True Key Adventures | Things To Do

Things to do in East Kootenay

Whatever time of year you visit the Columbia Valley, or any other part of East Kootenay, there are so many exciting things to do that you may have a hard time deciding which to choose!

Temperatures are usually pretty moderate in the valley, with plenty of snow in the higher elevations in winter and lots of blue sky and warm weather in summer.

You may be an avid golfer and are looking forward to trying out some of the world-renowned championship courses in the valley. Maybe you plan to spend some serious family time in the water, explore some of the hundreds of hiking trails, or do some wildlife viewing. There are many more things to do, too.

No matter which season you choose for your vacation, there are always plenty of things to do so everyone takes home lots of happy memories.

Recreation and sports directory

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All recreation and sports listings

Recreation and sports events
Lake Windermere Aquathlon

Lake Windermere Aquathlon & Trail Run

August 3-4, 2019
Lake Windermere Aquathlon and Trail Run is an annual 1500m swim and 10-km run that takes place in Windermere.
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Bull riding in the Rockies

Bull Riding in the Rockies

July 19, 2019
Come on, y'all! It's Bull Ridin' in the Rockies time of year. Dust off your cowboy hat and shine up your spurs! Get ready for some fun!
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Annual WVSC Ski & Gear Swap

November 3, 2018
The annual WVSC Ski & Gear Swap is the place to sell last year's ski gear and get fantastic bargains on just what you've always wanted!
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Ram Into Fall golf tournament

Ram into Fall Fundraising Golf Tournament

September 24, 2018
The Ram into Fall Fundraising Golf Tournament in support of the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce is a Texas Scramble. Register yourself or your team now!
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Columbia Valley Rockies golf tournament fundraiser

CV Rockies Golf Tournament Fundraiser

September 22, 2018
The Columbia Valley Rockies golf tournament is a fundraiser for the hockey team. This is the fifth year for this event and it will take place again at Copper Point,
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Show & Shine

Columbia Valley Classics Autumn Show and Shine

September 14-16, 2018
Enjoy a delightful trip down Memory Lane at Columbia Valley Classics Autumn Show and Shine, held each year at The Springs Golf Course, Radium Hot Springs.
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Loop the Lake | Invermere BC

Loop the Lake 2018

August 11, 2018
Run, jog or walk at your own pace and comfort level. It's great exercise in the fresh air, fun for every age and ability. It's Loop the Lake!
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Lakeside Event| Invermere BC Event

Lakeside Event

August 11, 2018
The Lakeside Event is a summer's Tradition. Bring lawn chairs, blankets & refreshments to James Chabot Park to watch the show! After-party with live music!
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Lake Windermere Open Water Swim

Lake Windermere Open Water Swim

July 29, 2018
The annual Lake Windermere Open Water Swim offers participants a choice of a 2km or a 5km swim in the warm and magical waters of the lake.
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Willi XC Challenge

July 27 - Aug 6, 2018
It's at Golden's Mount 7 and is one of the premier hang gliding and para gliding events of the summer. pilots from all over the world compete!
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Kimberley Julyfest

Kimberley Julyfest

July 20-22, 2018
Julyfest is an annual weekend-long summer festival in Kimberley BC. Thousands enjoy the live music, pancake breakfast, beer gardens, artisan vendors, food, soccer and bocce, bocce, bocce!
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Triathlon winner

Invermere Heart of the Rockies Triathlon

July 8, 2018
Invermere Heart of the Rockies Triathlon welcomes all athletes of both novice and accomplished levels to participate in this challenging annual event at James Chabot Park.
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Gran Fondo

Invermere Heart of the Rockies Gran Fondo

July 8, 2018
The Invermere Heart of the Rockies Gran Fondo will take place in and around Lake Windermere and between Invermere and Canal Flats. 60 km and 100km distances.
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Duathlon

