Kootenay National Park Visitor Centre

Overview

If you’re rolling into Radium before heading up Highway 93, this is the smartest first stop. The Visitor Centre shares a building with Tourism Radium at 7556 Main Street East and reliably runs 9 am–5 pm daily. Parks Canada staff are on site in the main season (May to mid‑October); Tourism Radium covers the counter year‑round, so you’ll still get solid local intel in winter.

What You’ll Find

• Helpful trip-planning advice and current park information from staff at the desk.
• Modern indoor washrooms (a welcome change from the outhouses you’ll encounter at most day‑use areas in the park).

Planning Essentials

• Hours: Daily 9 am–5 pm; closed December 25–26 and January 1.
• Seasonal staffing: Parks Canada present May to mid‑October; Tourism Radium year‑round.
• No cell or Wi‑Fi service inside the park—sort your downloads and questions here before you drive in. Four roadside emergency phones connect to Parks Canada Dispatch at Marble Canyon Day‑use Area, Simpson River Trailhead, Kootenay Crossing Operations Centre, and Kootenay River Day‑use Area.
• Basic services aren’t inside the park. You’ll find gas, groceries, and more in nearby communities: the Village of Radium Hot Springs (by the park’s southwest entrance), Invermere (17 km south of Radium), and Banff (41 km from the northeast entrance).

Need‑to‑Know Rules and Alerts

• All waterbodies in Kootenay and Yoho are closed to all watercraft and angling until March 31, 2026 to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
• Recreational drones are prohibited within park boundaries and can result in fines.

Why Stop Here

It’s a quick efficiency boost for your trip: get the latest trail conditions and bulletins, ask a human, and use real bathrooms before you lose cell service. For first‑timers and winter visitors especially, this stop can save you time and hassle.

Best Time to Visit

• Swing by early in the day before entering the park—staff can steer you to open day‑use areas and current trail options.
• For detailed Parks Canada guidance, plan your visit between May and mid‑October when their staff are on site.
• In winter, it’s still worth a stop for up‑to‑date road advice for Highway 93 South and to confirm which facilities are plowed or open after storms.