kp’itl’els (Brilliant Flats)

Easy walking trails along the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. Come in early May for meadows of blue camas and birdsong! This area was an important settlement of the Sinixt Nation and a memorial stands to the last remaining family. There is quite a network of trails and tracks here, but making a large loop along the edge of the river is a great way to explore the area.

Trailhead & Driving Directions

Follow Robson Road from Castlegar to the Brilliant community. Take Makayev Road and turn right onto Trubetskoff. Park in front of Brilliant (USCC) Doukhobour Cemetery at the end of Trubetskoff Road. The trail starts at the gated “Gorkoff Road”. Step over the chain and head down the road.

Along the river

The old road descends to the river. At 0.2 km, come to an opening and turn right (north) to view the river, looking across to Millennium Park. Staying right at junctions to hike the largest loop along the river is a great way to navigate all of the tracks in this network.

Continue along the river, taking another right junction to leave an old track and follow a trail along the pebbly shore.

The trail curves into the woods before opening up to wide meadows along the river. Idyllic spring hiking! Camas flowers are found in abundance in late April and early May – these periwinkle blue flowers are a culturally significant plant to first nations peoples in British Columbia who traded and cultivated it as an early food source. The camas fields around Castlegar are the largest in interior BC!

At 1km, look for the memorial marker to the Christian family of the Sinixt Nation who lived here until 1919 when they were forcibly removed. There is evidence of old homesteads with stone foundations, old orchards, and rusting machinery in the meadows.

The trail continues to wind along the riverbank, with steep drop-offs in a few places. Ahead is Brilliant Overlook towering in the distance as you continue east.

Looping back

At 1.5km, the trail suddenly curves north and passes through a stand of aspen trees to an old cabin collapsing with time. Look at the aspen bark for signs of bears, with old claw marks high on the trunks!

Shortly after at 1.7km, reach a junction with an old road and head left (west) to start looping back to the beginning. The trail winds through the meadows, full of flowering trees and singing birds in springtime. Continue sticking right at junctions as you get into an area with many crossing tracks to stay on the outside of the loop.

The road fades to a trail as you continue, faint in places along the meadow. Eventually, you’ll reach a slight hill ascending back to the beginning at Gorkoff Road.