the Kootenays are all about the outdoors, adventuring, and exploring. For most of us locals, places like Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park just call to us.
This one is for all the Kootenay adventurers out there. If you’ve done any previous exploring in the Kootenays, then that’s you.
Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park has more than one great trail. There are amazing places to explore all over the park. It’s a perfect alpine adventure. Can you handle hiking from the Gibson Lake parking lot to the Slocan Chief Cabin? It’s an approximate 20km round-trip hike.
Pack your bag. Let’s get going.
The hike starts off with a steady 4.5km hike from the parking lot to Kokanee Lake. Kokanee Lake is the most known place in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
Kokanee Lake is something else. The glacier water is an amazing blue and it fits so perfectly between the peaks. The trail around Kokanee Lake consists of loose rocks, and is one of the coolest trails you’ll hike on.
Believe it or not, the water looks even more blue in the pictures below.
From Kokanee Lake, it is approximately 3km through the park to Kaslo Lake. The hike from Kokanee Lake to Kaslo lake is nice and flat. From Kaslo Lake, the trail splits off in several directions.
There are even options for overnight camping here. There are several tent pads and cabins.
Kaslo Lake is where all of the trails into Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park meet.
If you intend on going to the Slocan Chief Cabin, you go right if coming from Kokanee Lake. There should be signs to direct you. From Kaslo Lake, it is approximately 2.5km to the Slocan Chief Cabin and the trail is relatively flat.
The Slocan Chief Cabin is the perfect pit stop for lunch on this long day of hiking. At the Gibson Lake parking lot it says the Slocan Chief Cabin is 9.3km away; but, you might find you’ve hiked 10km already.
On the way back, if you have time, check out the overnight cabins by Kaslo Lake. You might meet a few other Kootenay adventurers out exploring.
The views of Kokanee Lake are debatably better when you pass it going back down.
If you only have the time or energy to make it to Kokanee Lake and back, don’t feel disappointed. You will still have completed a solid 9km hike. Plus, almost all the 600m elevation gain is from that first 4.5km to Kokanee Lake.
From Gibson Lake to Kokanee Lake is around 450m elevation gain From Kokanee Lake to Slocan Chief Cabin you gain the remaining 150m.
This hike takes approximately 6 to 7 hours depending on how fast you hike. It is a must-add on the list for any Kootenay adventurer. One of the best Kootenay hikes for sure.
Get out there and check it off your list. You won’t regret it.
Kootenay Hiker 
One thought on “Kokanee Glacier: For all the Kootenay Adventurers out There”