Nipika Mountain Resort is located at 9200 Settlers Road, 14km off Highway 93 between Radium Hot Springs, BC and Banff, AB. It is in British Columbia, bordering Kootenay National Park.

Approximate drive times:

• Radium Hot Springs, BC – 35 minutes
• Invermere, BC – 45 minutes
• Banff, AB – 1.5 hours
• Calgary, AB – 3 hours
• Golden, BC – 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Cranbrook, BC – 2 hours

Please be aware that Settlers Road is a gravel road with mine and logging trucks. Drive with caution.

Also note that as an eco resort running on solar power, we do not have on‑site electric vehicle charging capability. The nearest charging stations are located in Radium Hot Springs.

You’ve booked a beautiful cabin at Nipika Mountain Resort but have no idea what to pack! Hopefully this post will help you out.

Each cabin has a bathroom, full kitchen, wood-burning stove, BBQ, beautiful porch, and different sleeping layout. There are no TVs, and wifi is limited.

Sleep

All bedding and linens are included. The beds have crisp sheets and warm linens. Extra bedding for pullout couches are stored in the cabins that require it.

Kitchen

Plates, cups, glasses, bowls, cutlery, pots and pans, French press, and Kicking Horse Coffee are stocked in the kitchens. We have ovens, stoves, and BBQs for cooking. All you need is food and beverages.

The nearest grocery store is in Radium Hot Springs, a 35-minute drive away. Larger stores are in Invermere, 45-minutes away.

Since Nipika is an eco-resort and runs on solar power, we do not have plug-in appliances like blenders, toasters, coffee makers, waffle makers, kettles, etc. We ask that you do not bring them as they require too much power. We have French presses in each cabin for making coffee.

Water

The water from our taps is fresh, cold, clean, and safe to drink! It is some of the best tasting water you can find, so there is no need to bring bottled water.

Bathrooms

Each cabin has their own bathroom with bath and/or shower. There is Rocky Mountain Soap Co. shampoo, conditioner, and soap. We ask that guests do not use hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners that plug in as it is a huge demand on our solar power system. Towels are provided.

Fireplaces

There are beautiful wood-burning fireplaces in each cabin to help keep it warm in the cooler months. We supply wood, kindling, and axes at each cabin. Not sure how to start a fire in one? Ask our on-site host and they’ll be happy to help!

Pets

We are a pet-friendly resort! If you bring your furry friend, please also bring them a bed and any blankets they use, food, and bowls. We ask that you refrain from letting them on the bedding and furniture; please use their beds and/or lay blankets on the couches if they’re used to using them!

Firepits

We have three firepits place around the meadow—one by the pond, one at the top, and one near the Day Lodge. There are wood and axes at each one. S’mores are never a bad idea so consider bringing marshmallows, cookies, and chocolate!

Equipment for fun

There are no trail fees for cabin guests and we have many options for recreation in every season along with rentals for some of the activities!

Bring it

The cabins are almost fully-equipped for what you’ll need during your stay. Bring food, beverages, sporting equipment, books, and games. We hope your stay is adventurous, relaxing, or a combination of the two! Still not sure what to pack? Contact us and we can help out!

Summer at Nipika Mountain Resort is spectacular. And there are so many activities to partake in—it can be hard to choose what to do!

Day use guests are welcome to enjoy the trails and activities, along with cabin guests. So keep reading for some activity ideas during a summer trip to Nipika.

Nipika Mountain Resort manages the Cross River Canyon Recreation Site, spanning nearly 1,500 acres, with scenic mountain and river views.

Mountain biking

The trails are geared to mountain bikers of all abilities with steep, rooty hills for advanced riders, flowy singletrack for intermediate, and double track for beginners.

We also have approximately 10km of adaptive trails for aMTB.

If you are a beginner mountain biker or looking to improve your skills riding a trail network, we offer lessons most day of the week throughout summer.

Trail running

Endless trails and breathtaking views- what more could a runner want?! Check out the Kootenay Krusher loop on the south network, or meander your way along the clifftops on Chamois Whammy on the north network.

Check out our rust buster Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run on the last weekend of May with distances from 2.5km – 25km.

Hiking

There are plenty of options for day hikes on the Nipika / Cross River Canyon Rec Site trails, with spectacular lookouts and mountain and river views.

We are happy to offer a guided Day Hike on these trails if you aren’t comfortable going alone or want to hear more about the land and the animals. We also offer a Guided Alpine Hike where we take you up into the alpine on stunning trails in the backcountry.

Disc golf

The Yearling Creek Disc Golf Course is 18-holes with tight-wooded fairways and beautiful views. It is approximately 4.5km long and meanders through the forest.

Cabin guests

There are a few more amenities for cabin guests including the pond to swim, a sauna to relax, and lawn games for the meadow.

So come out for a day or for a cabin stay and check out the spectacular trails and activities at Nipika Mountain Resort!

