Kootenay National Park lies on the eastern slopes of the Rockies, accessible from Golden via Highway 93 South through the park's western entrance at Radium Hot Springs. The park stretches from alpine tundra at its high passes to the semi-arid ponderosa pine forests around Radium, creating a remarkable range of ecosystems within a relatively compact area.
The Radium Hot Springs pools, at the southern end of the park, are the most popular attraction — the commercial hot spring pools are open year-round and are a good excuse for the drive in their own right. Within the park, the Marble Canyon hike is one of the best short walks in the Rockies, passing through a narrow limestone gorge with vivid blue-green pools. Paint Pots, a short detour off the highway, features ochre-coloured mineral springs used as pigment by indigenous peoples for centuries. Wildlife viewing is excellent — the open terrain along Highway 93 is good for spotting elk, deer, black bears, and the occasional grizzly.