Snowshoeing at Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park

by Karen Ung October 23, 2020

Marble Canyon’s bridges and turquoise waters make it a popular snowshoe trail in Kootenay National Park.

Snow is falling when we arrive at Marble Canyon, making the already pretty scene a winter wonderland. We follow the well-marked trail past a turquoise pool, then climb a hill. From the top, the trail is pretty flat, but offers views into the gorge. Formed over thousands of years by erosion, the limestone and dolomite canyon is 40 metres deep. Signs along the interpretive trail describe how the canyon formed. Criss-crossed by several bridges, the canyon makes a fun, short stop en route to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort or Radium.

marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park-rsz-1 — Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park

marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park-rsz-2 — Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park

Table of Contents

Marble Canyon at a Glance

Distance: 1.6 km return
Elevation Gain: 20 metres
Difficulty: easy
Geocaching? Yes
Stroller friendly? No (there are stairs)
Nearest washrooms: Pit toilets at trailhead

marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park-rsz-4 — Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park

marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park-rsz-5 — Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park

Know Before You Go

A Parks Canada Discovery Pass / daily admission fee is required to stop in Kootenay National Park.
Stay on the trail to stay safe, and keep children and pets close. Although there is a railing along the trail, the canyon is very deep, so a fall could be fatal (and the railing doesn’t offer much protection when there are a few feet of snow).
Snowshoes or microspikes are recommended for this trail in winter conditions.
You are in bear country. Review our Bear Safety Tips and keep bear spray accessible. We have seen grizzly bears in the mountains in late January and early March!
Dogs must be kept on a leash.

What to Bring

helly-hansen-motionista-lifaloft-jacket — **Helly Hansen Motionista Lifaloft Jacket**

black-diamond-mercury-mitt — **Helly Hansen Motionista Lifaloft Jacket**

Disclosure: This section includes affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small family business!

Base layers, insulated winter boots, a down jacket and windproof/waterproof shell (or insulated ski jacket/parka), gloves or mittens, and a toque are must-haves. See our fall/winter hiking gear guide for product recommendations.

For winter hiking, we recommend traction devices such as Kahtoola Microspikes (Available from Amazon and MEC), or Hillsound Trail Crampons (Available at Amazon and Sport Chek) and trekking poles with snow baskets.

You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, extra food, extra clothes, a headlamp, a GPS/satellite communicator (or compass) and map of the area, sunscreen (this one is safe for babies), and bear spray. Carry bear spray in a Frontiersman Bear Spray Holster (attaches to your backpack or belt) or Scat Belt.

For snowshoeing, see our Snowshoeing Gear List.

Getting Here

Marble Canyon is 2 hours from Calgary / 40 minutes from Banff; 17 kilometres south of Castle Junction on Highway 93 South. It’s a good hike to do en route to Radium or Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

snowshoeing-marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park-pinterest-pin — Pin me!

Karen Ung

Karen is a lover of maps, mountains, and mochas. She started Play Outside Guide in 2013 to provide "Everything you need to know to get outside and have fun!" Find her on the trails or road tripping around Southern Alberta.

2 comments

I k o October 27, 2020 - 2:30 AM

this will be a very exciting holiday with the family at the end of the year.

thank you for sharing a fun holiday reference like this, hopefully the more references you share

Karen October 28, 2020 - 1:37 AM

I hope you enjoy the trail! Are you heading to the hot springs this winter?

Comments are closed.

Hi, I'm Karen! I was born in the boonies (where the wild things are) and grew up granola. My parents took me on my first backpacking trip at 6 weeks old, and I never stopped playing outside! After getting a Geography degree, and leading hikes and backpacking trips in the Canadian Rockies (as a volunteer), I started the blog as an outdoor adventure and road trip resource. Since 2013, I have shared many gems and outdoor attractions on the blog, as well as on CBC Radio and Global Calgary. I am passionate about responsible use of the parks and outdoor safety, and hope you will check out my posts on bear / avalanche / hiking safety before you head out. See you on the trails!