KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 273

easy six-kilometer (3.7-mile) walk from the end of the road to picturesque Fish Lake, the
park's largest body of water. The trail climbs alongside the pretty Lussier River to the lake,
which is encircled with Engelmann spruce and surrounded by peaks up to 2,500 meters
(8,200 feet) high. The hike to the lake gains just over 200 vertical meters (660 vertical
feet) and makes a good day trip. Trails from the lake lead to other alpine lakes and to a
viewpoint that allows a good overall perspective on the high plateau for which the park is
named. Fish Lake is productive for cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout.
Campgrounds and Information
Bring everything you'll need, because there are no services within the park. Camping is
possible at one of four designated areas for $5 per person, or you can stay in the large cabin
nestled in trees beside Fish Lake ($15 per person). For park information and trail condi-
tions, contact BC Parks ( www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks ) .
MM WHITESWAN LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK
Access to this popular British Columbia park is from Highway 93/95, 50 kilometers (31
miles) south of Radium Hot Springs and 28 kilometers (17.4 miles) north of Skook-
umchuck. From a signed turnoff, an unpaved logging road takes off east into the moun-
tains, leading first to 1,994-hectare (4.930-acre) Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, then to
Top of the World Provincial Park. The road climbs steadily from the highway, entering
Lussier Gorge after 11 kilometers (6.8 miles). Within the gorge, a steep trail leads down
to Lussier Hot Springs. Two small pools have been constructed to contain the odorless
hot (43°C/110°F) water as it bubbles out of the ground and flows into the Lussier River.
Within the park itself, the road closely follows the southern shorelines of first Alces Lake,
then the larger Whiteswan Lake. The two lakes attract abundant birdlife; loons, grebes,
and herons are all common. They also attract anglers, who come for great rainbow trout
fishing. Both lakes are stocked and have a daily quota of two fish per person.
Campgrounds
The main road skirts the lakes and passes four popular campgrounds. The sites are $17 per
night and fill on a first-come, first-served basis. All sites come with a picnic table and fire
grate. There are no hookups or showers.
HEIGHT OF THE ROCKIES PROVINCIAL PARK
This long and narrow, 68,000-hectare (134,000-acre) park protects a 50-kilometer-long
(31-mile-long) section of the Canadian Rockies, including a 25-kilometer-long (15.5-mile-