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Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

British Columbia

Area G (Forster Creek/Mount Assiniboine)

Simpson River Trail

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

British Columbia

Area G (Forster Creek/Mount Assiniboine)

Simpson River Trail

Hard

hikers

Simpson River Trail

06:09

23.1km

250m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: May 13, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Kootenay National Park

Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.37 km

Simpson River

Highlight • River

The Simpson River is a tributary of the Vermilion River that flows a total of 88 kilometres across Kootenay National Park. The Simpson River was named after Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. While hiking along it on the Simpson River, there are many easy access points to fill up and filter water, but be careful if taking a plunge, as currents can get pretty strong here.

Tip by

3.51 km

Simpson River Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

The Simpson River Trail, along its entire course, stays close and follows the Simpson River. There are some sections of forests here that have been burned by wildfires, but the trail is seriously beautiful. With great lookout points of the river and plenty of healthy forest, this trail is not exceptionally steep; instead, it's a steady, gentle grade up to Surprise Creek Campground, where Simpson River Trail ends and branches into three different new trails.

Tip by

11.5 km

Surprise Creek Campground

Highlight • Camping

Surprise Creek Campground can be accessed on foot by the Simpson River Trail and not by cars, making it a remote camping area. There are no established tent pads, but there are flat clearings that have been used before and a small cabin with firewood outside. There are no fees, and camping here is on a first-come, first-served basis. Staying here makes a great base camp for further exploring, like hiking to Rock Lake or Ferro Pass.

Tip by

23.1 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

22.4 km

691 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

22.4 km

676 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Tuesday 2 June

13°C

3°C

25 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

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This route was planned by komoot.

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