Hiking Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park with Kids

Are you thinking about taking your family hiking Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, but not sure if the kids will be able to tough it out? 

Marble Canyon, BC, is one of the prettiest hikes our family has taken since we started exploring the Canadian Rockies. In fact, we’ve now done it multiple times! And for good reason. 

The history is incredible, the views are amazing, and the length of the hike makes it a great option for the entire family. 

So, today, we’re going to tell you what to expect from the Marble Canyon trail, how to get there, and a bit about how the canyon was formed. 

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What Is the Marble Canyon Trail?

The Marble Canyon trailhead is a 0.9-mile-long stretch of trail just outside of Lake Louise in British Columbia, Canada. Marble Canyon is in Kootenay National Park, but it’s an easy drive from Banff.

This hike is accessible year-round and an excellent family adventure with little kids because the trail is never too steep, and there are tons of guard rails for safety. 

Dogs can be taken on the Marble Canyon trail, but they must be kept on a leash the whole time. 

This is a great hike and has been my favorite hike so far with the kids if you’re looking for an addition to your 52 hike challenge. Don’t get me wrong, there are PLENTY of great hikes in both Alberta and British Columbia, but this has been our best experience. 

That’s because it’s so easy to take the kids there and spend a few hours walking around nature without feeling rushed or like you’ve missed out on some things.

Where is Marble Canyon Hike

Is Marble Canyon in British Columbia, or is Marble Canyon in Alberta?

There is a Marble Canyon (and a Marble Canyon Provincial Park) close to Kamloops, but in this post, we’ve talked about Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park, at the border of Banff National Park in Alberta.

How to Get to Marble Canyon Trail

To get to the Marble Canyon trail, you’ll take the Trans-Canadian Highway 1 (going either east or west, depending on your starting point). 

Then take exit 50 to follow Highway 93 south through Kootenay National Park. This road starts in Alberta, so the highway is AB-93. Eventually, you cross into British Columbia, and it becomes BC-93, but it’s still the same road. 

Either way, you’ll follow AB/BC-93 for 10-15 minutes until you see the sign for the Marble Canyon hike.

There’s also a Marble Canyon campground where you can stay, but honestly, the hike is probably too short to stay multiple nights. You’d be better off staying in Banff for the weekend and making the small trip here. 

You can also easily do the Marble Canyon hike on your way to Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs.

Marble Canyon Trail: What to Expect

As you’re leaving the parking lot, the Marble Canyon trailhead is easy to find. If you’re facing the parking lot, it’s over to your right, and there are a few restrooms you can take advantage of before starting out. 

From there, the Marble Canyon trail is completely well-marked and runs on both sides of the canyon for the majority of the time. If you want to cross sides, they have sturdy bridges that you can cross to get an insider’s look (literally) at the canyon. 

While the bridge is totally sturdy and well-maintained, I won’t lie: I got a little nervous with the kids on it. I imagine most parents feel this way watching their kids peak over a handrail 60+ feet above the ground–even knowing it’s 100% safe. 

If you’re someone who gets nervous by heights, though, prepare yourself to walk in the center of the bridge. 

You’ll also notice that a lot of the trees are charred and black and resemble Cormac McCarthy’s novel, “The Road.” This is the result of a huge fire in 2003 that burned down 170 square kilometers of the park. 

But don’t let that description fool you. The Marble Canyon trail offers some of the best views with the most turquoise water I’ve ever seen.

At the end of the hike is a viewpoint where you can see the waterfall drop down into the canyon as it rushes beneath where you just came from. 

Hiking Marble Canyon in the Winter

Marble Canyon, BC, is a year-round hiking trail, but it offers something really special in the wintertime. It’s one of the best winter hikes in the Rockies for families.

In the winter, you might even see ice climbers on the frozen canyon walls.  And if you go in the winter, your kids will love getting pushed in the powdery snow! So don’t forget to give them solid winter gear to keep them dry and warm!

When hiking the Marble Canyon in winter with little kids, be really cautious since the distance between the bridge and the top of the railing is deduced. Keep a good eye on your children and enjoy the hike.

Bundle up and enjoy the Marble Canyon hike in the winter wonderland!!

»» Get your tickets to the Banff: Marble Canyon Snowshoeing in Kootenay National Park

What Makes Marble Canyon Hike Perfect for Kids?

I love this hike for the entire family so much that going once in the summer wasn’t enough. I ended up dragging my family back out there again in the winter. 

And when it was covered in snow, it was like seeing the views again for the first time. On both occasions, our children (aged 2 and 4 at the time) had an absolute blast. 

