Kootenay Hot Springs Circle
A loop from Calgary exploring the western slopes of the Rockies, Kootenay Lake, and Revelstoke.
A well-established route for the Kootenay Hot Springs Circle: cross Kootenay National Park to Radium, head south along the Columbia Valley, cross Kootenay Lake to Ainsworth and Nelson, then head north to Kaslo, take the Upper Arrow Lake ferry to Revelstoke, and return via Golden. It has fewer tourists than Banff but features more ferry crossings and mountain roads, making it ideal for second-time visitors.
Ferries operate year-round, but mountain roads and summit highways are best visited in summer.
Day by day
Day 1 · Calgary to Banff
Banff & Lake Louise（Canmore、Banff Upper Hot Springs）
Approx. 130 km via Highway 1, about 1.5 hours driving.
National Parks Pass required.
Stay: Banff Townsite
Day 2 · Kootenay National Park to Radium Hot Springs
Banff & Lake Louise（Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park） → Invermere & Columbia Valley（Paint Pots、Numa Falls、Sinclair Canyon、Radium Hot Springs Pools）
Approx. 140 km via Highway 93, about 1.5 hours net driving time.
Watch out for bighorn sheep on the road in mountainous areas.
Stay: Radium Hot Springs
Day 3 · Lake Windermere to Fairmont Hot Springs
Invermere & Columbia Valley（Downtown Invermere、Lake Windermere、Fairmont Hot Springs Resort）
Head south along Highway 93/95 for approx. 50 km, about 40 minutes.
Stay: Fairmont Hot Springs
Day 4 · South to Ainsworth via Ferry
Nelson & Kootenay Lake（The Glass House (Boswell)、Kootenay Lake Ferry (Balfour–Kootenay Bay)、Ainsworth Hot Springs）
Approx. 370 km via Creston, about 5 hours driving, ferry crossing about 35 minutes.
The ferry is free but runs on a limited schedule; arrive at the terminal before evening.
Stay: Ainsworth Hot Springs
Day 5 · A Day in Historic Nelson
Nelson & Kootenay Lake（Baker Street Heritage District、Touchstones Nelson Museum of Art and History、Lakeside Park & Big Orange Bridge、Nelson Electric Streetcar No. 23）
Ainsworth to Nelson is approx. 45 km, about 45 minutes.
Stay: Downtown Nelson (Baker Street)
Day 6 · Kokanee and Kaslo
Nelson & Kootenay Lake（Kokanee Creek Provincial Park、Kaslo & SS Moyie National Historic Site）
Nelson to Kaslo is approx. 70 km, about 1 hour driving.
Stay: Kaslo
Day 7 · Silver Mine Ghost Town and Upper Arrow Lake
Nelson & Kootenay Lake（Sandon Ghost Town、Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (New Denver)） → Revelstoke（Begbie Falls）
Approx. 200 km, about 3 hours driving, free Upper Arrow Lake ferry about 20 minutes.
After entering BC's West Kootenay region, the time zone is one hour behind Alberta.
Stay: Downtown Revelstoke
Day 8 · Mount Revelstoke Alpine Day
Revelstoke（Meadows in the Sky Parkway, Mount Revelstoke National Park、Giant Cedars Boardwalk、Revelstoke Railway Museum）
Very close from town to the Meadows in the Sky Parkway entrance; the drive up takes about half an hour one way.
The summit parkway is usually fully open only after summer begins.
Stay: Downtown Revelstoke
Day 9 · Rogers Pass to Golden
Golden（Glacier National Park (Rogers Pass)、Golden Skybridge、Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge）
Approx. 150 km via Highway 1, about 1.5 hours net driving time.
Stay: Downtown Golden
Day 10 · Yoho and Return to Calgary
Banff & Lake Louise（Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park、Lake Louise）
Approx. 260 km via Yoho and Lake Louise, about 3 hours driving.
The Lake Louise parking lot is often full; arrive early or use the shuttle service.