Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa

Here’s another great place to hike and to cross country ski (for free) if you’re in Kimberley. It’s just a short drive to Bootleg Gap Golf. You can explore this area from Bootleg Gap itself or from a little further outside Marysville. If you keep going past Bootleg Gap’s entrance you’ll see a pull-in on your right. These trails are accessible from this pull in. You’ll cross the rails to trails paved path. Keep going and walk through the meadow to reach the top of the hoodoos, with views of the St Mary’s River, Bootleg Gap, and of course, the hoodoos themselves.

If you have vertigo don’t get too close!

If you are coming to Kimberley in November, don’t despair, there’s still lots of outdoor fun to be had. If it hasn’t yet snowed enough to enjoy the Nordic Trails (which it has by the way)… then there are countless trails and areas of outstanding natural beauty to explore – like Long Pine Hill, as seen from the highway. The views of the Rockies are awesome!

You can see right the way across to “the Steeples”. No excuses, get out and enjoy the area around Kimberley!

This was the first time I had visited the little lodge at Lakit Lookout. We met lots of day hikers coming down as we hiked up. It’s understandable why, at less than a one hour drive and a 90 minute hike at my snail’s pace! It’s so easy from Kimberley to be on top of the world in the Rockies in no time – and without any complicated equipment… ok maybe a vehicle with four wheel drive for the Forest Service Road. Once you’re at the top the views are amazing. There were six of us in total cooking dinner at the lodge and sleeping over on the floor! There’s a stove and lots of chairs in the lodge but only one “bed” of sorts. It definitely makes you appreciate Mountain Spirit’s home comforts on return! The next day, the sunrise was spectacular and the hike down was great, an amazing start to your day in the Kootenay Rockies.