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Highway 93: Kootenay National Park, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia and Alberta
Photo: Terry Ott · CC BY 2.0

Drives British Columbia The Okanagan, the Kootenays and the BC Interior

Highway 93: Kootenay National Park

Kootenay National Park, British Columbia and Alberta · Radium Hot Springs → Castle Junction

Leisurely64 mi1 hr 25 min5,300 ft climbHigh point ≈ 5,700 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 93 runs north from Radium Hot Springs through Kootenay National Park to Castle Junction in Alberta. It starts in the red rock walls of Sinclair Canyon, goes over Sinclair Pass at 1,486 meters, then follows the Kootenay and Vermilion valleys past Numa Falls.

It ends by crossing the Continental Divide at Vermilion Pass, 1,640 meters, and entering Alberta before the Trans-Canada interchange at Castle Junction. The curves are gentle.

Along the way

  1. Radium Hot Springs
  2. Sinclair Canyon
  3. Numa Falls
  4. Castle Junction
Elevation
5,300 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 5,700 ft
Radium Hot SpringsCastle Junction
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
Radium Hot SpringsCastle Junction
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop anywhere in Kootenay National Park; driving straight through does not require one.
  • Roadwork with single-lane alternating traffic has been posted near Radium; check DriveBC.
  • Check DriveBC for current conditions.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check DriveBC.

Questions about this drive

Do you need a park pass to drive Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park?

You need a Parks Canada pass to stop in the park, but not if you drive through without stopping.

How long does Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park take?

Highway 93 from Radium Hot Springs to Castle Junction is 64 miles and takes about 1 hr 25 min.

How high is Vermilion Pass?

Vermilion Pass on Highway 93 is 1,640 meters and sits on the Continental Divide.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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More drives near here

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

Map of Highway 93: Kootenay National Park, from Radium Hot Springs to Castle Junction