minutes without stopping. If you plan on adding in any of the suggestions detailed in this post, I would plan for a minimum of 3-4 hours.

ROUTE GUIDE: The only road running through Kootenay National Park is Highway 93, also known as the Banff-Windermere Highway. It stretches from Radium Hot Springs in the south to Castle Junction in the north, where it meets the Trans-Canada Highway shortly after crossing into Banff National Park (which is also the Continental Divide).

WHEN TO GO: You can drive Highway 93 year round, although in the winter the conditions can be difficult to drive in as the road down to Radium in particular is quite steep.

THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK

This list starts in Invermere and follows Highway 93 to Banff. While there’s plenty to see, you should be able to visit most of the main things to do in a day, if you skip the longer hikes.

INVERMERE

Invermere is a charming mountain town on the eastern shores of Windermere Lake. While it's a popular summer getaway for Canadians looking to enjoy the lake, there's plenty to do in winter too, making it a great destination year-round. It's a small town with some quite upmarket stores, coffee shops and places to eat.

Windermere Lake is one of the more popular recreation lakes in the Canadian Rockies, and and there are countless activities you can do on the lake in the summer. You can take picnic and hang out at the beach, playing in the playground and cooling off swimming. If you prefer a faster pace, there are opportunities for water sports like water skiing or jet skiing. In the winter the lake is a popular spot for skating, and is called the "Whiteway" and is known as the longest skating trail in the world.

The whole area is surrounded by mountains, and the most popular is Panorama Mountain Resort, where you can experience some of Canada’s best skiing in the winter, and mountain biking trails in the summer.

And that’s just the beginning! Check out our full guide to the top 15 things to do in Invermere and the surrounding area with kids for even more ideas..

RADIUM (AND THE RADIUM HOT SPRINGS)

The Radium Hot Springs are one of the most popular places to visit in the area, and tourists flock to the springs, that are open year round. The pools are basically large outdoor swimming baths, that are naturally heated geothermically, and the water is controlled to keep the water level constant and to remove any unpleasant odors. HOWEVER.....

While I’ve included Radium Hot Springs on this list (since you’ll drive right past it), we much prefer Lussier Hot Springs for a more authentic experience. Here, you can soak in natural rock pools right on the banks of the Lussier River—and it’s completely free to visit!

If that sounds more like your style, check out our full guide to visiting the Lussier Hot Springs for all the details. Just keep in mind that access involves a short but steep walk down to the pools, and you do need to clamber over some rocks to enter the pools, so it may not be the best option for everyone.

PLANNING: If you are visiting the Lussier Hot Springs, it's about an hours drive from Invermere in the opposite direction, so plan accordingly. You'll likely want at least an hour at the pools, so plan accordingly.

OLIVE LAKE

Olive lake is just a short 10-15 minute drive from Radium and is located at the start of the Banff-Windermere highway just after the Radium Hot Springs. It's a really short stop, but is a surprisingly beautiful and peaceful area, considering its right by the highway. There is a small car park, where you can take a short 0.5km trail through the forest to a bright emerald green lake. The trail is flat, making it suitable for all ages and those with limited mobility.  I recommend taking the boardwalk on the right-hand side of the lake to the viewpoint, where we spotted brook trout swimming in the crystal-clear water!

PLANNING: Olive Lake is a short stop, right off the highway. You won't need more than 30 minutes, and could be gone within 15 minutes if you just want to snap a few photos.

KOOTENAY VALLEY VIEWPOINT & DAY USE AREA

Just a few minutes further along the road from Olive Lake is the Kootenay Valley viewpoint, which is a great place to stop and enjoy views of the Mitchell and Vermilion mountain ranges. If you are coming the other way from Banff it's a nice quick leg stretcher.

Continue on up the highway and you will come across the Kootenay River day-use area, which is a good place to stop for a picnic lunch depending on your timings.

NUMA FALLS

The Numa Falls is a popular spot, so it can get a little busy - but it's well worth stopping as the view of the waterfall is fantastic, and requires basically no effort. The falls are just a short 2 minute walk along the river. There are some picnic tables right by the falls, so another good option for a picnic. There are longer hikes available if you want to spend more time in the area as well. Look at the colour of that water!

