Top 10 Kid Friendly Hikes Near Castlegar, BC

 I've chosen these hikes for their accessibility, shorter duration, kid favourites and my ability to hike the whole trail with a baby on my back! Each trail has a brief description and directions to help you choose your next adventure. Walking with kids is my favourite thing to do, I hope to inspire you to get out there, and hike with your children too.

Want to get even more out of your adventures? See our top West Kootenay hiking book recommendations HERE

1. Mel DeAnna

Located just outside Castlegar, BC, this hike is very accessible by parking at the first rest stop leaving Castlegar, going towards Salmo. The rest stop itself is a great place for a snack as the view of the entire valley is breathtaking. The hike is about 6.5 km and starts with a 1 km walk through the forest until you reach Champion ponds where the trail begins to circle the water. This is a good shoulder season hike and is enjoyed as a snowshoe area too.

2. Nancy Greene

Nancy Greene is a refreshing 5km loop around Nancy Greene lake. Just outside Castlegar, BC, it features campsites, a picnic area, toilets and plenty of recreational options. Because the area is considered sub-alpine there are unique flora to be found here. Be aware of grizzly bear warnings for the month of May. If you're lucky, you may find a striking variety of purple mushroom! Drive 26km west of Castlegar, where this roadside park is located at the junction of highway 3 and 3B.

3. Glade Waterfalls 

 What a fantastic reward for only a short hike. The littlest of your littles can enjoy this hike too. At barely 1.5km round trip, you will enjoy a gorgeous waterfall. Be warned it can get a little slippery, we like to go in August, when the water flow has mellowed and getting close is more enjoyable. Take the Glade ferry, turn right onto the main road running parallel the river, go all the way to the end of the paved road. Park here, or keep driving over the bridge and hang a left at the little green trans Canada trail sign. You will see signs of parking spots, choose one. Walk the rest of the way up, you will hear the water ahead and will leave the road to your left and onto a foot path, just before it sharply turns back up the mountain.

4. Syringa Park

This park features a lot of hiking options, from a beach stroll to dry pine hike. The main trail system is located above Syringa Provincial Park which offers over 6km of mature treed forest trails. There are three trailheads to choose from - East, Deer Park Road and West. Starting from the middle trailhead, Deer Park Road, you will hike up to the main system and either choose turning left for the Yellow Pine trail, or right, for the Syringa trail. Signage is clear. Afterwards, head down to the beach for a swim and a picnic. Heading out of Castlegar on the Castlgar-Robson bridge, turn left onto Broadwater road for 16km, stop just before the parks main entrance, on Deer Park Road.

5. Dove Hill

Dove Hill is a local favourite and a bit of a sweat, with a spectacular view. The hike is open to the sky for half your walk, while the rest is forested. At 4.2 km in length, with 163 m elevation it took us about 2 hours with 3 small children. Park just outside and to the left of the Castlegar golf course gates . You will see a trail head sign. Alternatively, you can drive down the dirt road, through the forest, to park right at the base of the trail.

6. Merry Creek

Merry Creek is a 5 km network of densely forested trails perfect for a hot days hike. The trailhead map shows three trail options with one allowing for a beautiful view. We were amazed by the diversity of fungus in this area! Head west on highway 3 towards Grand Forks, keep an eye out for the Merry Creek Forest Service Road located on your right 2-3 km out of town. The trailhead is clear, approximately 2 km along the road.

7. Pass Creek

Pass Creek trail is found within the beautiful Pass Creek Regional Park & Campground. There are picnic tables and a playground for day use. The hike is a short loop starting at the far end of the camping area and circling back to the main entrance. The creek offers a great place to explore and cool off. It is located across from Castlegar on Parkside Rd.

8. Zuckerberg Island

This historic island makes a good afternoon getaway right in the middle of Castlegar. Walking there via suspension bridge is half the fun! There are trails around the island perimeter and also across the centre, which will lead you to the Russian Orthodox Chapel House built in the 1930's by Alexander Zuckerberg. Outside the house there are beautiful gardens, perfect for a picnic, while inside is a museum. The perimeter trail is a lovely hike close to the water where you can enjoy a walk through the labyrinth or go for a swim. Access to the island is at 9th street & 7th Avenue.

9. Millennium Park Walkway

While not technically a hike in the purest sense, I want to include this option because it is such an amazing park which can turn into quite a good walk or bike ride. Millennium Park is a 23 hectare area near downtown Castlegar with a network of paved trails good for walking or bicycling. It is an expansive park with manicured, river fed swimming ponds, foot paths to private swimming areas along the river, soccer fields, playground, exercise equipment, a piano, bike park, dog park, concession and community gardens. It is never crowded and always beautiful. The address is 100 5th street.

10. Selkirk College 

This large, 15 km trail network features interpretive walks which highlight the cultural and natural history of the area along with the confluence of two great Kootenay and Columbia rivers. To access the trailheads you may park at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre, the MIR Centre for Peace or several other marked places on the Selkirk College campus. The trails are maintained by the Recreation, Fish & Wildlife students and are home to several rare species. Access begins directly across the highway from the Castlegar airport and continues down the road until at the main campus building and the MIR centre. There are options for both hiking or bicycling.

We've put together a list of our most useful and loved hiking & nature books HERE. We have found these books to be ultra valuable in helping to add depth, fun, richness and learning to our outdoor pursuits.