Invermere Heart of the Rockies Duathlon

July 8, 2018
The Invermere Heart of the Rockies Duathlon inaugural event will be in tandem with the Triathlon, open Run Races and Gran Fondo at James Chabot Park, invermere.
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Invermere Heart of the Rockies Aquathon

Invermere Heart of the Rockies Aquathon

July 8, 2018
Invermere Heart of the Rockies Aquathon Individual Standard event includes a 1500 m swim in Lake Windermere & a 40 km bike race from James Chabot Park.
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Invermere Heart of the Rockies Run Event

Invermere Heart of the Rockies Run event

July 8, 2018
The Invermere Heart of the Rockies Run is in tandem with the other events at James Chabot Park.. There's a 10 km and a 5 km race.
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Lotsa kids on bikes

Invermere Young Hearts Triathlon

July 7, 2018
Hey Kids! The Invermere Young Hearts Triathlon is about doing your best and having lots of fun. You'll win an award when you cross the finish line.
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Horsethief Hideout Bike Rally

Horsethief Hideout Memorial Rally

July 5-8, 2018
The annual Horsethief Hideout Memorial Rally brings motorcycle enthusiasts to the Columbia Valley for a jam-packed weekend, both for those who have wheels & those who don't.
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Team Golden Redline Car Show

July 1, 2018
The annual Team Golden Redline Car Show in Golden BC is part of the town's Happy Birthday celebration on Canada Day. FREE to the public!
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Round the Mountain Community Trails Festival

Round the Mountain Festival

June 24, 2018
The Round the Mountain Festival is one of Kimberley BC's really fun annual events. 7 challenges to choose from. All ages. Something for every fitness level. Register now.
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Hike for Hospice

Hike For Hospice

June 24, 2018
The pledge-based Hike for Hospice, a fundraiser for the Hospice Society, is at the historic K2 Ranch this year! Everyone's welcome and kids hike FREE!
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British car show and picnic

Brits Best Car Show

June 15-17, 2018
The Brits Best Car Show during the annual Radium Days festival is a celebration of all things both British and mechanical. Come on down. View these beauties!
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Lions fun golf day

Golf Fun Day at Coy’s

June 9, 2018
The Golf Fun Day at Coy's Par 3 Golf Course is an annual fundraiser sponsored by Fairmont District Lions Club. Proceeds go to support the club's projects.
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Wasa Lake Triathlon

Wasa Lake Triathlon

June 9-10, 2018
The Wasa Lake Triathlon at Wasa Lake BC features 11 races in the TriKids, Super-Sprint, Sprint & Standard triathlons for both individuals and relay teams. Register now!
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Canal Days Cruise In 2017

Canal Days Cruise In and Burnout Pit

June 2, 2018
View all makes and models of vehicles, including motorcycles at the Canal Days celebration's Canal Flats Cruise In. Spin your wheels at the burnout pit this year too.,
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Panorama Hare Scramble

Panorama Hare Scramble 2018

June 1-3, 2018
The Panorama Hare Scramble is an action-packed weekend of off-road dirt bike racing, presented by the Windermere Valley Dirt Riders. Races for PeeWees up to Pros.
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Kootenay Krusher mountain bike race

Kootenay Krusher Mountain Bike Race

May 27, 2018
The 7th annual Kootenay Krusher mountain bike race is a family-friendly, single track mountain event at Nipika Mountain Resort, Radium Hot Springs. All abilities welcome. Register online.
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Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run

Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run

May 26, 2018
The Crazy Soles Nipika Trail Run 2018 will be celebrating it 10th anniversary this year at Nipika Mountain Resort.. Select from several distances and categories. Register now!
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Rocky Mountain Rally 2018

Rocky Mountain Rally

May 25-27, 2018
The Rocky Mountain Rally in Invermere and Radium Hot Springs areas is a performance-based event, pitting the drivers and co-drivers against the road and the clock.
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Wings Over the Rockies, 2018

