Kokanee Glacier Park
North of Nelson, BC
250-837-5734 | Website | Email
Located in the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains, Kokanee Glacier Park, a mountain wilderness of 32,035 hectares, offers visitors much in the way of outdoor recreation, from hiking to overnight camping.
Category:
Recreation Location
Where:
| Neighbourhood | | Vancouver |
Profile Last Updated: May 15, 2009
The Kokanee Glacier
The Kokanee Glacier is one of three glaciers that can be found in the park, and is responsible for feeding over 30 small lakes, as well as forming the headwaters for most of the park’s waterways. The area is composed of an immense system of granite rock, known as the Nelson Batholith, and was a busy place in the late 1800s when deposits of gold and silver were discovered in holes and cracks in the rock. In fact, many of the park’s trails that exist today were built for miners hauling ore and supplies, and there are still historical cabins and interesting old mine sites for you to look at.
Take a Hike
Unsurprisingly, the terrain is very rugged. You may remember from your school days the fact that glaciers have a habit of sculpting and carving mountains into jagged peaks as well as forming deep, spacious valleys in between. Such natural architecture, despite being so rugged, makes for some amazing scenery and will either have you looking up in wonder at a towering peak, or out across the mountain tops, as far as the eye can see. Trails within the park - there are more than 85km of them - range from easy to difficult, with most falling into the moderate range, and with 30 camping areas throughout the park, as well as three cabins, there are plenty of places to spend the night.
Mountain Life
During the summer, the alpine slopes are home to a wide variety of wildlife. If you’re lucky, or unlucky depending on the circumstances, you might see mountain goats, deer, black bears and grizzlies. However, more frequently observed are smaller mammals, like the hoary marmot, and if you keep an eye out, you may witness a harp-shinned hawk or a golden eagle soaring overhead.
The Kokanee Glacier is one of three glaciers that can be found in the park, and is responsible for feeding over 30 small lakes, as well as forming the headwaters for most of the park’s waterways. The area is composed of an immense system of granite rock, known as the Nelson Batholith, and was a busy place in the late 1800s when deposits of gold and silver were discovered in holes and cracks in the rock. In fact, many of the park’s trails that exist today were built for miners hauling ore and supplies, and there are still historical cabins and interesting old mine sites for you to look at.
Take a Hike
Unsurprisingly, the terrain is very rugged. You may remember from your school days the fact that glaciers have a habit of sculpting and carving mountains into jagged peaks as well as forming deep, spacious valleys in between. Such natural architecture, despite being so rugged, makes for some amazing scenery and will either have you looking up in wonder at a towering peak, or out across the mountain tops, as far as the eye can see. Trails within the park - there are more than 85km of them - range from easy to difficult, with most falling into the moderate range, and with 30 camping areas throughout the park, as well as three cabins, there are plenty of places to spend the night.
Mountain Life
During the summer, the alpine slopes are home to a wide variety of wildlife. If you’re lucky, or unlucky depending on the circumstances, you might see mountain goats, deer, black bears and grizzlies. However, more frequently observed are smaller mammals, like the hoary marmot, and if you keep an eye out, you may witness a harp-shinned hawk or a golden eagle soaring overhead.
