As of June 18, 2008:

• There is now full road access to the Kokanee Glacier trailhead at Gibson Lake. Proceed slowly, however, especially with a low clearance vehicle. From the trailhead to the south end of Kokanee Lake, snow coverage is intermittent; for the most part, however, the trail is still covered in snow. Use caution when crossing the outflow at the south end of Kokanee Lake and especially when traversing the slope above Kokanee Lake. There is still 1.4 metres of snow at the cabin.

• The upper 8km of the Kokanee Glacier Road and parking lot remains snow covered, possibly through the month of June.
• Hazards exist while trails remain snow covered, specifically between the Gibson Lake trailhead and the Kokanee cabin on that section above Kokanee Lake where a steep slope must be negotiated.
• Trail Report - Most trails are still in winter conditions and travel in the backcountry should only be undertaken by well-equipped and experienced individuals.
• The Kokanee Glacier Cabin located in the core area of the park is open. This cabin accommodates 12 guests and is booked through the Alpine Club of Canada. reservations for accommodation are required.   Public access to the cabin in the winter is via helicopter.
• Silver Spray and Woodbury Cabins are CLOSED during the winter months
• Motorized access via snowmobile is not permitted. We also discourage access via ski touring due to avalanche terrain that must be crossed.
• Park visitors should be aware that this is a high elevation park and that severe weather events can happen throughout all the seasons. This is particularly the case in late spring and fall.

Special Notes:

• Dogs are not permitted in Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
• The Alpine Club of Canada is now the custodian of the Hut.
• Air access via helicopter and float plane is allowed only into Crazy Jane Lake, which offers excellent fishing. Commercial operators with valid permits are the only proper access into this lake. Low elevation over flights of the park are discouraged to minimize harassment to wildlife and to maintain the wilderness experience for park visitors.  
• Located north of Nelson ruggedly beautiful Kokanee Glacier Park offers excellent backcountry adventure for the whole family. Sitting mostly above 1,800 metres in elevation, the park has glaciers – Kokanee, Caribou, and Woodbury – which feed over 30 lakes and are the headwaters of many creeks. Kokanee Lake is 1,200 metres in length and 400 metres wide; surrounded by precipitous cliffs and rock slides, its an alpine jewel. Other scenic lakes in the park include the gem-coloured Sapphire Lakes, milky Joker Lakes and popular Gibson, Kaslo and Tanal Lakes, which offer good fishing for rainbow and cutthroat trout. With 85 km of well-marked trails, this park is appropriate for campers, hikers and climbers with all levels of outdoor experience.
• User fees pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the facilities. For more information on our user fees, here is our fees page. Please note: Families are two adults and up to three children, 16 and under living in the same house. Children are those 16 and under. For Kokanee Glacier Cabin, there are summer and winter rates (based on per person per night basis). For Woodbury and Silver Spray Cabins, there are summer and winter rates (based on per person per night basis) and, a reservation system is in place as walk-ins are not guaranteed space.

Management Planning:

• Management Planning Information

The Ministry of Environment invites the public to attend an Open House to review the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Draft Management Plan.

Ministry staff will be available to discuss the draft management plan, receive comments and answer questions. Click here for information on dates and locations.

• Draft Management Plan (Feb 2004)
• Approved Management Plan (Dec 1990)

• Location Map

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is located in the Selkirk Mountains, between Slocan and Kootenay Lakes. There are five access roads leading to the start of trails into the central area of the park. These roads may not be suitable for low-clearance vehicles: 

• From Hwy 3A, 19 km northeast of Nelson, drive up Kokanee Creek for 16 km to Gibson Lake.
• From Hwy 31, 10 km north of Ainsworth, drive up Woodbury Creek for 13 km to the trailhead.
• From Hwy 31A, 6 km northwest of Kaslo, drive up Keen Creek for 16.5 km to the trailhead at Desmond Creek.
• From Hwy 6, 14.4 km north of Slocan City, drive up Enterprise Creek for 13 km to the trailhead.
• From Hwy 6, 8 km south of Slocan, drive up Lemon Creek for 16 km to the trailhead.

National Topographic Series Maps 82F/11 and 82F/14, at a scale of 1:50,000, cover the Kokanee Glacier Park area. These maps are available from Government Agents and most map retailers in British Columbia. 

