This summer, challenge yourself to experience the Kootenays Rockies in unexpected ways. While the quality of our hiking, mountain biking and golfing experiences is well known, there are countless opportunities to explore our mountain playground. Some of them may even leave you questioning everything you know about adventure travel in the Kootenays!
As you perch 130-metres (426 ft.) above an expansive canyon, engulfed by the Columbia Valley, the epic views from Golden’s newest, must-visit attraction will take your breath away. The Golden Skybridge rewards with views of the Rocky and Purcell mountain ranges like you’ve never seen before, while a crashing river and 61-metres (200 ft.) waterfall thunders below.
The new bridge will also be part of a three-kilometers (about 1.9 mile) nature walk and include viewing platforms so guests can have a 360-degree view of the picturesque landscape. The ends of the trail will be marked by an outdoor courtyard and café to refresh yourself before and after your journey.
Ante up your adventure – take a breath and prepare for the adrenaline-spiking plunge as you free-fall over the canyon edge, take another breath, and the bungee kicks in. Then feel the rush and enjoy the view above and beyond, while soaring across the canyon floor. Or experience ziplining across the canyon – promising a thrilling ride!
The Mountain Coaster at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Do you think roller coasters are just for big cities and amusement parks? Well, head on over to Revelstoke Mountain Resort, where the Pipe Mountain Coaster will make you rethink where roller coasters belong.
Ride by yourself or pair up with a friend in the small bucket seats and grab hold of the brake. Once you set off, you’re in control of the speed, as you careen through the glades, over hills, and into tunnels. Maxing out at 42-km/hr (26-mi/h) with just a seatbelt keeping you secure, the Pipe Mountain Coaster is almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
SUPsquatch on the Elk River with Mountain High Adventures
What do you get when you combine the size of a whitewater raft with the equipment of paddleboarding?
You get the SUPsquatch, an oversized inflatable paddleboard that fits up to 8 people. Head to Mountain High Adventures in Fernie to test your balance with friends and family as the class II rapids attempt to buck you off the board. Then enjoy the vista of the narrow valley on the calmer class I section of the river.
Combine this two-hour tour with a three-hour individual paddleboarding or float trip to make the most of your day in Fernie!
Segway Tours with Scottin’ Kootenay Tours
SegwayX2 devices are a fun, accessible, and user-friendly way to experience the wilderness Radium Hot Springs has to offer.
Their SegwayX2 Tour will take you off the main street. You’ll be guided on this wilderness adventure through lush forests along the Kootenay National Park Border. This is an off-road nature experience that includes beautiful scenery, natural interpretation, and some outstanding photo opportunities.
Via Ferratas at CMH Summer Adventures (Bobbie Burns & Bugaboo Lodges)
Summer trips feature high alpine hiking, glacier viewing, family specific adventures, photography workshops and customized mountaineering packages such as the Mt. Nimbus Via Ferrata (North America’s longest). This trip gives new meaning to a ‘natural high’. You’ll scale Mt. Nimbus, cross a suspension bridge, travel across a series of rock-affixed metal rungs and zipline over a raging river.
Every day begins with a heli-ride and ends at one of two luxury lodges – Bobby Burns and Bugaboos, where the Purcell, Selkirk and Bugaboo ranges offer up 360 degrees of jaw-dropping, scenic beauty.
Know Before You Go – Plan ahead so you can travel safely and responsibly. Familiarize yourself with weather, road conditions, general alerts for travellers and provincial health orders & recommendations.
Related Stories
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~ Adventures for All: Accessible & Adaptive Sports Road Trip
~ A Road Trip of a Lifetime: Kootenay Rockies Hot Springs
~ Beach Vacations in the Kootenay Rockies
~ Best Summit Hikes in the Kootenays
~ Big Adventures in our Mountains
~ Escape to the Mountains
~ Everything is Local
~ Follow the Trail: Kootenay Hiking Adventures
~ Get Informed – Before your Wild Adventure in the Kootenays
~ Guided Paddle Adventures in the Kootenays
~ Hidden Waterfalls in the Kootenays
~ Keeping the Kootenays Natural
~ Multi-Generational Family Hikes in the Kootenays
~ Scaling Kootenay Heights
~ Stewards of the Land: Positive Effects
Top/cover photo by Kari Medig at Tunnel 49, in Fernie (formerly known as Mountain High Adventures).
Words by Mark Locki. Mark is a photographer and writer based in Kimberley, BC. An avid traveller throughout the Kootenays and abroad, he enjoys exploring the natural world, camera in hand, seeking out compelling stories. He’s often found deep in the backcountry, running, climbing or on skis, challenging himself to discover new scenes and viewpoints.
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