Hiking & Trails
With Golden’s proximity to Glacier and Yoho National Parks guests also have the option to head into the parks for a day of hiking or walking on many trails of varying difficulty. A Parks Canada Pass is required for guests parking within the Park limits. An informative website for local hiking trails is goldenhikes.ca. There are also several Forest Service Roads (FSR) in the area, that allow explorers access to hiking and walking trails without the additional cost of a pass. Listed below are some of the many places to explore.
Wapta Falls
Wapta Falls is a waterfall located in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest waterfall of the Kicking Horse River, at about 30 metres (98 ft) high and 150 metres (490 ft) wide. Its average flow can reach 254 cubic metres per second (9,000 cu ft/s). The name stems from a Nakoda Indian word meaning "river".
Burgess Shale
The Burgess Shale Formation is a fossil field in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. It is famous for the exceptional preservation of the soft parts of its fossils. At 508 million years (Middle Cambrian) old, it is one of the earliest fossil beds containing soft-part imprints.
Gorman Lake
Access the Gorman Lake trail from the forest service road past the Golden Golf Course just west of the single-lane bridge over the Columbia River. This 3.3 km hike takes you to a beautiful alpine lake in the Dogtooth Range of the Purcell Mountains.
Lake O’Hara
This unparalleled hidden gem is home to exquisite hanging valleys, jewel-blue lakes and breathtaking vistas. An excellent trail network for the region is maintained by the Lake O’Hara Trails Club and Parks Canada. Book early – advanced reservations are required.
Nakimu Caves
The Nakimu Caves are a cave system located in Glacier National Park in British Columbia, Canada. The caves run for six kilometres in the central region of the park. The name means "grumbling spirits" in the Shuswap language. They were formed by the action of Cougar Brook on a soft limestone strata. The access is through Balu Pass.
Dawn Mountain
Located on Hector Trail (turn right before entering the Purcell Woods loop), the cross country ski trails that are cared for by the Golden Nordic Ski Club in the winter are also enjoyed by bikers in the summer.
Golden and Area
Golden has several hiking and walking trails including the Rotary Trail system which meanders through the town proper. There are also several easy to moderate hikes and walks that require a short drive to the trailhead.
Moonraker Trail System
The Moonraker is a great mix of superb single tracks and old roads. The majority of trails are rated Intermediate in difficulty. The upper Network is reached by turning off the Kicking horse trail road 6.5 km from the Columbia River Bridge. To access the lower network, drive south of Golden to Nicholson, turn towards Sander Lake and drive 5.4 km to reach the parking lot at Sander Lake.
tourismgolden.com/pdfs/Map_Moonraker.pdf
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