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Guided hiking & biking in the West Kootenay

Kootenay Backcountry Guides offers ACMG-certified guided hiking, backpacking, and mountain bike tours in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. Explore alpine trails, remote valleys, and hidden lakes around Nelson, Kaslo, and the Selkirk Mountains..




Gwillim Lakes

Summer guided hiking & biking adventures

We are the West Kootenay backcountry guiding and safety experts, helping visitors and locals explore the mountains of British Columbia’s Kootenay region. Based in beautiful Nelson, BC, we spend our time exploring the Valhallas, Purcells, Selkirks, Kokanee Glacier, and Goat Range, bringing you the best hidden trails and alpine experiences.

Our guided adventures are designed to help you make the most of your summer backcountry experience, whether you're looking for backcountry hiking, alpine adventures, or biking routes. We specialize in guided hiking and biking trips across the West Kootenay, giving you access to hidden trails, alpine landscapes, and authentic wilderness experiences.

Planning, logistics and guiding

We help you make the most of you summer backcountry experience, whether you’re seeking backcountry hiking, alpine adventures, or road and gravel biking. We provide guided trips across the West Kootenay, giving you access to hidden trails, alpine landscapes, and authentic wilderness experiences.

We would like to acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of Sinixt, Sinix’t, Syilx, and Ktunaxa peoples. We make this acknowledgment to show our respect for the təmxʷulaʔxʷ (homeland), and Sinixt Nation. We feel privileged and grateful to be here, and we invite those reading this to explore their own relationship to this place.

Why choose the West Kootenay?

The West Kootenay region offers:

  • Untouched alpine trails and remote backcountry terrain
  • Diverse landscapes from Valhallas to the Purcells
  • Authentic wilderness experiences far from crowded places
  • When not in the mountains, stay in Nelson (for the the cultural and the food scene), in Kaslo (for the views), New Denver (for crystal-clear waters of Slocan Lake)
Choose Your Adventure

Choose Your Adventure

Choose Your Adventure

Full-day hike adventures

Nelson, BC is the outdoor hub of the Kootenay. You can access a wide range of amazing alpine hikes within 30min - 1.5h drive. We are nestled between the Selkirk and the Purcells mountains. The hiking season often starts in late June/July, once the snow has melted.

Popular Hiking Areas Near Nelson BC :

ValhallasProvincial Park : Lucifer Peak, Gimli Ridge, MacKean Lake

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park : Key Hole, Kaslo Lake

Purcells Mountains : Macbeth Icefield, Monica Meadow, Jumbo Pass

Nelson area : Ymir Peak, White Queen (Whitewater Mountain Resort)

Goat Range area: Mt Brennan, Mt Jardine, Alps Alturas

Multiday hikes

Whether you prefer camping or staying in an alpine hut, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Some of our favourite multiday hikes in the West Kootenay

  • The Valhallas Traverse (pretty challenging!)
  • The Woodburry Traverse (Kokanee Glacier PP)
  • The Earl Grey Pass (Purcells Mountains)
  • Nelson area : Whitewater to Proctor



What I love most about hiking in the West Kootenays is the true wilderness. Quiet trails, stunning landscapes, and very few crowds. - Aurélie

Guided Gravel & Road Bike Tours

For cyclists and bikepackers, the valleys around Kootenay Lake, Slocan Lake, and Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia offer an extensive network of scenic gravel roads and quiet backcountry routes. These well-connected trails make it easy to explore the region’s stunning wilderness, old growth forrest, alpine lakes, and forested valleys, while many rides naturally end beside a lake, the only right way to finish the day.

Rich in history, culture, and challenging mountain passes, the West Kootenays are ideal for gravel cycling, bikepacking, and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re seeking a single-day ride or a multi-day backcountry tour, the region delivers unforgettable experiences for every cyclist.

We can help you with creating itineraries, guiding the tours, or just looking after the logistics with a support vehicule.

Join our backcountry community!

Get last-minute seats, snowpack updates, community discounts, and first dibs on all our trips