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Park Map (PDF - updated June 2008)
• Brochure (PDF)

• History - Established in 1922, this is one of the oldest parks in the province. Geologically, this area is composed of an immense system of granite rock known as the Nelson batholith. During the earth's cooling process, slower-cooling mineralized solutions was subjected to great pressure that caused them to be pushed into holes and cracks in this granite mass. These became the deposits and finger-like veins, rich in gold and silver ore that caused the local mining boom at the end of the 19th century. Several mines paid quite well but most were worked for only a few years. Many of the park's trails were originally built for miners hauling ore and supplies. Today we can only marvel at the tenacity of those prospectors, who clung to steep rock faces throughout the park while trying to scratch a living from their mining claims.
• Conservation - The parks’ primary roles are to:
  • Represent sub-alpine, alpine landscapes and associated ecological resources of the Selkirk Mountain ranges.
  • Conserve examples of grizzly bear and mountain goat habitat.
  • Maintain the characteristics and qualities of the natural environment and associated features, and
  • Conserve cultural heritage of the early alpine mining history of the West Kootenays.
• Vegetation - Vegetation is typical of this elevation, with exposed bedrock and gravel moraine near the peaks where only lichens and a few other hardy plants survive. Stunted Engelmann spruce and white-bark pine are common at the timberline, with beautiful sub-alpine flower meadows in the wetter areas. The numerous steep slopes and avalanche paths support slide alder and huckleberry. The lower, more protected slopes are forested with Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, hemlock and western red cedar. The few pure stands of subalpine larch are particularly stunning in October when their needles turn golden-yellow in the fading sun.
• Wildlife - Bird species such as the blue grouse and Franklin grouse inhabit the forests, and ptarmigan are often seen in the open areas. Golden eagles are occasionally seen soaring majestically overhead. Small animals such as the hoary marmot, pika, ground squirrels, and marten are common, while larger species such as the mountain goat, mule deer and black bear are present in lesser numbers. The park contains most of the range for several grizzly bears, and further protection of significant grizzly bear habitat was the main reason for the expansion of the park in 1995. Separation of people and grizzlies is an important management objective - for the protection of both parties. To protect these endangered bears, areas such as the Coffee Creek drainage have no development and use is discouraged. Other trails are carefully designed to avoid bear habitat or closed at certain times of the year when bears are known to be feeding on ripe berries nearby.
• General Wildlife, Marine & Outdoor Ethics Information

• Persons visiting Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park are reminded that these parks are wilderness areas without supplies or equipment of any kind. Visitors must equip themselves with strong hiking boots, suitable clothing, a warm sleeping bag, a tent with a waterproof fly, and a Primus-type stove for cooking. 
• Hikers planning to venture off established trails should have good route-finding abilities that include map reading and compass skills. Only experienced mountaineers with ropes, ice axes, and crampons should attempt traverse routes or venture onto glaciers and snowfields. In the event of an emergency, contact the RCMP. Everyone entering wilderness areas should inform a responsible person of their intentions, including an estimated time of return. 

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

	There are no vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	There are 30 wilderness, walk-in campsites in the park, but no facilities are provided. If you require information regarding winter camping, please contact the Alpine Club of Canada to reserve a cabin in the park. Kokanee Glacier, Woodbury and Silver Spray cabins are maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada. The park is open year round. Backcountry Camping Fee: $5.00 per person / night, for all persons 13 years of age or older. Please note there are also summer and winter cabin fees; please contact the Alpine Club of Canada for information.
	There are group campsites at this park.
	This park has a day-use/picnic area.
	There are no wheelchair accessible facilities at this park.
	Bring your own drinking water as potable water is not available in the park.
	This park only has pit toilets - no flush toilets.
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	Campfires are not permitted in this park.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park.
	There are no regularly scheduled interpretive programs at this park.
	Kokanee Glacier Park has 85 km of well-marked hiking trails. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure. During the winter season, all trails are under snow.
	This park does not have a playground.
	No swimming, other than for glacier lakes.
	There are no opportunities for canoeing or kayaking in this park.
	There is a boat launch at Gibson Lake; however, only non-motorized boats are allowed on Gibson Lake.
	Anglers can do very well for themselves in this park, with good-sized cutthroat trout readily rising to the lure. Fishing is popular at Gibson, Kokanee, Kaslo and Tanal Lakes.  Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
	Cycling is not permitted.
	No horseback riding.
	Dogs and other pets are prohibited in Kokanee Glacier Park. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	There are good opportunities for backcountry cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
	No SCUBA diving or snorkelling opportunities.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	No waterskiing opportunities.
	No hunting in the park.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	Kokanee Glacier, Woodbury and Silver Spray Cabins are maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada. For the winter season, the Kokanee Glacier Cabin offers availability through a lottery system - there is no availability for walk-ins. For the summer season, it is recommended that you make reservations for all cabins if you want to be assured of a bed to sleep in. If the public chooses to walk-in and there are beds available, you can register at that time. Information has also been posted in the park and on the cabin. Questions regarding summer cabin rates, winter cabin rates and booking policies may be directed to the Alpine Club of Canada website. User fees are payable to the Alpine Club of Canada.