Hiking Canada’s Silver Basin

Have you ever tried hiking Canada’s Silver Basin? As anyone who’s ever hiked anywhere in Canada can tell you, this country has some of the most picturesque views you’ll find in the world. One of these hikes can be found within Silver Basin.

About two hours outside Radium or Invermere is Bugaboo Provincial Park where you’ll find Silver Basin’s trailhead. Note: getting to the trailhead requires a vehicle with high undercarriage clearance — a 4×4 is a good option. You’ll follow the fire service roads (which double as active logging roads) as they snake through and into the Purcell Mountains. It’s a bumpy ride but it’s well worth it for the scenery you’ll encounter. You’ll know you’re “there” when you reach the makeshift parking lot in a clear-cut space at the end of the road. From here, you’ll see enormous glaciers and rugged, year-round snow-covered peaks.

Your hike begins here at the trailhead. You’ll zigzag up through the clear-cut area and come out into a high meadow straight out of a fairytale. The scene is dotted by wildflowers and has several babbling brooks crossing the endless alpine valley. Continue up through the meadow and you’ll pass by several tarns, letting you know you’re almost to Silver Basin. When you reach the pass, the nearly 3,300-foot vertical spires of granite are suddenly before you and everywhere you look is nothing but glacier. It’s a hike that can’t quite be explained in words or appreciated completely in photos — it’s a real “gotta see it to believe it” kind of hike.

It’s a good idea to plan this hike for when the weather is at its best. Towards the end of summer, the wildflowers are at their peak, such as Indian Paintbrushes. For wildlife, you may come upon a ptarmigan here or there and it’s entirely plausible you might come across a bear. Bear spray is a must on this hike, and it’s a good idea to make a lot of noise along your way. From the trailhead and to the pass and back is about a three-hour hike at a comfortable pace, but longer depending on how many times you stop for the many photo opportunities. Including the drive, plan on at least six to eight hours of your day to experience Silver Basin Pass.

Enjoy the hiking Canada’s Silver Basin!