West Kootenay Hiking is an online hiking resource for locals and visitors in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. You’ll find trail reviews, driving directions, topographic maps, photos, GPS files for download, and more! You can also add trip reports with the latest information to any of the trails. Happy hiking!
Official Trails – Information on official trails is posted for everyone! Official trails have trailhead infrastructure, dedicated parking, caretaking trail societies or government agencies, and public funding. If you’re lucky, they’ll even have a scenic bench at the top!
Routes – Information on routes is restricted to Trail Blazers. Routes are unofficial hikes that have no trailhead infrastructure or maintenance. They require more navigation and experience, as well as often some rugged FSR driving.
Become a Trail Blazer! Support West Kootenay Hiking by signing up for a monthly donation on Patreon. You’ll get access to bonus routes, discounts, and other perks!
The West Kootenay is a region in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. It includes the cities of Nelson, Castlegar, and Trail as well as picturesque towns like Rossland, Kaslo, Nakusp, Creston, and New Denver. The region includes the southern reaches of the Purcell, Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges.
The land on which we hike and explore is the traditional territories of the Sinixt, the Syilx, and the Ktunaxa peoples, and is home to many diverse indigenous persons including the Metis. Please be respectful of this special place by leaving no trace.
The Editor
Abby Wilson is a Nelson local who hikes and paints around the West Kootenay mountains. She started West Kootenay Hiking in 2016 as it was hard to find updated and reliable information for trip planning. She hopes everyone can safely and responsibly enjoy these wild places.
Abby is a member of the Kootenay Mountaineering Club and regularly leads group trips (come hike with us!). She also organizes hikes with new moms and plein air painting meet-ups in the mountains.
Abby is also an artist and captures her love of the local mountains in bright acrylic landscape paintings. You can check out more of her work at abbywilson.ca.