PLANNING: Parking can be difficult so aim to get there earlier or later in the day if you can, although usually if you circle the parking lot a few times, a space opens up. I'd plan for around 30 minutes here.

PAINT POTS

Of all of the stops along the route from Invermere to Banff, the Paint Pots is definitely our favourite. The kids love visiting, and we've been there a few times now. The Paint Pots are unique and so different to the other things you typically see along the route (spoiler alert, you're likely to see lots of waterfalls and lakes in the Canadian Rockies!).

The hike to the paint pots is a 2km out-and-back trail. It's fairly muddy (pretty much all year round), so its not the trail to wear those bright white sneakers!

Once at the paint pots, the colors are stunning! The kids will love dipping sticks in the pots and getting their hands muddy. Don’t worry - you can rinse yourself off in the river on the way back!

PLANNING: The hike is around 2km, and while easy in most parts, it can be a little slow going to keep out of the mud. I'd suggest you need between 1 hour and 90 minutes to complete the hike.

MARBLE CANYON

Another highlight in Kootenay National Park is Marble Canyon. The short 1.8 km out-and-back hike leads you into a stunning canyon! As you walk up the canyon, you’ll cross the first of seven bridges, where you can even feel the cool breeze from the rushing water. Each bridge offers increasingly dramatic views of the steep drops into the canyon, so don’t turn back too soon if you have time.

PLANNING: The hike is around 1.8km, but does involve gaining some elevation so it can be a little slower going. I would recommend you factor around 1 hour into your day to make sure you get to the end of the hike (and experience the best views).

STANLEY GLACIER TRAIL

While this hike might not be suitable for young children, the Stanley Glacier Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Kootenay National Park. The hike is an 11km out and back trail, that takes you up to a gorgeous glacial basin, flanked by striking mountain peaks.

What's great about the hike is its variety; you'll see lots of wildflowers growing from forest fire regrowth, waterfalls, caves, and of course, the Stanley glacier! If you're kids only have one longish hike in them, and they have some experience hiking, then this is definitely the one to do. You might even find see some fossils!

HIKE TIME: The hike is around 11km, and is quite a challenging hike, so it will likely take anywhere between 3-5 hours, depending on your hiking pace.

THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

The Continental Divide serves as the separation line between Alberta and British Columbia, and determines the direction in which water drains – either towards the Pacific or the Atlantic ocean. If you're driving along the Banff Windermere Highway, make sure to pause and capture a photo of the landmark - it only takes a few minutes.

VISTA LAKE

Vista Lake is located on the highway just as you leave Kootenay National Park at the entrance to Banff National Park. This is a great place to stop for a quick viewpoint, or if you like, you can hike down to the lake. The hike is fairly short at at 2.7km out and back, the problem is that while the first part is all downhill so nice and easy, the walk back up (165m elevation) is a little tough on tired legs, so judge how you are all feeling after a long day of exploring.

BANFF & LAKE LOUISE

Soon after Vista Lake, you will finally hit Highway 1, at which point you can choose to head West towards Lake Louise, or East, towards Banff.

Here are some of our favourite things to do in the area:

• The town of Banff

• The Cave and Basin Historic Site

• Johnson Canyon Hike

• Lake Moraine

• Lake Minnewanka

• Lake Louise (and the tea house trek)

• Peyto Lake

• Icefield Parkway

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I Need a Park Pass?

Yes, you do need a park pass for the drive from Banff to Invermere as Kootenay and Banff National Parks both require a pass. There is no need for a park pass when you are in Invermere though as it is outside of the national park boundary. You are able to pick one up at the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre in Radium or at the Banff entry gate. We answer all of your questions about the Canadian Rockies Park Pass in this post.

Where is the Best Places to Get Gas?

I’d recommend filling up before you leave Banff or Invermere / Radium, as there are no places to get gas along Highway 93. The drive from Banff to Radium is 135km, so plan accordingly.

Is There Phone Service in the Crowsnest Pass?

In Kootenay National Park, cell service is generally unavailable, so you should plan accordingly. Download a map to Google Maps before you set off to make sure you don't miss any of the main stops.

If you have any questions about driving from Banff to Invermere, or would like to share your experience, feel free to leave a comment below.