Nipika is an eco resort. But what does that mean? Here are some of the ways we practice sustainability and authentically operate in harmony with nature.

Solar power

At the top of the meadow are large solar panels. They harness up to 15 kilowatts of solar energy. Updated Schneider inverters, charge controllers, and lithium batteries hold the intake of the clean energy, which then goes to the cabins as regular household current/power.

When the first cabin was built in 1997 (the Rocky Mountain,) a solar electrical power system was put in. It was upgraded with more capacity in 2000, 2001, 2016, and again in 2021.

We do not have on-site EV charging, as our system does not have the capacity. The nearest charging stations are in Radium Hot Springs, approximately 35 minutes away.

Wood heating 

Each cabin has wood-burning stoves to keep guests warm in the cooler months. But how else is heat provided? A wood boiler heats water tanks and floors in the cabins and Day Lodge. Wood fuel is carbon neutral, making it an energy efficient and eco-friendly way to heat.

Natural toiletries

Nipika offers natural hygiene products from Rocky Mountain Soap Co., a Canmore-based company who makes toxin-free products, handmade in small batches with natural, simple ingredients. The products are in pump bottles, which saves partially used product from being wasted and eliminates the use of tiny bottles. We refill them with product from large containers we keep onsite. If you’ve ever wondered what smells so good in the Day Lodge or cabins, it’s the lemongrass scent in the Rocky Mountain Soap!

Recycling

We have a large recycling centre at Nipika (by the check-in cabin) and ask guests to recycle everything possible: plastic, glass, cardboard, and beverage bottles. Our staff then take it to a local recycling depot.

Furniture and cabins

Nipika’s cabins and warming huts are built from salvaged wood from our sustainable wood lot. Most of the furniture was also built on-site with this milled wood.

Carpool

Our staff meets at our Invermere office and carpools the ~50km to and from work daily, keeping multiple vehicles off the roads.

Encourage being in nature

The Wilson’s vision for Nipika was always a wilderness resort with a focus on self-propelled activities. Once guests arrive at Nipika, vehicles stay parked for the most part. People ski, fat bike, snowshoe, hike, bike, trail run, and relax with the beautiful natural views. It’s a pedestrian resort with minimal footprint on the environment.

Long-standing commitment

Nipika has always been at the forefront of green tourism and continues to evolve and grow as need and new technology arise.

Biophere certified

Nipika Mountain Resort became a Biosphere Certified destination, legitimizing our dedication to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

If you’re looking for a vacation destination where you can take your furry friend, Nipika Mountain Resort is the place! It has been referred to as a pet resort that is human-friendly, with dogs allowed in the cabin accommodations, Day Lodge, and on all trails (off-leash if under control.)

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, 35 minutes from Radium Hot Springs, BC, the resort boasts breathtaking views, unmatched wilderness, and miles of trails to play on.

Here’s why we think Nipika Mountain Resort is pawsitively paradise.

Pet-friendly accommodations

All nine of Nipika’s beautiful log cabins are pet-friendly with plenty of space for your pet to rest after a big day of adventure. Comfortable in all seasons, pets especially love curling up in front of the fireplace after a winter’s day!

The cabins are set in a large meadow with ample space for your four-legged friend to explore.

Trail adventures

Nipika manages the Cross River Canyon Recreation Site with over 50km of trails right from the cabin doors. In summer it’s a biking and hiking paradise, and in winter a wonderland for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking. Pets are allowed on all trails and off-leash if they are under control. You’ll never see them so tired after a day of play!

Explore more

With the Kootenay and Cross Rivers along the trail network, pooches can cool off and splash around mid-adventure. Take them along on the Yearling Creek Disc Golf course, with approximately 4.5km of walking through the forest. The meadow is always a highlight as it is perfect for a game of fetch or simply basking in the sun.

Not just for dogs

Have a larger animal in mind? We have a horse corral on site and offer Board n Bale holidays for horse owners looking for a spectacular riding getaway.

In the 1950s, guide outfitters owned the land that is now Nipika and used it as a base camp for hunts. A vast network of horse trails still exists in the area, carved out by the guides.

Pet etiquette

• Please keep your pet on a leash if they are aggressive or don’t have good recall.
• Be aware of wildlife, and know what to do if you encounter any on the trails.
• Clean up after your pet in the meadow and when you’re on the trails.
• If visiting in winter, please keep them out of the ski tracks.
• If staying in a cabin, feed them indoors and keep their food inside as it can attract animals.

Fees

Pets are an extra $15/night and $25/night for horses. Please let us know when booking.

Unleash the fun

We truly believe pets are part of the family and have a handful of Nipika dogs who live their best life coming to ‘work’ every day.

Book a stay and bring your pet for an un-fur-gettable holiday with tail-wagging memories.

