The Kaslo River Trail winds along the north and south shores of the Kaslo River, connected by two bright red, enchanting covered bridges, to make it a family-friendly 3.6 km loop. About halfway, you’ll find magical “Koots” sculptures playing hide-and-seek among the moss-covered boulders and quiet forest. The sound of the river, the playfulness of the sculptures and the deep calm of the wise forest set the scene for a fairy tale hike in the West Kootenays.
Here’s why the Kaslo River Trail is great for families:
- The hike is easy and over mostly flat terrain
- The loop is about 3.4 km, the perfect distance for active kids.
- Going through the covered bridges is fun!
- The Hide and Seek art installation brings a whimsical surprise to the adventure
- Families with bikes can hit the Kaslo River Family Bike Park on the northside trail.
Indigenous history and placenames
Kaslo, BC, is located in the traditional and unceded territory of the Ktunaxa, Sinixt and Syilx Nations. The Ktunaxa (k’too-nah-ha) have lived along Kootenay Lake for over 10,000 years. Learn more about the Indigenous history and culture in the Kootenay Lake region.
According to this resource, Kaslo might be derived from the Ktunaxa word kala, which refers to the black hawthorn. This plant is edible and used for medicinal purposes, and the thorns can be used for fish hooks, ear piercing and more.
Kaslo River Trail – Getting to the trailhead
The Kaslo River Trail is part of an extensive trail network with many access points, but if you’re doing this small 3.6 km loop, the best place to start is at the Unity Bridge. It is a short walk from downtown, located at the end of 5th Street, with a small parking lot and a map kiosk.
Directions to the Kaslo River Trail.
Clockwise loop, staring on the south bank
You can hike the loop in either direction. We chose to cross the Unity Bridge and start the hike along the south bank.
This side is a little more challenging than the north bank (which features a wide, nearly accessible trail) as the trail weaves through the forest and between boulders along the beautiful Kaslo River. There are several opportunities to take in the views of the river, forest and Purcell Mountains in the distance.
You’ll come to a trail that juts out to your left, with a sign for a lookout. Take it! This short detour is worth the views.
Before you get to the second bridge to cross over to the north side of the river, you’ll meet some kooky characters hiding between (and inside) boulders. One is even sticking its tongue out at you!
Hide and Seek: Sculptures on the Kaslo River Trail
Right before you start dipping down to cross the Trailblazer Bridge to the north bank, you’ll run into some whimsical stone creatures playing hide and seek. There are seven fairy-tale friends made of stone, so make sure you find them all.
Called the “Koots”, these mythical creatures are here thanks to the Koots Art Collective. They’re large sculptures, but are childlike and your children will have discovering and playing with them in the woods.
Kaslo River Trail along the north bank
Shortly after your visit with the Koots, you’ll see a sign indicating a sharp right turn, leaving the main trail and leading you to the Trailblazer Bridge. Take a few minutes to enjoy the views from this bridge. There are small but mighty cascades upstream, and on a clear day, you can catch some beautiful mountain views.
The trail along the north bank is wide and has a stroller and wheelchair-accessible stretch. If you need an accessible trail, you could do an in-and-out walk along this section from the trailhead.
Kaslo Family Mountain Bike Park
This fairly new, kid-friendly mountain bike park is accessible along the north bank trail and isn’t far from the trailhead. It features beginner-friendly single-track trails, small jumps and berms, downhills and rollers. You can walk through it on your Kaslo River Hike, or if you’re a biking family, park at the Unity Bridge parking lot and bike into it! It’s a great park for young riders to develop mountain bike skills.
Back at the Unity Bridge Trailhead
After the bike park, you’ll pop out on Higashi Way. Follow the river for a block two through the neighbourhood, and you’ll find yourself back at the parking lot near the Unity Bridge.