They were able to walk alone for the majority of the hike, which made them feel like one of the “grown-ups.” And since the Marble Canyon hiking trail is so well maintained, it was perfectly safe for them to walk on their own. And whenever the little one got tired, we put him into our favorite hiking carrier.

But then we got to use the opportunity to talk about history and some biology. It was an excellent way to kick off conversations that they might not fully understand now but would spark their curiosity for the future. 

Questions like, “What are fossils” or “How do you think these canyons were formed” led to some fun discussions with our 4-year-old (the 2-year-old wasn’t quite ready yet). 

Overall, the hike took about an hour and a half, though we certainly took our time. Then we packed a lunch and enjoyed it in the parking lot, though we could’ve snuck off the trail somewhere to sit down and eat. 

Now that I’m writing this, I’m not exactly sure why we didn’t. 

»» Read this Hiking with Toddlers: 17 Tips For a Happy Family-Friendly Hike

Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park History

What is the History of Marble Canyon, Canada?

Marble Canyon provides some pretty incredible views of nature and would be worth going just for that. But what’s really neat about this hike is the history. 

Did you know that Marble Canyon has been around for over 500,000,000 years (yes, that’s the correct amount of zeros!)? That is remarkable when considering that, at the time, it was a tropical sea and would be unrecognizable from what it is today.

The small animals that lived there died out and, eventually, dropped their shells on the bottom of the seafloor. Over millions of years, those shells created the limestone and dolomite rocks that you’ll see today. 

Back in 2012, researchers actually found fossils of over 50 animal species, many of which dated over 500 million years old. 

So as you’re walking through the canyons with your kids, be sure to ask how long they think “500 million years is.

” This unfathomable amount of time is all beneath your feet as you traverse this mile-long hike. 

How Did Marble Canyon Get Formed? 

Now, as a quick heads up, I’m not a historian or a geologist. So please don’t misread the following as an ‘experts guide to the history of Marble Canyon.’ But some basic preliminary research reveals some pretty cool things about how this canyon came into existence. 

For a more detailed account of how Marble Canyon was created, check out this historical description. Otherwise, here are the cliff notes:

• Over millions of years, the tropical seafloor that used to be there was pushed to the surface and created the modern-day Rocky Mountains we see and love today
• As the surface worked its way up, the earth and rocked “cracked,” creating faults that carved out Marble Canyon.
• Two giant glaciers (each at 1 kilometer in thickness) met and worked their way through the faults. 
• The rushing water began chipping away at the canyon walls and formed the gorgeous Marble Canyon we can hike today.

Again, that was a recap of 500 million years in just four bullet points. In other words, that’s about the quickest explanation of how Marble Canyon got formed, but it’s far from thorough. 

A few things to know before hiking with kids in Marble Canyon Kootenay National Park

Here are a few things to know when hiking with kids in Marble Canyon Kootenay National Park

🥾 Pack the right gear.

When hiking in Marble Canyon, always bring a day hiking pack back with a bottle of water, snacks, hiking poles, good hiking shoes, and sun protection.

🩹 Don’t forget a First Aid Kit.

Take a hiking first aid kit with you when hiking with toddlers. Make sure it is well-stocked, especially with bite/sting cream and band-aid – you never know when unsteady little legs might take a tumble. Keep your hiking first aid kit somewhere accessible.

📱 Download a few apps to help you plan your hiking day.

AllTrails is our app to look at trails report and see if the trail is kid-friendly. You’ll also find recent information about the status of the trail. The GoWhee app also has some great recommendations for kid-friendly hiking trails.

🎒 Bring a Quality Baby/Hiking Carrier.

A good baby/hiking carrier is a must when hiking with toddlers. There’s nothing worse than getting midway through a trail only for your little one to decide they aren’t taking another step.

There are so many great hiking back to carry your toddler. We loved our Ergobaby carrier and our Tula carrier. We’ve never been big fans of the big hiking carriers, but some families love the Osprey hiking backpack and the Deuter hiking backpack.

F.A.Q Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park History

Final Thoughts: Hiking Marble Canyon in Kootenay National Park with kids

Marble Canyon, BC, is a great trail. It’s a wonderful weekend gateway for families traveling from Vancouver but also a great option if you’re staying in Banff or near Lake Louise.

Marble Canyon trail is amazing both in the summer and the wintertime.

At any rate, that’s it! We hope you found this article on Marble Canyon helpful and informative.

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• Hiking with Toddlers: 17 Tips For a Happy Family Friendly Hike
• What’s the Best Time to Visit Banff to Avoid the Crowds (When and What to Do)
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Emilie Brillon

Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She's based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.

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