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Scenic Loop drive · British Columbia
Kootenay Rockies Hot Springs Loop
Mountain passes, silver-rush towns and a soak at the end of every day.
Overview
The Kootenays are the part of British Columbia that Rockies visitors keep meaning to reach. This loop threads mountain ranges, two free inland lake ferries and a chain of hot springs — the most restorative drive in the province.
Base the route on Nelson, whose heritage downtown is the best-preserved in the interior, then work north through Kaslo and Ainsworth, west across Upper Arrow Lake, and back through Nakusp and the Slocan Valley. Total distance is roughly 720 km as an estimate; the passes and small-town stops slow the average far below highway speed.
Hot springs punctuate the loop — Ainsworth, Halcyon and Nakusp among them. Opening hours, capacity limits and closures vary by season and operator, so confirm each one the day before rather than arriving on faith.
Distances and driving times on this page are planning estimates measured door to door without stops. Confirm ferry sailings, seasonal road openings, park access, fuel availability and weather with the operator or provincial highway service before you leave.
Loop
≈ 720 km
Estimate
Hot springs
3+
Confirm hours with each operator
Lake ferries
2
Inland ferry schedule applies
Pace
6 days
Passes slow the average
The route
From start to finish
An approximate path through 6 key waypoints along the drive.
Driving times
Leg by leg
261 km across 5 legs. Times exclude stops, ferries, and weather contingencies.
| # | From → To | Distance | Driving time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Nelson → Ainsworth | 47 km | 0h 45m | — |
| 02 | Ainsworth → Kaslo | 20 km | 0h 20m | — |
| 03 | Kaslo → New Denver | 47 km | 0h 50m | Kootenay Pass-style mountain road |
| 04 | New Denver → Nakusp | 47 km | 0h 45m | — |
| 05 | Nakusp → Revelstoke | 100 km | 2h 00m | Includes Upper Arrow lake ferry |
| Total | 261 km | 4h+ | Drive time only |
Day by day
The itinerary
A suggested route designed to balance driving time with the stops that matter.
Nelson
Arrive and walk Baker Street's heritage blocks, then ride the restored streetcar along the lakeshore.
Ainsworth & Kaslo
Follow Kootenay Lake north to the Ainsworth caves-and-springs complex and the SS Moyie sternwheeler at Kaslo.
New Denver & the Slocan Valley
Cross to New Denver, visit the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre, and drive the quiet Slocan Valley.
Nakusp & Upper Arrow Lake
Soak at Nakusp, then take the inland lake ferry across Upper Arrow Lake toward Revelstoke.
Revelstoke
Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in Mount Revelstoke National Park and walk the boardwalk trails.
Return via the Kootenay Lake ferry
Head south through Nakusp and Kaslo, or use the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing to close the loop back to Nelson.
When to drive
Month by month
Best window: June – October. Plan around shoulder months for fewer crowds at the cost of variable weather.
Budget
Three ways to drive it
Smart
$180–$290/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- Lodging
- Campgrounds, motels and small B&Bs
- Food
- Groceries, bakeries and roadside diners
- Experiences
- Self-guided hikes, beaches and viewpoints
Mid
$330–$560/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- Lodging
- Inns, lodges and mid-range hotels
- Food
- Regional restaurants and one standout meal a day
- Experiences
- One guided tour or ticketed attraction most days
Premium
$880+/ day
- Drive days
- 6
- Lodging
- Boutique hotels, resorts and premium lodges
- Food
- Chef-led tasting menus and producer visits
- Experiences
- Private guides, charters and small-group tours
Editorial picks
Where to stop, sleep, and eat
Stop
SS Moyie
Kaslo
The oldest intact passenger sternwheeler of its kind, dry-docked on the lakeshore.
Stop
Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre
New Denver
An essential, sobering stop on Canadian wartime history.
Lodging
Heritage hotels
Nelson
Baker Street puts restaurants and galleries at walking distance.
Signature stops
Don't miss
Nelson's heritage downtown
Ainsworth Hot Springs
SS Moyie at Kaslo
Meadows in the Sky Parkway
Before you go
The prep checklist.
Practical things to lock in before you leave the driveway.
- Check the inland ferry schedule before planning a same-day crossing.
- Confirm hot-spring hours and capacity limits the day before.
- Winter tyres are required on mountain highways in the posted season.
- Wildfire smoke can affect visibility in late summer — check advisories.
Where this road leads
Related destinations
Good to know
Frequently
asked.
Practical answers from travellers who have driven this route.
- Are the lake ferries free?
- BC's inland lake ferries have historically been toll-free and run on a published schedule, but sailings change seasonally and for maintenance — check the current inland ferry schedule before you plan a same-day connection.
- Do I need a mountain-capable vehicle?
- No. Every road on this loop is paved highway. Winter is a different matter: passes require winter tyres in the posted season and conditions change quickly.
- Which hot spring is best for families?
- Ainsworth and Nakusp both have shallow pools and change facilities. Confirm current hours, capacity and any age restrictions with the operator before arriving.
Planning the bigger trip?
Read our full guide to Canadian road-trip itineraries.
Along this route
Parks, camps, and cities on the drive
Every place below is within a comfortable side-trip of the route waypoints — surfaced automatically from our national-park, provincial-park, campground, and city datasets.
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