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Kaslo River Trail

The Kaslo River Trail is a fairy tale of a trail, winding along the burbling river and mossy banks. The main loop arcs over the river on two covered bridges, both painted an enchanting shade of red. Look for the magical “Koots” sculptures playing hide-and-seek among the boulders and enjoy the shady calm of the forest.

Summary
Trailhead: 5th St
Distance, round trip: 3.6km
Elevation: +90m
Season: early April to late November
Difficulty:  Easy

Trailhead & Driving Directions

The Kaslo River Trail is part of a network of trails and there are several places to access the loop. If you’re parked near downtown Kaslo, a short walk to the end of 5th street will lead you to the Unity Bridge and is a great place to start. There is also parking for a few vehicles here.

Each trailhead features a map and the network has signed junctions to help you get around.

Trailhead as you head counter-clockwise from 5th Street

Along the North Bank

You can hike this loop in either direction. The North bank features wider paths with a wheel-chair accessible stretch and heads up in a counter-clockwise direction from the Unity Bridge on 5th Street.

Along the North bank

As the trail goes on, it branches into upper and lower paths. The lower trail dips down along the river bank, where it weaves between mossy river stones and ancient horsetails.

Upper Trailblazer Bridge

Reach the Upper Trailblazer Bridge and enjoy the views. The Kaslo River is churning below and you can look upstream to spot some small cascades. On a clear day, spot the spiky peaks of the Purcell Mountains in the distance, including iconic Mount Loki.

Hide-and-Seek

As you make your way along the south-side of the river, you’ll come across the Koots sculptures playing hide-and-seek among the boulders. These 7 sculptures were creating by the Koots Artist Collective – see if you can find them all!

The trail is full of magical little moments – pink fairy slipper orchid, blue forget-me-nots, tipsy stacks of stone, twisted roots and rocks. The pathways are bordered with river stone and meander across the mossy forest floor.

Lower Unity Bridge

As you complete the loop, you’ll reach the Unity Bridge on the lower section of the trail.

Lower Unity Bridge

Kaslo Outdoor Recreation & Trails Society

The Kaslo Outdoor Recreation & Trails Society maintains this trail. You can make a donation, become a member, or volunteer here.

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Wayne
Wayne
3 years ago

What is a “wheel-chair accessible chair”? Is it only the north bank trail that is wheel chair accessible? Is that part of the trail paved? Thanks. Looking forward to seeing it this summer.

Abby Wilson
Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Wayne

Whoops, sorry that was a typo. The north side is gently graded though has a gravel surface once it leaves the paved road.

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