Fat biking

Fat biking pros and beginners alike will love riding at Nipika with over 30km of fat-bike only trails. They are groomed into smooth corduroy using a sled with groomer, so they are wider than most allowing for a flowy ride! Like the ski trails, the south network is geared towards beginners and the forested north trails include rollers with mountain, river, and canyon views.

Cross country skiing

Best known for our large, expertly groomed trail network, there are approximately 50km for you to explore. The trails are groomed for both skate and classic skiing and offer river, forest, and mountain views.

The south trails are mostly flat with some rolling hills, looping around giant meadows above the Kootenay River. The north trails include steep and rolling hills with plenty of viewpoints to stop and catch your breath. There are three warming huts throughout the network that are perfect to warm up on a chilly day or enjoy a snack break.

Skating

BYOS- bring your own skates to partake in a true Canadian experience! The summer pond turns into the perfect place for a game of shinny or a little skate. With beautiful mountain views and floodlights for the dark, it’s a perfect activity no matter the time of day.

Snowshoeing

Winding along the clifftops and the riverside, the snowshoe trails are perfect for those who want to take in the views at a slower pace. Families and photographers rejoice!

Sledding

Hit up Mt. Sledmore on your way back to the meadow or stroll a couple hundred metres to our epic taboggan hill. There are always sleds waiting at the top for those brave enough to try!

Cozy up

Three outdoor firepits, placed around the meadow, are the perfect apres-ski location. Don’t forget your marshmallows to roast or hot chocolate to sip on a perfect cozy evening.

Opened in late 2023, the Dr. James Thorsell Memorial Library is housed upstairs in the Day Lodge. It is full of hundreds of books focussing on worldwide conservation and nature. Find a book and sit back and relax on one of the reading chairs or couches.

Rentals

Don’t have the equipment? Don’t worry! Nipika has a rental shop in the Day Lodge with cross country skis, boots, and poles for classic and skate skiing; fat bikes and helmets for adults and youth; and snowshoes for all ages.

Ski school

Nipika also offers a ski school, directed by Lyle Wilson who coached Canada’s Olympic cross-country ski teams in two Olympics. Lessons in classic and skate technique are offered most days of winter, for beginners just learning to intermediate skiers looking to progress.

Stay and/or play

Check availability to book a cabin. Or, check out accommodators in Radium Hot Springs, a 35-minute drive away from Nipika Mountain Resort. We welcome day-use guests in every season.

Always pet-friendly

The resort, trails, and cabins are all pet-friendly. Dogs are allowed on all the trails, off leash if under control.

Hope to see you this winter season!

Nipika has a colourful past, and the history of this place predates written history. The Ktunaxa people occupied this region for thousands of years, travelling the great Kootenay River hunting and fishing.

The Yearling Years

The land title was created after World War I and trapper Bill Yearling got the title of this Rocky Mountain wilderness from Her Majesty the Queen. Yearling Creek, which flows through the meadow, is named after Bill Yearling.

He spent five years in the Kootenay Mountains, trapping and hunting. The original Bill Yearling cabin still stands in its restored state as a guest cabin. If only walls could talk!

The Richter Years

Frank Richter, a German immigrant, bought the land from Yearling and homesteaded with his wife Helen for the next 32 years. There were no roads so they used a horse trail to a cable crossing the Kootenay River that got them to their home. The horse trail eventually became known as Settler’s Road, our access road.

In 1934, with the completion of the Windermere Hwy, the B.C. government created a Wildlife Reserve in the entire upper Kootenay River valley. This stopped further homesteading, and the region still exists under the same piece of legislation.

Frank and Helen raised a family on the homestead and the historic pictures in the cabins are from the Richter family photo albums. Frank worked as a hunting guide for Elkhorn Ranch, a guest ranch/guiding outfit near Lake Windermere.

In the mid 1930s a larger cabin was constructed just east of the Yearling Cabin. It lasted until the mid 1960s when a drunken cook managed to burn it to the ground. Fortunately, he was found passed out in the grass just outside the front door.

The Guide Years

In the late 1950s, Dix Anderson and a group of guide outfitters bought the Richter homestead for use as a base camp for hunts up the Kootenay, Cross, Mitchell and Palliser River drainages.

There still exists a vast network of horse trails throughout the region carved out by Dix Anderson, Buster Tegart and other guide/outfitters. Anderson wrote a colourful book of his adventures in the Kootenay Mountains called “Trails I Have Traveled.”

In the 1960s, road access was gained to the east side of the Kootenay for logging, and valuable minerals were found up the Mitchell River near Magnesite Creek. To this day, mining and logging are the main traffic on Settler’s Road. Anderson retired from the strenuous life of big game guide.

He sold the land to a Vancouver based real estate investor, Frank Relling, who held it for a few years until 1979 when Lyle Wilson wandered into Radium Hot Springs looking for a remote piece of land to create his Rocky Mountain Wilderness Resort.