Some places grab your soul from the moment you pull off the highway -- Kootenai Falls is exactly…read moreone of them. I rolled through here expecting a nice view, and got full-on nature theatre. The hike isn't brutal -- about half-a-mile from the road to the bridge or viewpoint, with picnic tables and restrooms at the lot. Enough challenge to feel good, not so much that it kills your afternoon. The trail that leads upstream to the main falls is short but dramatic: water rushing over rock terraces, multiple drops, including a 30-foot fall seen from the overlook. Downstream you cross that swinging bridge -- it creaks, it sways above the green Kootenai water, and it gives you a rush just standing there. Accessible but wild feeling: old railroad overpass, rocky descent sections, metal stairs, forest canopy, birds, moss -- all the good stuff. I went there in early summer; the river was high, mist in air, sun breaking through trees. The light hits the falls just right at golden hour -- reflections everywhere, water sparkle, shadows dancing. Ambience is pure Montana: no loud crowds, mostly locals, forest smells, river roar, the rustle of pine needles. Parking isn't fancy, but it's clean; restrooms are basic. Picnic area shaded, with enough space to sit, eat, soak it all in. Final take: 5 stars, no doubt. Probably one of those places I'll revisit again and again just to feel that rushing water, that bridge sway, that "whoa" moment when you turn the corner and see the falls looming. If you're in this part of Montana -- don't pass it by.

Kootenai falls and the suspension bridge are the perfect hike for everyone and I mean everyone!…read moreWhether you are not in the best of shape or you are traveling with kids or you have your dog with you, not only can you do this trail but you will thoroughly enjoy it. This is one of the best experiences I have had during my travels and I recommend it to everyone. We spent hours here enjoying the beauty of nature. The walk is gorgeous, The falls are gorgeous, the suspension bridge is fun and exciting! And when I say anyone can do this, the lady in front of was by herself with two children...she literally had a newborn baby strapped to her and was pushing a stroller for her toddler and they made it over the suspension bridge and all the way back up. The only caveat is that there are some steps which are definitely not dog friendly. They are kind of a twisted metal with spikes that is probably great for traction and melting snow, but would be very difficult on a dog's paw pads, so if you have a dog with you you will have to carry them down some stairs. However, we encountered multiple people with large dogs, so unless that's a problem for you, for some reason you can still do this hike with your large dog. Our dog is small so it was a breeze. Another thing you will see a lot of on this hike is smiling faces. This is a genuinely beautiful place where people are just really happy. I could not recommend this more highly and even if you're not super close, it is worth the drive.

First off: our guides, Cassie and Bri were excellent and kept us safe and secure and also eased…read moreour nerves as we took off on this high flying adventure. This involves no climbing or other physically taxing activity except walking from the van to the zip line start and a small walk from one zip line to the next. Basically, anyone under 265 lbs can do it. There is the option after the first zip line to bow out, if you find you really hate it, so you should definitely at least give it a go. The views are exhilarating and it's wild to go flying across a deep mountian canyon. Again, while it seems scary, it's very safe and very fun. Thanks for the great adventure!

If you've never been on a zip line this is a fantastic one to start with. Great management with…read moreoutstanding service and very safety oriented. Guides were super through the six zip lines making sure you were having fun and safe on the platform. Fantastic scenery as you crisscrossed the valley with views of the creek, lake and mountains.

Apparently this is the quintessential Nelson hike. Nelsonians (is that what you're called, guys?)…read morehike it on the regular and there's a good amount of people on the trail, all of whom are very friendly. There are a few parking spots allocated for the trail, but they fill up quickly, so you'll likely be parking alongside Johnstone Road, which can be a bit tricky. Dogs are allowed on the trail and in true Kootenay hospitality, there are even dozens of hiking poles for you to use and return to the beginning of the trail. The trail itself goes straight up for 1.8 Km each way. If you give yourself a break at the top to enjoy the view (which, why wouldn't you??), the hike takes about 2 hours. I like a big payoff for my hikes in the form of an amazing view and Pulpit definitely delivers one. Pulpit was a really good way for me to get to know Nelson.

Not much in the way of food and lodging but nice camping/beach spot. Water is pretty cold. Nice…read morevolleyball net

Beautiful campground and huge sandy beach. Amazing creek winds through the trees with a wooden…read morefootbridge to cross. One of the biggest campgrounds on Priest Lake. It also fills up fast, so make a reservation.

