Plaid Lake and Mt Crawford hike

This trail follows a mild route away from the crowds. It’s a family-friendly hike that traverses a panoply of terrain and landscapes: rocks, ridgelines, and forest, while also granting remarkable views of Kootenay Lake.

The well-worn path may be a little rocky with scattered brush at the start, but it is usually easy to walk—outside of snowfall, of course. Take a moment to admire the summer wildflowers as you walk!

Plaid Lake can be seen from Mt Crawford and sits in the lower valley, so even if you lose the trail for a while due to snow, the general direction is easy to navigate.

Some of you may want to scramble atop Mt Crawford. However, this part can be quite steep and dangerous for kids, so try to avoid doing this if you’re hiking with children. It may also be super rainy and windy at the top, but the view of Mount Loki will make the tough climb worth it in the end.

Do note that the meadows and Plaid Lake itself offer pleasant places to camp, although they are not designated campgrounds.