The Invermere zone in BC’s Columbia Valley is an outdoor lover’s dream, expressly when it comes to hiking – with much of it wieldy year round. There are a wide variety of easy Invermere zone hikes from short walks in meadows in Kootenay National Park, to a mythological wetlands walk, to one that takes you to the top of some hoodoos with wonderful Columbia Valley views.
Join me as I showcase the weightier the Columbia Valley has to offer when it comes to easy Invermere zone hikes. And if you’ve got suggestions of ones I missed, please be sure to let me know in the comments.
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Invermere hikes summary
Permits: If you hike in Kootenay National Park you will need a national park pass which can be purchased at the gate or online.
Dogs: Dogs are unliable on all trails to the weightier of my knowledge but must be on a leash. Take uneaten water for them if it’s a hot summer day.
Maps: Organic Maps, an offline hiking app is a unconfined resource, expressly on these Invermere hikes.
Weather: Trammels the weather forecast surpassing you go so that you’re properly attired.
Don’t forget: Let someone know where you’re hiking, practice Leave No Trace principles and siphon the hiking essentials – plane on these short, easy Invermere hikes.
Location map (approximate) of the Invermere hikes
Wilmer Wetlands Trail
Distance: 3.7 km loop
Elevation gain/loss: 100 m
Time needed: 1 – 2 hours, depending on if you are a birder.
Trailhead location: From Invermere momentum north towards Panorama Ski Resort. Turn right right onto Westside Road without crossing the river to reach Wilmer. Follow it for 2 km past Wilmer to reach a signed trailhead and parking on the right.
Description: The Wilmer Wetlands Trail – just a 15-minute momentum from Invermere, is part of the Columbia Wetlands – one of the largest intact wetlands in North America. It’s one of the top Invermere hikes for birders. Hiking here in spring is wondrous as tens of thousands of birds migrate through the area.
There are several trails leading from the parking lot lanugo towards the wetlands. You can do a 3.7 km spin or simply an out and when hike, depending on how much time you have.
Look for a seat with a view over the wetlands. Be prepared for some fun, hilly sections on narrow trails. They might be slippery if wet.
Old Coach Trail
Distance: Up to 9 km one way but you can just go as far as you like and retrace your steps.
Elevation gain: 130 m or 427 feet
Time needed: 1 – 5 hours depending on how far you hike.
Trailhead location: From Radium momentum south for 5 km on Highway 93/95 to reach a large gravel parking lot.
Description: The out-and-back Old Coach trail is a multi-use walking and cycling trail that parallels the Columbia River on a benchland, between Radium Hot Springs and Dry Gulch.
Enjoy panoramic views of the Columbia Wetlands withal one of the increasingly popular Invermere hikes. Plan to get an early start in summer as the trail can get hot.
Look for interpretive signage withal the trail describing the historic the route that was used by Model T’s when in the 1920’s.
Mount Swansea Tower Loop hike – one of the Invermere hikes with a unconfined view
Distance: 6.0 km loop hike
Elevation gain/loss: Approximately 350 m
Time needed: 2 – 2.5 hours so you can enjoy the view at the top
Trailhead location: Take the Windermere Loop Road east off Highway 93/95. Follow it towards the Winderdome Resort. Turn left 150 m without the turnoff to Winderdome Resort, then left on Westroc Mine Road and right on Swansea Mountain Road. You’ll see a parking lot immediately on your right.
Description: It’s a gentle climb through the forest on a maze of trails to the Mount Swansea Tower. Once you top out, enjoy far-reaching views of the Columbia Valley, Windermere Lake, and the Purcell Mountain range to the west.
If you have increasingly juice in the legs, you can protract from the overlook and hike the Mount Swansea Double Peak Loop, but you’ll need the largest part of a day to do this.
Westside Legacy Trail
Distance: Highly variable. It’s 25 km one way so plan on an out and when hike or unify a shuttle for a pickup withal the Westside Legacy Trail.
Elevation gain/loss: Highly variable but beware as there is a surprising value of elevation loss and gain.
Time needed: As long as you want.
Access: Before you throne out trammels the map of the Westside Legacy Trail for parking locations.
Description: Pick a parking zone and throne out hiking in any direction – but be prepared to share the trail, expressly with bikers.
There are 7 picnic areas withal the trail and lots of benches. One of the picnic areas would make a unconfined destination, so then trammels out the map to decide where you want to hike. At the southern end of the trail, you could combine it with a hike on the Hoodoos Trail.
The Hoodoos Trail – one of the rewarding Invermere zone hikes
Distance: 3.0 km out and when hike
Elevation gain/loss: /-120m
Time needed: 1 – 1.5 hours.