Wings Over the Rockies Festival

May 7-13, 2018
Celebrate the biodiversity of wildlife in the Columbia River wetlands. Join people from all over the world at the 22nd annual Wings Over the Rockies Festival.
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Children's Festival, Wings Over the Rockies 2018

Wings Over the Rockies Children’s Festival

May 5, 2018
Wings Over the Rockies Children's Festival was so popular last year that it's back in the 2018 line-up. Billed as "time for some fun and games", this part of the
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Bicycles

Columbia Valley Cycling Society gear swap

April 28, 2018
Ready to upgrade your gently-used biking gear? Sell it at the annual Columbia Valley Cycling Society Bike Swap and find tons of bargains for yourself.
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Columbia Valley Junior Golf Tour

April 25 - May 30, 2018
Columbia Valley Golf Junior Tour kicks off! It's open to school kids under 13 years and can develop a love for the game and build new skills.
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Fat biking

The Cross River Ripper Fat Bike Race

February 24, 2018
The Cross River Ripper Fat Bike Race promises to be a popular annual event at Nipika Mountain Resort. BBQ and awards ceremony to follow. Register early.
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Winter recreation

Fernie Winterfest

February 18, 2018
The Fernie Winterfest is a fun, family-friendly ski event on the scenic trails at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre, near Mt. Fernie Provincial Park. Everyone's invited!
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Huckleberry Loppet

February 3-4, 2018
The Huckleberry Loppet is the Nordic Ski Club's main event of the season, two days of fun on the trails with races suitable for all ages and abilities.
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Nipika Toby Creek Nordic Loppet

Nipika Toby Creek Nordic Loppet Weekend

January 27-28, 2018
The annual Nipika/Toby Creek Nordic Loppet is a spectacular weekend of Nordic racing with classic and skate races for every age and ability, a barbecue and prizes.
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Kinsmen Fishing Derby

Kinsmen Fishing Derby

January 27, 2018
Catch the biggest fish and win big cash prizes in the annual Fishing Derby. Entry fees help Kinsmen Club to serve the community.
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Cross-country skiing

Teck Kootenay Cup Race #5

January 27-28, 2018
Teck Kootenay Cup Race #5 is hosted by the Toby Creed Nordic Ski Club at the Nipika Mountain Resort. This event will be followed by BBQ & prizes
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Columbia Valley Rockies pond hockey team

BC Pond Hockey Championships

January 26-28, 2018
Columbia Valley Rockies Pond Hockey Championships shaping up to be a fantastic weekend on Lake Windermere. Two divisions with 6-player teams get minimum of 5 games.
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Bonspiel on the Lake | Invermere BC

Bonspiel on the Lake

January 19-21, 2018
For over 30 years, the Invermere Curling Club has hosted the annual Bonspiel on the Lake, a unique 3-day curling event on the ice of Lake Windermere.
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Snow golf on Lake Windermere

Snow Golf Tournament

January 13, 2018
The annual Kinsmen Club of Windermere Valley Snow Golf Tournament is a fundraising event with great prizes to be won and a whole lot of fun for the players.
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Cross-country skiing

Teck Kootenay Cup Races #3 & 4

January 13-14, 2018
Teck Kootenay Cup Races #3 & 4 in the race series is at the Kimberley Nordic Centre, This event is one of the key events of the season.
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Annual Sleigh Ride Day at Fort Steele

January 1, 2018
Fort Steele's Sleigh Ride Day is a great way to celebrate the New Year making family memories . Bundle up, come for the day. Sleigh Rides by donation.
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Cross-country skiing

Teck Kootenay Cup Races #1 & 2

December 30-31, 2017
Teck Kootenay Cup Races #1 & 2 of the annual race series at Elk Valley Nordic Centre, Fernie.is for skiers of ll ages and abilities. Club affiliation not necessary.
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Show & Shine

Show & Shine Car Show dance

September 16, 2017
The annual Car Show Dance tops the charts every year! There is always a live band so you can dance your bobby socks off the whole night!
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Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo

Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo

September 8, 2017
The Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo provides cyclists an opportunity to participate in a world-class Fondo and ride or race with other cyclists. Three course distance options.
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Summer Splash

Lake Windermere Summer Splash!

