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Mount Reco Loop

One of the best ridgeline hikes in the Kootenays! Hiking a loop around Mount Reco will bring you through alpine meadows surrounded by peaks. With the option to bag Reco’s summit, this is a great day in the mountains.

Summary
Trailhead: Stenson Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 9.9km
Elevation: +680m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate

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Motherlode Lakes (Carlyle Lodge)

Staying at Carlyle Lodge? Check out the trail to Motherlode Lakes. It’s a scenic hike from the lodge, edging along alpine slopes to arrive at a series of lakes and pools.

Summary
Trailhead: Carlyle Lodge
Distance, round trip: 8.6km
Elevation: +609m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Easy
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Boulder Pass (Carlyle Lodge)

A scenic trek around the Mount Carlyle bowl! The route to Boulder Pass is a great option if you’re staying at Carlyle Lode or want to extend your day hike into Carpenter Pass. The route leads to the southern ridge of Mount Carlyle with views over the edge towards the Purcell Mountains.

Summary
Trailhead: Carlyle Lodge
Distance, round trip: 3.2km
Elevation: +206m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Easy

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Carpenter Pass Trail

The Carpenter Pass Trail offers a scenic loop to a high mountain pass, full of history and surrounded by epic views. It’s a worthwhile day hike, but even better if you can spend a few nights at Mount Carlyle Lodge to explore the alpine wonderland beyond the pass.

Summary
Trailhead: Carpenter Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 14.2km
Elevation: +653m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate
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Texas-Reco Ridge

An amazing ridge-line adventure, full of mining history and mountain tops! The Texas-Reco ridge is strung between peaks with wide views all around. Come in late July for the wildflowers!

Summary
Trailhead: Stenson Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 10.4km
Elevation: +779m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate

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Shannon Lake

A short and steep trail to a subalpine lake in the Valhallas. Shannon Lake is a quick trip for hikers, but off-trail adventurers will have lots of options to explore the ridges beyond and Mount Vingolf above.

Summary
Trailhead: Shannon Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 5.6km
Elevation: +277m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate
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Bannock Point Trails

The trails at Bannock Point lead to scenic bluffs overlooking Slocan Lake. You can stay the night at the backcountry campground or just wander the awesome upper trail with mossy forest and wide viewpoints.

Summary
Trailhead: Highway 6
Distance, round trip: 5.36km
Elevation: +208m
Season: early April to early November
Difficulty:  Moderate
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Retallack Old Growth Cedars

A short, winding loop through a scenic old growth cedar grove! Some of the trees are hundreds of years old and tower up to impressive heights – it’s worth the 30 minute stop to go check out this trail!

Summary
Trailhead: Highway 31A
Distance, round trip: 1km
Elevation: +25m
Season: early June to late September
Difficulty:  Easy

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Beatrice Lake Trail

The Beatrice Lake Trail offers steady hiking through forests and wetlands as it traces an old mining road, following a chain of lakes through Valhalla Provincial Park. There are several backcountry campgrounds along the way at Emerald and Cahill Lakes until the trail finally ends at distant Beatrice Lake.

Summary
Trailhead: Evans Creek (accessible by boat or hike)
Distance, round trip: 12km to Cahill Lake (east shore), 18km to Beatrice Lake
Elevation: +715m to Cahill lake (east shore), +930m to Beatrice Lake
Season: early June to late October
Difficulty:  Difficult

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Wilson Creek Falls

The Wilson Creek Falls plunge 63m down into a rocky canyon, ripping with noise and spray. It’s a quick and impressive destination!

Summary
Trailhead: East Wilson Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 2.4km
Elevation: +140m
Season: mid-April to early November
Difficulty:  Easy

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