Wow! What a treat. So accessible and hidden in plain sight. Beautiful boulder waterfalls. Lush…read moregardens. Small bridge over river. Flower beds. Some Japanese items. Saw an American Dipper too!

If you're looking for glacial lakes and alpine vistas, come here. The moderately rated 4 km trail…read morethat starts from Gibson Lake at the parking lot to Kokanee Lake offers some terrific alpine access and will make you feel as though you're stepping onto the edge of Alaska (but a bit more tame). You can continue on to the Glacier via Keyhole Trail (steep) or take a day to round the mountain and camp out. Wildflowers are vibrant in mid to late summer and numerous waterfalls intersect the trail. You might consider carrying bug spray to fend off a few mosquitoes near the lakes, but the views are certainly worth it! Make sure if you are staying overnight that you use the provided chicken wire to surround your car -- the porcupines apparently have a hankering for brake lines. Have never had a problem leaving mine unprotected during the day! Make sure that your car is higher clearance and that the wheels are all ready for adventure! You don't need a 4WD car at all, but you might feel like you wish you had a truck at times (depending on condition). I've driven it in a lower Mazda 3 and almost considered turning around. Definitely worth it, though!

Had a simply splendid experience spelunking with our guide Lee! We tried the Explorer Tour. This…read moretour has a bit of everything! Splashing through glacier fed spring water, short rock climbs, rope assisted climbs (even up a small waterfall!), ladder climbs, tight squeezes, very tight squeezes and tons of amazing calcite formations from stalagmites, stalactites, straw formations, drapery formations, cave pearls.....all very cool. We were the first guests in the cave this year and were even treated to the sight of hibernating Daddy Long Legs Spiders . Highly recommend this caving tour experience.

I had always thought about checking out what the Cody Caves tours were all about. This dated back…read moreto over 20 + years ago when I had lived in Nelson BC for a short period, but never managed to make the time. Well today was the day and boy what a fantastic experience it was! There are a variety of levels for their cave tours depending on what you want to experience and how long you would like to spend in the caves. Reservations must be made ahead of time in order to secure your spots on the tour. Once booked, they will email you information on how to get there along with most everything you will need to know before you go. We chose the family tour which takes you about 300 meters into the cave. This tour is a great introduction to caving for anyone feeling apprehensive or claustrophobic. In terms of attire, definitely bring a change of shoes and socks as you will trek through many wet parts of the cave and past an underground waterfall. Long pants that do not constrict movement and range when your climbing over rock formations is recommended. I had a T-shirt and shorts and was totally fine in the 5 degree temperature. Most may prefer long pants for warmth and additional protection for your legs if you accidentally stumble. In the event you wear shorts, pack bug spray for when you hike to the caves from the park parking lot at the top. The road entrance leading to the caves from the highway is a 10 km-ish dirt forestry road. You do not need a 4x4 or truck to drive it. In fact two people from our tour group drove up in a Mazda 3 front wheel drive vehicle. The initial 2.5 km may appear a bit intimidating at first, but the rest of the route is smooth sailing. You should allow 30 minutes to get yourself from the highway entrance to the Cody Caves Provincial Park parking lot. If you start your trek up about an hour before you tour start time, you will less likely run into traffic flowing the opposite route (from previous tours). Something you will want to avoid as the road is narrow and would require you to back up to an area passable in the road. Once you arrive at the top and meet your guide, they will walk you through your adventure ahead and show you on a map where you will be going. After setting ever one u on with gloves, helmet and head lamp. You begin a short hike (20 minutes or so) up a couple hundred meters to the cave entrance. From that point you will be in for an amazing and memorable adventure! Our guide was fantastic! This was his 7th season as a guide for Cody Caves and he was incredibly knowledgeable and informative throughout the entire tour. The one cool thing that you do not notice is that there is absolutely no light coming in to the caves from outside in only 5 minutes into your trek. It's incredible how much your group's' headlamps fill the caverns during your trek in the caves. Depending on the pace of your tour group, you should allow about 2 hours from your scheduled start tine to return back to your vehicle from the caves (sometimes previous group may be slower return back to the tour cabin too) so allow yourself time if you had any plans following your tour adventure. Cody Cave tours is definitely a must do on your list especially if you plan to pass by Ainsworth. We will definitely return to check out their other style of tours the next time we are back in the Kootenays.