August 6, 2017
Join the fun at James Chabot Beach! Summer Splash is an annual celebration of Lake Windermere and everything we love about it. Competitions, live music, learning.
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Bed race

Kimberley Bed Race

August 5, 2017
The annual Kimberley Bed Race consists of 18 teams of 5 fun-loving people each. This is one event you definitely don't want to miss this summer! Be here.
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Funspiel 2016

Annual Canal Flats Curling Funspiel

March 17-19, 2017
Curling is the game but it's really about a fun weekend for everyone. Spectators, too! So come on down to the arena and cheer on the teams!
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Charity Ski Day

March 4, 2017
Charity Ski Day is an annual event at the Fairmont Ski Hill, with fun planned for everyone. Great prizes, discounts, live musical entertainment & lots more.
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Link to Rink | invermere Curling Club

Men’s Skin Spiel

February 17-19, 2017
The Men's Skin Spiel at the Invermere Curling Centre is back with cash prizes to be won by 20 teams. Saturday evening Banquet. Register today!
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Fat biking in the Columbia Valley

Celebrating Global Fat-Bike Day

December 2-3, 2016
A 2-day Global Fat-Bike Day celebration is being hosted by Invermere's Crazy Soles and Nipika Mountain Resort. Learn about the sport, enjoy a group ride and potluck.
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Junior Fun Spiel

November 18-20, 2016
The annual Junior Fun Spiel is always a great way to get the local youth excited about the sport of curling. Junior & Advanced pools. Register now.
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Link to Rink | invermere Curling Club

Autumn Link to Rink Bonspiel

October 14-15, 2016
Link to Rink is a great 2-day opportunity to get one last ball down the fairway before packing up the clubs and starting the curling season.
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Headbanger Trail Challenge

Headbanger Trail Challenge

September 24, 2016
The Headbanger Trail Challenge is an annual running event on the Sinclair Canyon trails around Radium Hot Springs BC. Choose the 1K, 3K, 5K or 10K.
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Lorne Rowe Memorial Golf Tournament

August 22, 2016
All golfers are invited to play in the Lorne Rowe Memorial Golf Tournament. It's a fundraiser for the Canadian Diabetes Association and it's always fun. Join us.
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Invermere ball diamond

Ballfest Slo-Pitch Tournament

July 22-24, 2016
The Ballfest Slo Pitch tournament is a great summertime weekend of FUN FIRST! There's cheering crowds, prizes and a licensed concession. All ability levels welcome. Register your team!
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Mountain bike race - Canada Cup - Panorama

Canada Cup/BC Cup Mountain Bike Races

July 16-19, 2016
The annual Canada Cup/BC Cup Mountain Bike Races are a great summer tradition at the Panorama Mountain Resort. Join Brent Tippie to cheer on the competitors.
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Ram into Summer Golf Tourney

July 9, 2016
The annual Ram into Summer Golf Tourney at Radium Resort golf course is a laughter-filled fundraiser for Tourism Radium and the Radium Chamber. Great prizes!
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Summer fun activities
Walking old-growth trail near Fernie (Tourism Fernie)
An old-growth trail near Fernie (Tourism Fernie)

Summer fun activities

Summer fun in East Kootenay actually begins deep, deep in winter’s grip, when cabin fever gets a person dreaming about all the amazing outdoor adventures waiting just as soon as the first crocus pokes its head out of the ground. And for residents and visitors to our legendary recreational paradise that means every kind of outdoor activity imaginable.

