A Week-long Road Trip in B.C.’s Kootenays
Originally posted by EnRoute Magazine on May 31, 2018
Towering peaks, scenic valleys and quaint towns make British Columbia’s southeastern Kootenay region a destination worth exploring. Here’s how to spend a week seeking adventure – with plenty of downtime too.
Day 3 – Golden
10 a.m. – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - Get bear aware
Drive two hours from Revelstoke, via the town of Golden, and check into Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, known in winter for its steeps and powder and in summer for its famous resident, Boo the grizzly bear. Once an orphaned cub, Boo now reigns over his own 20-acre enclosed refuge. Interpretive tours explain how he’s helped researchers better understand these giant mammals.
2 p.m. - Reach new heights
Italian for iron road, a via ferrata is a mountain-climbing route created with steps and handholds – and the essential safety cable – built right into the rock, making steep rock faces accessible even to beginners (though a basic level of fitness is ideal). At Kicking Horse, a guide will accompany you every step of the way and even take that perfect summit photo.
5 p.m. - Live the chalet life
Sleep on-resort tonight in a private home or condo rented through Lush Mountain Accommodations. The selection runs the gamut from cozy to grandiose. Pick one with its own hot tub or sauna to really soak in the mountain experience.