CANADIAN ROCKIES - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 454

M Stanley Glacier Trail: Although it takes around 90 minutes to reach the end of
the trail, the stunning views make it worth every step ( click here ).
M Emerald Lake: At Emerald Lake, you can hike, canoe, fish, or simply soak up
the mountain scenery ( click here ).
M Lake O'Hara: Quite simply, this is a magical lake. Access is limited by a quota
system, so take heed of the reservation information and be prepared for a day of hik-
ing you will always remember ( click here ) .
M Kicking Horse Mountain Resort: I've ridden each of the four gondolas in the
Canadian Rockies, and my favorite for unbeatable top-of-the-world views is at Kick-
ing Horse Mountain Resort, near Golden ( click here ) .
PLANNING YOUR TIME
Lay out a map of British Columbia, and you'll see that visiting both Kootenay and Yoho Na-
tional Parks as part of a loop through the Canadian Rockies is an obvious extension to a trip
to the Kootenay region. What the map won't tell you is that nowhere in British Columbia
is the scenery-to-distance-traveled ratio as good as it is in this part of the province. For
the traveler, this means you should schedule a little longer than you may think to see
everything.
Just one road passes through Kootenay National Park, and you can travel from one end
to the other in under two hours. But plan to spend at least a full day in the park, making
stops at the hot springs and the Paint Pots, and allowing time to hike the Stanley Glacier
Trail. The town of Radium Hot Springs is an excellent base for exploring the BC Rockies.
Not only are lodgings relatively inexpensive, but the town's commercial campgrounds have
more facilities than those in the parks (especially notable if you're traveling with children).
There's also good golfing, and bird-watchers will delight in exploring the Columbia River
Wetlands.
Yoho National Park is a gem of a destination, well worth visiting even for just a day.
If you make the loop through Kootenay via Lake Louise (Banff National Park), plan on
overnighting in Yoho before continuing west along the Trans-Canada Highway to Golden.
Scheduling a full day in the park allows enough time to drive to Takakkaw Falls, hike the
loop trail around Emerald Lake, and enjoy lunch in between at one of the restaurants in
the area. The highlight of a visit to Yoho is Lake O'Hara, one of the most special places in
the Canadian Rockies. Unlike at the region's other famous lakes, you can't simply drive up