This area is rich with fascinating history too, each community having its own unique story to tell. For our summer visitors, this is the season to take in the museums, art galleries, heritage sites, outdoor concerts, cultural festivals and more that will make your visit memorable. Be sure to check them out while you’re here. Weekly farmers’ markets are hugely popular too, with freshly grown, home-baked and hand-fashioned treasures to take home. The breathtaking mountain scenery all around offers the photographer and wildlife viewer plenty of unforgettable moments too.

Golfing. For thousands of avid golfers the Columbia Valley region of East Kootenay is a mecca every summer. On the warm side of the Rockies, as it is fondly called, winter snows and cold usually give way to spring a full month earlier and summer stays behind a month longer than in many other places. With almost twenty golf courses between Cranbrook and Golden to choose from, there’s bound to be one — or several — that soon come to the top of your list of favorites.

Camping. With Kootenay National Park, dozens of provincial parks and numerous RV campgrounds in the area, summer fun for you may mean that you can set your tent in a forest, sleep under the stars beside a clear mountain stream or park your RV in a full-service park. Whichever you choose, you’ll be breathing the pure, clear mountain air, listening to the birds singing their songs overhead and maybe catching a glimpse of some deer or a moose coming to drink just a few feet away from your campsite.

Hiking near Fernie (Tourism Fernie)

Hiking and mountian biking. Hundreds of kilometres of groomed hiking and biking trails within and around each East Kootenay community and throughout the surrounding backcountry, provide hikers and mountain bikers with plenty of summer fun, along with lots of challenges. There are always surprises along the trails — just around a bend you might come upon an unexpected and breathtaking vista of a distant snowy glacier or perhaps a small alpine lake nestled in a valley below.

Lake sports. Thousand of recreationists flock to their favorite East Kootenay lakes each summer to enjoy every water sport imaginable. Some folks rent a boat and do some water skiing, wakeboarding or tubing — or speed over the water on a Sea-Doo. Of course, for families especially, a huge part of summer fun in East Kootenay is swimming in the lakes, playing on the beaches and picnicking beside the water.

Rafting near Fernie (Tourism Fernie)

Rafting. Mountain streams and rivers often fall from thousands of feet, perhaps from a remote glacier beyond the horizon, gathering speed as they rush toward their destination and offering challenges to many an adventurous spirit to take on the rapids and experience the thrill of a lifetime in a raft. If you want to introduce inexperienced rafters such as younger family members to the sport, why not take a peaceful glide down a quiet river to watch the sunset, perhaps catching sight of some wildlife on the water’s shores?

Canoeing and kayaking. Whether you are tackling a rushing river or enjoying the peace and tranquility of a quiet inlet, if you love paddling then you’ll be right at home here in the water. After all, we’re known for our lakes, rivers and streams! One of the most popular places to take your canoe or kayak is deep into the celebrated Columbia Wetlands, which are home to hundreds of animal and bird species. Bring your camera to record your visit to this incredible wildlife habitat.

Fishing near Fernie (Tourism Fernie)

Fishing. The abundance of waterways in the region, from mountain streams and rivers to sparkling lakes and the headwaters of the 2,000 km (1243 mi) long Columbia River, are a dream come true for many anglers who reel in such species as rainbow trout, northern pike, Kokanee, cutthroat, whitefish and other game fish. Get your up-to-date fishing license, organize your tackle box after the winter, grab your favorite fishing hat and get ready to cast your line into the alpine waters of East Kootenay.

Rock climbing. Needless to say, with huge mountain ranges on every side, East Kootenay boasts countless cliffs and peaks which climbers can scale to view unbelievable sights that very few will ever see. Bugaboo Provincial Park, in the Purcell Mountains between Golden and Radium Hot Springs, is a climber’s dream. Boulder Creek east of Cranbrook is another. Local climbing clubs can offer suggestions.

