Ripple Ridge

Driving directions

From Creston, drive west on Highway 3 (Creston/Salmo Highway) up to Kootenay Pass.  Park in the large parking lot on your right and head across the highway to the decommissioned forest service road.

Lightning Strike

Hike approximately 2 km, just past the boulder road barricade/ Park boundary, take the right hand trail signed as “Ripple Ridge Trail”.  Enjoy the many wild flowers in the appropriate season such as bear grass, paintbrush, yarrow, bluebells and many others as you make your way along the forested trail.  The well-defined trail continues gaining elevation as Lightning Strike Ridge to the west comes into view.  The trail breaks out of the trees approximately 600 meters from the trailhead transitioning to more open views as you pass large boulders and ghostly grey dead trees.  A view of the Creston/Salmo highway appears as you continue up the trail.  At km 1.4 the trail becomes hard to see as it heads off across a large flat rock slab.  There may be small rock cairns to guide your way but with a little imagination while heading south it can be picked up again.  Pass through a large split boulder and you can see your destination.  Continue along the sparsely treed ridge to the lookout area.  On a clear day the peaks in Idaho are plainly visible.  180 degrees from that are the near mountain ridges with telecommunication towers and further in the distance are the high peaks of the Selkirks (Columbia Mountains).