Hiking Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park

I often camp at Redstreak Campground in Radium and always wanted to do a hike while driving through Kootenay National Parks in British Columbia.

Stanley Glacier was my number one choice mainly because the trail conveniently starts right off highway 93.

This hike takes around 4 hours to complete and offers a lot of stunning views including a glacier, waterfalls, caves, and alpine meadows.

How Hard is Stanley Glacier Hike?

This hike is rated as moderate with a length of around 11 km and an elevation gain of ~550 m.

The trail is pretty easy until the final loop around the glacier where you have to walk on loose rocks.

Many people stop before this section because you get a lot of awesome views even if you don’t go all the way.

So don’t let the final scree section prevent you from doing this hike.

You can always stop if you don’t feel comfortable finishing the hike.

How to Get to Stanley Glacier Trailhead?

Stanley Glacier is located around 170 km from Calgary which is a little over 1.5-hour drive.

The trail starts right from the parking area off Highway 93 on your left side if you are traveling towards Radium.

It is about 14 km from the intersection of Highway 93 and Trans-Canada.

This is a pretty popular hike and it is better to start it early to avoid the crowds.

Keep in mind that you will need a national park pass to visit Kootenay.

Hiking Stanley Glacier

After you park at Stanley Glacier trailhead area, you will cross the bridge across the river.

From there you will walk through the young pine forest.

There was a wildfire about 15 years ago and now the area has a young forest with alpine flowers and some berry bushes.

This attracts bears so carrying a bear spray is a must.

The trail is in pretty good condition and well-marked.

As you leave this young forest the trail will become rockier and that’s where you will get all the views.

One of them will be a gorgeous waterfall on your right.

Many people stop at the flat area before the scree begins.

However, if it is not your first hike, it might be worth going further.

From that point, it is basically a loop trail that goes around Stanley Glacier.

It is steep and rocky so it might be worth bringing hiking poles.

Even though I saw some people with dogs on this hike, the final section might be a little too much for your pet.

As you go higher up the scree you will see a few cool caves and another waterfall.

Depending on your comfort level and skills you can come pretty close to the glacier and take a few awesome photos.

However, keep in mind that ice is unpredictable so stay safe.

From the top, you also get a stunning view of the valley and there is a good picnic spot just before you start going back down.

The area by the glacier is cold and you will likely encounter quite a bit of snow no matter when you go so dress appropriately.

I would also recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots because there are a lot of small streams around the top.

The road down is steep scree again and it is easy to lose your footing if you don’t pay attention.

Finding Fossils around Stanley Glacier

After I completed my hike, I found out that there are some fossils around Stanley Glacier that you can see.

There is also a guided tour offered by Parks Canada if you are interested in learning more about the fossils in the area.

Interestingly there is a similar area in Yoho National Park around Emerald Lake where you can see fossils but only guided tours are allowed there while at Stanley Glacier you can explore fossils yourself.

Obviously, you are not allowed to keep any of the fossils that you find.

Conclusion

Overall this an awesome hike that has a lot to offer if you are in the area.

It is good for both beginners and experienced hikers.

There is a campground at Marble Canyon which is located nearby if you want to spend a day or two in the area.

Stay safe and remember that you are in a bear country so come prepared with bear spray and hike in groups.

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