Ziplining. One of the most recent additions to the outdoor adventure scene in East Kootenay area is ziplining. Although it might look incredibly scary to the viewer on the ground, ziplining is an extremely safe way for everyone in the family to have the ultimate hands-on joyride of the summer. Imagine zigzagging high above the trees over valleys and rivers, seeing the beauty of the land below from a unique viewpoint. You can even take photos for your memory book along the way.

Hang gliding and paragliding. Flying cross-country for sometimes up to 100 kilometers and catching one of the famous thermals over the mountains and valleys of East Kootenay is the ultimate summer fun for people from all over the world who travel to this area, which is considered a world-class gliding destination. Mount 7 in Golden, Mount Swansea in Invermere and the flying site at Panorama Mountain Resort are the three spots to check out.

ATVing. Travel the backcountry roads this summer in an ATV to see the East Kootenay that few people get to see. Follow an old logging trail to an abandoned mine, zigzag up the side of a mountain through old-growth forests, stop for a rest beside a remote waterfall or a tiny alpine lake, and view wildlife along the way. There are few better ways to appreciate the hidden beauty of the wilderness than behind the wheel of an ATV.

Guest ranches. Combine several exciting summertime activities at an East Kootenay guest ranch. Make a reservation, stay in a cosy cabin surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, hit the trails on horseback, wrangle with real cowboys, do some rafting, swimming and maybe even fishing. You’ll be talking about your guest-ranch vacation for years to come.

Visit a park or a beach

The parks that have beaches are Kinsmen Park, James Chabot Provincial Park, Tilley Park, and a not-so-sandy one in Columbia Lake Provincial Park.

Visit a heritage or historic site

There are numerous historical places to visit in the Columbia Valley. We have lots more to be posted!

Winter recreation and sports

Winter recreation

Winter Recreation and Sports

The East Kootenay region is renowned for its exceptional winter recreational opportunities. Having some of the deepest powder and the most winter sunshine of any place in Canada, this is a favorite vacation destination for lovers of every outdoor winter activity.

Skiing and snowboarding. From the family-friendly ski hill in Fairmont Hot Springs to some awesomely serious runs at the resorts in Fernie, Kimberley, Panorama and Golden — East Kootenay attracts skiers and boarders of every skill level, including the world-class professionals who train here. For those who yearn to venture further, into the pristine deep powder higher up, there’s heli skiing at Golden or Panorama and cat skiing deep in the backcountry around Golden or Fernie.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are hundreds of kilometres of groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in our national, provincial and municipal parks, at the four major resorts, on Invermere’s Lake Windermere Whiteway and also in fabulous backcountry areas. Nordic centres at Golden, Radium, Panorama, Kimberley and Fernie regularly host races and family ski events.

Snowmobiling. An increasingly popular form of backcountry adventure, snowmobiling takes riders into the peaceful mountains and forests of East Kootenay. From Fernie to Golden, there are endless kilometres of forestry roads and groomed trails to explore or you can make tracks into virgin territory. There are several snowmobile tour companies which offer equipment rentals, lessons and tours.

On the ice. Invermere’s 34-km Lake Windermere Whiteway, officially the ’longest skating path in the world,’ (Guiness Book of Records) is a favorite place for cross-country skiing, skating, skate skiing, pond hockey, ice fishing and other fun on the ice. Since hockey is also a popular sport in the region, most communities have indoor rinks and many boast their own major or minor hockey teams.

Fat Biking. This rapidly growing sport lets all you summer cyclists enjoy the winter months too. Choose your favorite trails through the East Kootenay backcountry or enjoy the sport at the ski resorts in Fernie, Kimberley, Panorama and Golden where you can rent a fat bike, get a lesson or two, then take a guided tour on the resorts’ trails.

Tobogganing, sledding and tubing. Just about every community has a favorite neighborhood hill where kids, large and small, spend hours each winter on their toboggans, sleds and tubes. Some of the resorts also set aside areas for these activities.

Discover more activities

Columbia Valley / East Kootenay
Things to Do