The Kootenay Rockies BC

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Kootenay Rockies BC Backroad Mapbook. As always, we have spent countless hours updating and refining both the maps and the writing. Noticeable changes include the addition of two new maps around Grand Forks and the Lower Arrow Lake as well as a new section on hunting. Much less subtle are the many, many updates provided to the parks, recreation sites and trails. We can not thank the many people who helped us here.

The Kootenays are a beautiful area that is dominated by spectacular mountain peaks and broad valleys in the Southeastern corner of the province. It is a land of big rivers and even bigger lakes. Mountain parks, natural hot springs, world-class snowmobiling, cascading waterfalls, and great fishing are just a few of the highlights of the area.

There are four National Parks in this region: Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier and Revelstoke, and they tend to draw the lion’s share of the visitors to the region. These parks were created around some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country, and frontcountry and backcountry explorers’ alike flock to these parks. Because these parks are so popular and there is just so much to do, we’ve created a separate book dedicated to the Canadian Rockies that showcases the four BC and three Alberta national parks, as well as a number of provincial parks on both sides of the boundary.

Indeed, the provincial parks found in the Kootenays protect areas that are equally as dramatic as the national parks and often a lot less crowded. Some of these parks are designed for the frontcountry camper with ample space for RVs and playgrounds for the kids, while others protect large backcountry areas with few amenities, but nearly endless opportunities for the experienced backcountry traveller to explore.

The main settlements in this region include: Castlegar, Cranbrook, Golden, Nelson, Revelstoke and, of course, Trail. Trail is noteworthy, as is the birthplace of Wesley and Russell Mussio, who created the Backroad Mapbook series. It was this spectacular and special landscape that inspired what are now Canada’s best selling outdoor recreation guidebook series. In addition to these cities, there are a number of smaller settlements as well. However, despite the many towns and cities scattered throughout this area, the Kootenays are sparsely settled when compared to the Lower Mainland and areas in between. This means that there is plenty of space for everybody to play in.

At the heart of the Kootenays is the Kootenay River, which divides the region into two halves: East Kootenay and West Kootenay. While this is not an official boundary, the East Kootenay is roughly points east of Kootenay Lake and the Kootenay River, and West Kootenay is the area west of the same. The area known as East Kootenay contains a broad swath of the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains, and we have changed the title to reflect this.

We are constantly striving to make each edition better and you can help. If you notice any areas where our maps or write-ups are wrong, please let us know. Your continued feedback will help make the next edition even better. Corrections can be emailed to updates@backroadmapbooks.com. We also welcome GPS tracks and waypoints to help us pinpoint the locations of trails and notable recreational features. The Backroad Mapbook is much more than a set of maps. It is an explorer’s guide. The maps and writing will let you dream of places not so far away. So sit back and enjoy what we have to offer.