25 minutes northeast of Nelson, Kokanee Creek Park is a rich ecosystem packed with attractions and activities for locals and visitors. From its pristine beaches and old growth forests to its diverse wildlife and recreational opportunities, this park is a true natural oasis.
A multitude of creatures, both big and small, call Kokanee Creek Park home. The park’s diverse habitats support a variety of wildlife, with mammals, birds, and fish that thrive in the forests and wetlands of the park. Visitors often spot deer, beavers, birds, and butterflies, while near the park’s waterways you’ll find all sorts of life both in the water and on the shores.
Beyond its ecological significance, Kokanee Creek Park is also a treasured gathering place for the community. The park offers activities for all ages, including swimming, hiking, biking, and fishing. Families can enjoy the playground and picnic areas, while nature enthusiasts can explore the park’s trails and observe the fascinating process of kokanee salmon returning to spawn.
Kokanee Creek Park Features
Experience Kokanee Creek Park your way! Whether you like to explore nature by boat, bike, or foot, there’s something neat to see here all year long.
Beaches
Kokanee Creek Park has two beaches separated by the park’s namesake – Kokanee Creek.
The main beach is called Sandspit, and extends for over a kilometre of white sand from Kokanee Creek North to Kokanee Marina. It’s easily accessible from the campgrounds, day use area, and the boat launch. With plenty of parking and the majority of the park’s facilities nearby, you’ll find this popular beach humming with activity all summer long!
The west most side of the beach is called Redfish, and is more private. You’ll need to walk here from the Osprey Point campground area, which has day use parking and a convenient drop off turnaround near the beach. The beach is a bit rocky here, but it’s also less windy compared to Sandpoint. Both are beautiful spots to spend an afternoon in the sun!
Kayak & Paddle Board Rentals
Sandspit has a kiosk right by the main beach access where you can rent small watercraft such as paddle boards and kayaks. It’s a fun and convenient way to enjoy the lake, although if you’re paddle boarding for any serious distance we’d recommend doing so in the morning to avoid the westerly wind that tends to kick up in the afternoons here.
Other Facilities
In addition to the aforementioned watercraft rental kiosk, Kokanee Creek Park has a few other amenities to enhance your visit. The park provides fully plumbed washrooms, including showers, for your convenience. These are closed for an hour in the early afternoon, but there are other facilities available in the campground areas and in the visitor centre.
For those who like to cook, the park features built-in BBQ kiosks located near the picnic tables. These kiosks are equipped with grills, so you can cook up a hot meal using briquettes or a small wood fire. It’s a fun way to spice up a casual picnic or plan a full-fledged barbecue at the beach.
Dog Beaches
Kokanee Creek Park offers two designated dog beaches, allowing pet owners to enjoy the park’s natural beauty while keeping their furry friends happy and safe.
The first dog beach is located on the west end of Sandspit, extending from the boat launch up to Kokanee Marina. This beach has plenty of space for dogs to run, play, and swim in the water, and is easily accessible by car.
The second dog beach is at the easternmost part of Redfish, near the Osprey Point campground. Dogs are permitted on this section of beach up until the high water mark transitions from sand to marshland. This area offers a more secluded and peaceful environment for dogs to enjoy. The beach itself is a mix of coarse sand and gravel, but is a pretty spot nonetheless! If you’re camping on the Redfish side of the park, this is a very convenient option – a few minutes walk from the campsites.
It’s important to note that dogs are not permitted in the creek delta or on the main beach, both on and off-leash. This restriction is in place to protect wildlife and ensure the safety and comfort of park visitors. There are park rangers who patrol these areas from time to time to ensure compliance. For questions, or to report off-leash pets, contact the park office at 250-825-0117.
Kids Playgrounds (x2)
Kokanee Creek Park has two great playgrounds, with fun to be had for children of all ages. The main playground is centrally located near the heart of the park, just inland from Sandspit. This playground features a variety of structures, including slides, swings, monkey bars, and other classic playground staples, and has been a hit with kids for decades.
For those seeking a more modern and adventurous playground experience, the second playground is borders Sandspit and the Friends Campground and Day Use Area. This playground features a striking geometric climbing structure, as well as a few other playground staples. Its proximity to Sandspit and the campground makes it a convenient option for older kids who might like to use it in between visits to the picnic tables and the beach.
Nature Sanctuary & Ecological Centre
Kokanee’s ecosystem is full of life, especially due to its role as a salmon spawning habitat. The ecological centre is a valuable resource within Kokanee Creek Park, dedicated to environmental education and the preservation of the park’s unique ecosystems. Located near the Kokanee spawning channel, the centre offers a variety of programs and exhibits that cater to both children and adults.
Explore interactive exhibits showcasing the diverse plant life and creatures of the area, learn from knowledgeable biologists on guided nature walks and birdwatching tours, and participate in hands-on activities and crafts designed to engage young minds. Visitors will find lifelike taxidermies of the wildlife that lives in the Kootenays, as well as interpretive programs throughout the summer months including Jerry the Ranger, Kokanee Nature Investigators, Naturalist Programs and the Redfish Festival.
The centre also features a seasonal coffee bar where you can grab a hot cup of coffee or tea, a nature store where you can purchase nature-inspired gifts, and the opportunity to observe the fascinating process of kokanee salmon spawning in the nearby channel.
Camping
Kokanee Creek Provincial Park has four main campgrounds. They’re all nice, but offer slightly different experiences.
Sandspit Campground
- Location: Borders on the beach, offering stunning views of the lake.
- Amenities: Tent (single & double), camper, and pull-through sites, picnic tables, fire pits, and access to watercraft rentals. Closest to main playground, grassland trail, dark woods trail.
