Invermere on the Lake
Invermere on the Lake BC, usually shortened to just ‘Invermere’, is at the north end of beautiful Lake Windermere in the Columbia Valley. It is the economic centre of the Upper Columbia River Valley and home to well over 3,000 full-time residents and at least that many part-time recreational home-owners. If you are looking to get away from the hectic life of the city, Invermere on the Lake is the perfect place to just kick back and leave the cares of the world behind.
Only a short 3-hour drive from Calgary, Invermere is a year-round magnet to tourists and no matter what part of the valley you happen to visit, you will likely, at some point, find your way to Invermere on the Lake.
It’s a wonderful place to raise a family, too. There are great schools, including the Invermere Campus of the College of the Rockies, and year-round recreational opportunities that the whole family will enjoy, like hockey, figure skating, martial arts, outdoor sports and much more.
Summer in Invermere
Invermere on the Lake and the surrounding area abound with summertime adventures for every taste. You can boat on Lake Windermere, golf at one of the many nearby 9-hole or 18-hole championship golf courses, take a trail ride in the backcountry, camp or hike in the many local and provincial parks. You can go white-water rafting, see the valley from a different perspective in a helicopter, hang-glide from Mount Swansea, fish in the well-stocked lakes and rivers, and camp in a nearby campground.
Plan for a day to just enjoy the town. Visit the Saturday Farmers Markets, shop at the lovely boutiques, watch a glass-blower at work or visit an art gallery. Grab a bite to eat or picnic at Chabot Park or Kinsmen Park while you and the kids play on the beaches and splash in the warm water of Lake Windermere. Don’t forget to bring skateboards to Mount Nelson Athletic Park – the kids will love it!
Take a short ride north to Radium Hot Springs or south to Fairmont Hot Springs and soak to your heart’s content in the famed hot pools, then, at the end of the day, dine in style at one of Invermere’s fine restaurants.
Winter in Invermere
In winter, Invermere on the Lake plays in the snow! Locals and visitors from all over the world come to ski, snowboard and heli-ski at Panorama Mountain Resort, just a 20-minute drive away. You can strap on some snowshoes or cross-country skis and take to the many back-country trails.
The Lake Windermere Whiteway offers more than 30 km of groomed trails on the frozen surface of the lake where families can enjoy skating, Nordic skiing and skate-skiing. There are rinks for pond hockey and dozens of ice fishing huts dot the lake in winter. In January, the ice magically becomes a giant curling rink for the Bonspiel on the Lake, the only event like it in the world.
Arts and Culture
Invermere on the Lake has a vibrant arts and cultural scene year-round. Located in the historic Pynelogs Cultural Centre, the Columbia Valley Arts Council brings quality films, renowned musicians and many artist shows to the valley.
The week-long annual “Wings Over The Rockies” in May is an important event which attracts nature lovers from all over the country to visit the wetlands and learn about the migratory habits of the local birds and the ecological impact human activity has on the habitats of wildlife.
For lovers of history, the Windermere District Historical Society is home to a fine museum filled with historic buildings and artifacts from the earliest days of the area.