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As residents of the Kootenays, Nelson photographer David Gluns and I live in a hiking paradise. There are peaks galore in three distinct ranges—the Selkirks, Purcells, and Monashees. Mountains rise steeply from Kootenay Lake’s shoreline to the sky, and hikers can opt to explore scenic alpine areas, glaciers, wildflower meadows, forested valleys, and even historical mining sites. Gluns and I have each worn out plenty of hiking boots in the region, so we sat down together to select four distinct day hikes—a primo one for each season. How to decide? First, we nailed down the basic criteria:

• Trails must be accessible without a four-wheel-drive vehicle.


• Hikes should require only average fitness; no gruelling feats of endurance.


• Each route must include a prime highlight available only during that season.

And so, for spring we chose an exhilarating, low-elevation hike along a thundering creek in full flood. For summer—an explosion of alpine wildflowers. Our autumn choice features subalpine larches glowing golden in the sun. And for winter, we propose an easy outing in the snow, above the clouds on safe, rolling terrain.

Read more in the current issue of British Columbia Magazine