- Best for: Those with kids, with other camping parties, looking for easy beach access while still camping under the towering mature forest
Redfish Campground
- Location: Set back from the beach, offering a quieter and more secluded atmosphere right in the forest.
- Amenities: Tent and camper sites, picnic tables, fire pits, and easy access to tons of hiking trails. Covered picnic shelter area.
- Best for: Those who prefer a more peaceful camping experience with easy access to nature.
Friends Campground and Day Use Area
- Location: Near the eastern end of the park, bordered by trees, but with significantly more open areas.
- Amenities: Electric and non-electric sites, picnic tables, fire pits, and easy access to the beach, the second adventure playground, water craft rentals, and boat launch.
- Best for: Families and groups seeking a variety of activities and amenities.
Group Campground
- Location: Located in a secluded area of the park, offering privacy and a peaceful setting ideal for louder large gatherings.
- Amenities: Large campsites, picnic tables, fire pits, access to trails. Fields for games and larger activities, cookouts etc. Quick access to Redfish beach.
- Best for: Groups, families, or organizations seeking a private and spacious camping experience.
Waterfall Hike & Walking Trails
With 257 hectares of park land, it’s no surprise that there’s a network of interconnected trails to check out. They’re all relatively easy, with little to no altitude gain, and all appropriate for children. Here are some of the more significant ones.
Canyon Lookout Trail (2.5km)
The main trail at Kokanee, this short 2.5 km hike terminates at a scenic lookout platform that offers the best view of the Kokanee Creek Canyon and its accompanying waterfall. It’s a little over a kilometre each way, so you’ll be done this one in a half hour, even if you’re not a fast walker.
Historic Busk Estate Site Trail (1km)
Before it was donated to the province for use as a park, the land was part of the Busk Estate. You can still visit the historic Busk Estate site via this short trail, where you can explore the ruins of the old homestead and imagine the area’s history.
Woodland Loop Trail (1km)
This loop trail winds through a forested area across, offering a peaceful and serene experience with soft pine needles underfoot.
Grassland Trail (0.5km)
This short trail leads through a grassland area in the Kokanee delta, providing a glimpse of the park’s wetlands and the many kinds of wildlife within. You’ll likely see several varieties of birds here, walk alongside a beaver dam, and spot small woodland creatures hunting and foraging for food.
Thicket Trail/Darkwoods Trail (1km)
These trails lead into one another surrounding the spawning channel, visitor centre, and the boardwalk viewing platform. It winds through a thicket of trees and shrubs, and has a convenient spot for a picnic at the covered Holt Shelter, just across the creek.
Wildlife & Spawning Channel
Kokanee Creek Park is a haven for all sorts of wildlife, with a diverse range of habitats that support species of mammals, birds, butterflies and fish.
Coyotes, beavers, white-tailed deer, and mule deer roam the park’s forests and meadows, while an estimated 160 species of birds call the area home. Keep an eye out for the tiny Rufous Hummingbird and the majestic Great Blue Heron, as well as year-round residents like Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and Dippers. The park is also a haven for butterflies, with up to 46 species found in the area.
One of the most significant features of Kokanee Creek Park is the man-made and natural spawning channel for Kokanee Salmon, which have been landlocked in the area since the last glacial age.
This channel plays a crucial role in the preservation of this unique fish species, and pours into Kootenay Lake in the park. A wetlands ecosystem has formed here in the delta that is home to beavers, ferrets, and other small creatures, as well as predators that feed off of them, such as the black bears that frequent the riverbanks during spawning season,
Other Activities & Amenities Around Kokanee Creek Park
If you’re camping at Kokanee, or are looking for something to extend your visit to the park, there’s plenty of things to do on the North Shore!
Kokanee Old Growth Trail
Just a few minutes up Kokanee Glacier Road lies one of the most unique hiking trails in the area – Kokanee Old Growth Trail! It’s a 2.5km loop that winds under towering cedars, over log bridges, and through mossy glades. It might be short, but this is a special one. Some of these cedars are estimated to be over 800 years old!
Along the trail, you’ll find interpretive signs that provide information about the history of the area, the significance of old-growth forests, and the unique characteristics of the cedar trees. The trail is relatively easy to follow, and it’s a great option for families and individuals of all ages.
Kokanee Glacier
The hike to Kokanee Glacier is a more serious hike for those looking for an outdoor adventure that will last the day. The trail starts at Gibson Lake and takes approximately 2-3 hours to reach the glacier. Along the way, you’ll pass through alpine meadows, encounter waterfalls, and marvel at the unique terrain that’s only found near glaciers like this.
Ainsworth Hot Springs
One of the best afternoon getaways in the Nelson area is a trip to Kokanee Creek Park, followed by a relaxing soak at Ainsworth Hot Springs. You’re already half way there, so you may as well take a swim suit and visit the hot springs while you’re in the neighbourhood!
Explore Kaslo
Make a day of it and stop by Kaslo afterwards for dinner, drinks, and a show! Kaslo is a wonderful community, just 15 minutes past Ainsworth, and has some really exceptional activities, restaurants, and shops to explore. They’re also home to some wonderful festivals throughout the year, including May Days, Jazz Fest, and Mushroom Fest!
If you’re looking for a place to start, here’s our suggestion for a day trip itinerary for visiting Kaslo, covering our favourite spots to eat and things to do!
Kokanee Creek Park is one of the Kootenay’s greatest outdoor destinations! Looking for more? You can explore other parks in the Kootenays here, or for more activities on Nelson’s North Shore, check out this article!