Trailhead location: From the junction of 13th Street and 13th Avenue in Invermere momentum south via the Westside Road for 24.7 km. The parking lot is on the right or west side of the road.
Description: The Hoodoos Trail south of Invermere is a short, easy 3.0 km out and when hike through a pretty forest that ends on top of the hoodoos, a notable landmark you can’t miss when you’re driving Highway 93/95 south of Fairmont Hot Springs (and it’s worth seeing them from ground level too).
We did it as an after-dinner hike in the summer when there wasn’t flipside person around, but I understand you can hike it in winter too – as long as you take microspikes. It’s one of the fun Invermere hikes as its not often you can hike to the top of a hoodoo.
From the scenic lookout enjoy panoramic view of the Columbia Valley, Columbia Lake, and nearby mountains including both De Smet and Fairmont located to the southeast. Exercise circumspection at the top as there is a dropoff and the waddle is crumbly in places.
Invermere zone hikes in southern Kootenay National Park
Redstreak Restoration Trail – the easiest of the Invermere zone hikes
Distance: 1 km
Elevation gain/loss: /-25 m
Time needed: 20 – 30 minutes.
Access: Take the first right without the archway to the Redstreak Campground.
Description: The easy but rewarding hike on the Redstreak Restoration trail over delivers in the scenery department. The name of the trail reflects the fact that the meadows were reborn in the wake of a prescribed burn, but it sure doesn’t speak to the eyeful of the trail.
The one km loop hike takes you through wildflower-filled meadows where you might see bighorn sheep grazing. We saw none – but we did see plenty of birds – and only a few other people. It’s a quick one, but I highly recommend you do it.
Valleyview Trail
Distance: 2.6 km return
Elevation gain: 130 m or 427 feet
Time needed: 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Trailhead location: 3 options – the parking zone 1 km surpassing the Redstreak Campground entrance, Redstreak Campground entrance, 2.5 km east of Radium Hot Springs or overdue the Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre.
Description: Hike this steep trail from the Village of Radium Hot Springs to Redstreak Campground if you’re without a quick workout that ends (or starts) with a panoramic view of the Columbia Valley. At the top there are picnic tables with a view.
Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep – but unchangingly requite them a wide berth.
Sinclair Pass and Juniper Trail – one of the wonderful Invermere zone hikes
Distance: 5.2 km out and when hike
Elevation gain/loss: 350m/-260m
Time needed: 2 – 3 hours depending on your pace.
Trailhead location: Look for a parking lot just inside the west gate of Kootenay National Park, though there is the option to park at the main parking lot for the Radium Hot Springs Pool.
Description: The scenic Juniper – Sinclair Pass trail tropical to the Village of Radium Hot Springs is an spanking-new choice.
Start by descending steeply through a Douglas fir forest to reach tomfool and shady Sinclair Canyon. Take a short side trip to get a glimpse of Sinclair Falls – as it’s nonflexible to get close.
From the canyon, navigate a footbridge and hike up through dry country withal the west rim of Sinclair Canyon.
As you climb higher, the Columbia Valley views come into sight as does the Redwall Fault and the Purcell Mountains to the west. There’s moreover a unconfined view looking lanugo at the highway that runs through Kootenay National Park.
On top weave through lovely stretches of unshut forest all the way to Radium Hot Springs. Retrace your steps to return.
Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep as they frequent the area.
Where to stay in the Invermere area
There are three centres in the Invermere zone where you’ll find lodging – Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs and in Invermere itself.
Invermere
Headwaters Lodge at Eagle Ranch Resort, rated superb, boasts an onsite restaurant, and an onsite velocipede rental.
The Copper Point Resort is a unconfined nomination if you want to have everything at your fingertips like pools, a spa and onsite dining. It’s only a 6-minute momentum yonder from downtown Invermere.
Fairmont Hot Springs
If you want to be tropical to the Fairmont Hot Springs, typesetting the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, rated good.
The Residences at Fairmont Ridge offer fully furnished apartments with a kitchen if you’re interested in cooking. You’ll have to walk 10 minutes to reach the hot springs.
Other options near Radium Hot Springs
The Inn on Canyon, rated fabulous, is an adult-oriented shop hotel that serves breakfast. It’s only a 5-minute momentum to the hot springs in Radium.
Bighorn Meadows Resort, moreover rated fabulous, features suites with full kitchen facilities and an outdoor pool with a hot tub. I’ve stayed here and quite enjoyed my stay.
Interested in exploring increasingly of the Kootenays?
- The Stunning Hike to the Kokanee Glacier Cabin
- 11 Things to Do in Summer in Revelstoke
- Heather Mountain Lodge BC – The Summer Experience
- Glacier Crest Trail – Glacier National Park, BC
- Things to Do in Rossland, BC If You Have 3 Days
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