KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 263

CAMPGROUNDS
The park's largest camping area is Redstreak Campground (mid-May-mid-Oct.), on a
narrow plateau in the extreme southwest (vehicle access from Highway 93/95 on the south
side of Radium Hot Springs township), which holds 242 sites, showers, and kitchen shel-
ters. In summer, free slide shows and talks are presented by park naturalists five nights a
week and typically feature topics such as wolves, bears, the park's human history, or the
effects of fire. Trails lead from the campground to the hot springs, town, and a couple of
lookouts. Unserviced sites are $29, hookups $37-40. Fire permits cost $8 per site per night.
A limited number of sites can be reserved through the Parks Canada Campground Reser-
vation Service (877/737-3783, www.pccamping.ca ) .
The park's two other campgrounds lie to the north of Radium Hot Springs along High-
way 93. Both offer fewer facilities (no hookups or showers). The larger of the two is
McLeod Meadows Campground, beside the Kootenay River 27 kilometers (16.8 miles)
from Radium Hot Springs. Facilities include flush toilets, kitchen shelters, and a fire pit
and picnic table at each of the 98 sites. Marble Canyon, across the highway from the nat-
ural attraction of the same name, offers 61 sites and similar facilities. Both are open late
June-early September, and all sites cost $24. No reservations are taken at these two camp-
grounds.
Hikers planning overnight trips in the backcountry must register at either of the park
information centers and pick up a backcountry camping pass ($10 per person per night, or
$70 for a season pass).
Information and Transportation
Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre (250/347-9615, 9am-7pm daily in summer,
9am-5pm daily in spring and fall) is outside the park in the town of Radium Hot Springs,
at the base of the access road to Redstreak Campground. Here you can collect a free map
with hiking trail descriptions, find out about trail closures and campsite availability, get
the weather forecast, browse through a gift shop, buy park passes and fishing licenses, and
register for overnight backcountry trips.
The other source of park information is at Kootenay Park Lodge, at Vermilion Cross-
ing (summer only). It's worth noting that this is the only privately operated official inform-
ation center in any Canadian national park—a reflection on the folks running this lodge.