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Our drive down the Windermere Highway was part of a larger trip to Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada and to Glacier National Park in Montana, USA.
Before driving the Windermere Highway, we had spent the night at the Wabasso Campground near the northern end of the Icefields Parkway. We wanted to break up the 452 mile (726 km) drive from the Wabasso Campground in Jasper National Park to Glacier National Park by staying overnight at a developed RV park in Radium Hot Springs, BC. This was around the halfway point of our trip and would allow us to do laundry and shop for groceries.
Make sure to check out our Banff National Park guide.
But first, we wanted to take in some sights in Kootenay National Park and the Windermere Highway.
We left out from Wabasso Campground early, and after exploring Horseshoe Lake and Beauty Creek / Stanley Falls, we headed south to the Windermere Highway (Hwy 95) and made the following stops.
Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park
Marble Canyon lies about 30 minutes (26 miles / 42 km) south of the town of Lake Louise on the Windermere Highway. The easy hike here (.9 mile, 1.5 km) crosses a breathtaking canyon formed by the Tokumm Creek via a series of bridges.
This is a fun stop with plentiful photo opportunities. Look for the iconic red Adirondack chairs just off the trail. We had read about “red chairs” at stops along the Icefields Parkway. At Marble Canyon, we were able to sit in some, rest a few minutes and take pics.
Numa Falls, Kootenay National Park
Numa Falls, only 4.5 miles (7 km) south from Marble Canyon in British Columbia, features a gorgeous 40-meter waterfall set in a lush forest and surrounded by majestic mountains. The hike to see the falls is only .4 miles on an easy out-and-back trail, making this an easy stop in Kootenay National Park.
Overnight Stay at Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia
We used the town of Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia as a stopover so that we could do laundry and regroup before traveling south to Glacier National Park. Most commercial RV parks along the Windermere Highway were fully booked by the time we decided to make a reservation. However, we were able to reserve a spot at The Canyon RV Resort in Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia.
The Canyon RV Resort is right in the town of Radium Hot Springs, and walking distance to the well-stocked grocery store, Mountain Market, restaurants and bars.
The beautiful campground is set in a grassy lawn on a creek with bountiful flowers. The office staff were efficient and checked us in quickly. Sites are level and spacious.
We quickly started our laundry and then headed to the spacious showers. After using the tiny RV shower for several days, it was great to take a real shower. The facilities were clean; each shower stall has a separate changing area with hooks and a bench.
The laundry room has enough washers and dryers to accommodate the campground, and they are quick and efficient. The office gladly made change for the machines.
Tip:
A stay at a developed, commercial campground can be a welcome stay in the middle of a long-ish trip. While not desirable every day because we prefer scenic places, a commercial campground allows you to do laundry. If you can do laundry half-way through your trip, you don’t need to pack nearly as many clothes. Between the three of us, we had two loads.
Since the RV park and the laundry facility seemed perfectly safe, we left the washers running while we showered and then “babysat” the super-efficient dryers. See this Tips page for more travel management and efficiency ideas.
Dining in Radium Hot Springs
We ate dinner at Back Country Jacks, where portions from the meat-focused menu were large and okay. Afterwards, we treated ourselves to great ice cream and had a fun experience across the street at the vintage-music themed Screamers Ice Cream Cafe.
Make sure to check out our Banff National Park guide and Glacier National Park guide.
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