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Blue Grouse Basin

A magical alpine meadow, surrounded by a cirque of peaks on the edge of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. With opportunity to either picnic or peak-bag, this trail gets you to the alpine and lets you chose your own adventure from there.

Summary
Trailhead:  Enterprise FSR
Distance, round trip: 10.2km
Elevation: +743m
Season: mid July to late September
Difficulty: Moderate
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McKean Lakes

McKean Lakes is a worthwhile alpine destination, tucked away on the edge of Valhalla Provincial Park. The road is long, the trail is steep, but the lakes are cradled beneath impressive peaks.

Summary
Trailhead: Koch Creek FSR
Distance, round trip: 10.4km
Elevation: +671m
Season: mid-July to late September
Difficulty:  Difficult
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Mount Beattie

Sometimes you just need a moderate hike with a moderate view. Mount Beattie is like that. It’s a forested ridge line, tucked away in the Whitewater backcountry. Beattie’s treed summits are uneventful, but sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. And a day out in the mountains is never a day wasted.

Summary
Trailhead: Whitewater Ski Hill Road
Distance, round trip: 11.2km
Elevation: +499m
Season: late June to late September
Difficulty:  Moderate
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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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Grassy Mountain

Grassy Mountain is renown for its winter powder, but it’s also a great summer destination for those that don’t mind hiking off trail. You can explore the ridges which are full of spring wildflowers and offer big wide views of the Bonnington Range.

Summary
Trailhead: Munson FSR
Distance, round trip: 14km
Elevation: +663m
Season: early June to early October.
Difficulty:  Difficult
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Elephant Mountain Traverse (CBC Tower)

Going up and over Elephant Mountain is a big day. But sometimes that’s just what you need to break in those boots! This is a difficult hike with significant elevation, but it’s scenic and close to home! At each milestone, the City of Nelson shrinks further below and more and more peaks unfold from the distant valleys.

Summary
Trailhead: Pulpit Rock Trailhead or Lyon’s Bluff Trailhead
Distance, round trip: 13.5km
Elevation: +1120m
Season: mid-May to late October
Difficulty:  Difficult
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Record Ridge

Welcome to the scenic, southern end of the Seven Summits Trail. Record Ridge makes a great out-and-back to explore the high grasslands.

Summary
Trailhead:  Old Rossland Cascade Highway
Distance, round trip: 10.2km
Elevation: +350m
Season: late May to late October
Difficulty: Moderate
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Delaurentiis Bluffs

A scenic overlook trail above Salmo! The Delaurentiis Bluffs trail provides both exercise and inspiration as it climbs high to a series of viewpoints above the valley.

Summary
Trailhead: Delaurentiis Road
Distance, round trip: 5.6km
Elevation: +487m
Season: mid-April to early November
Difficulty: Moderate
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Lockhart Creek

If you love long walks in the woods, then you’ll love the Lockhart Creek Trail. You can hike way up the creek drainage for a mighty 22km round trip… or just stretch your campground legs with a quick kilometre out and back.

Summary
Trailhead: Lockhart Beach Provincial Park
Distance, round trip: 2.3km
Elevation: +175m
Season: early April to early November
Difficulty:
Easy
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Kootenay Columbia Trail

Edging above Rossland, the Kootenay Columbia Trail heads to a scenic bluff with a big view! This hike can be done within an hour – a great destination for beginners!

Summary
Trailhead: Kirkup Avenue, Rossland
Distance, round trip: 4km
Elevation: +125m
Season: early April to early November
Difficulty:
Easy
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