SOUTHEAST B.C.
Well-deserved reputation for beauty
I
t’s called “Beautiful British Columbia” and the descrip- tion is well earned. You don’t have to venture far into British Columbia from the east to find the spectacular
scenery for which the province is so well known. With the majestic Rocky Mountains standing as a cen-
trepiece, the Kootenay region is a popular destination for visitors seeking summertime outdoor activities ranging from hiking and mountain biking to fishing, boating and rafting. The Elk Valley is built on coal mining, but the area of-
fers plenty for tourists, too.
BritishColumbia.com calls Fernie “hiking heaven,” as the town boasts an assortment of scenic hiking trails which wind through ancient old- growth cedar forests, alpine meadows and high mountain peaks. For those who prefer to explore on two wheels, Fernie offers hundreds of kilometres of scenic riding ter- rain for mountain bike enthusiasts. To the west, Cranbrook offers its own menu of outdoor
pursuits, “from world-class golf to backcountry hiking and camping to swimming in some of the warmest lakes in Canada.” Cranbrook is also home to the Canadian Museum of
Rail Travel, housing an extensive collection of beautifully restored railcars from days gone by. Kimberley, another mining community up the road from
Cranbrook, is known as “The Bavarian City of the Rock- ies.” The city is home to numerous festivals throughout the summer, including the International Old Time Accor- dion Championship in early July. Kimberley also boasts three scenic golf courses to
challenge lovers of the game, and is the site of Canada’s largest free standing operating cuckoo clock. The Columbia River Valley is home to some great re-
sorts including Radium Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs, offering great golfing opportunities along with fine dining and unique shops. Between the two is Inver- mere, an inviting tourist community along Windermere Lake which offers an array of outdoor activities. Canal Flats, located at the southern end of Columbia
Lake in the Kootenay River Valley (between Skookum- chuck and Fairmont Hot Springs), is the gateway to sev- eral backcountry provincial parks, including Whiteswan and Top of the World. Fort Steele is a heritage town dating back to the days
of the Kootenay Gold Rush of 1864 (when it was known as Galbraith’s Ferry). Here, visitors can travel back in
Southeastern B.C. offers some of best fishing locales an avid angler could hope to find.
ALBERTA INROADS 2019 - 21
Southeast B.C. events
May 17-20: 78th Annual Creston Valley Blossom Festival.
http://blossomfestival.ca/ May 18-20: Historic Kaslo May Days. http://www.kaslomay-
days.com/ May 31-June 2: Castlegar Sunfest, entertainment for all ages.
http://www.castlegarsunfest.ca/ June 3-9: Sparwood Coal Miner Days.
http://www.coalminer-
days.com/ June 13-16: Sam Steele Days, Cranbrook. https://samsteele-
days.org/ June 14-15: 8th Annual East Kootenay Beer Festival, Fair- mont Hot Springs Resort.
https://www.fairmonthotsprings.com/event/2017-east-koote- nay-beerfest/ June 28-29:Wildcat Days, Elkford.
http://www.elkford.ca/events_and_attractions July 13-14: Kimberley Viking Festival, Coronation Park, Kim- berley.
http://kimberleyviking.ca/event-details/ July 19-20: Starbelly Jam Music Festival, Kootenay Lake’s east shore.
https://starbellyjam.org/ July 26: Rock the Fort 3, Fort Steele; headliners Shawn Austin and Leaving Thomas.
http://fortsteele.ca/news/entry/rock-the-fort July 27: Kootenay Festival, Millennium Park, Castlegar.
http://www.kootenayfestival.com/ August 16-18: 33rd annual Cranbrook Pro Rodeo.
http://www.cranbrookrodeo.com/ September 8: 42nd Annual Kootenay Country Fair, Fort Steele Heritage Town, located 15 km northeast of Cranbrook on Highway 93/95.
https://www.kootenaycountryfair.com/
time to the 1890s and enjoy daily re-enactments of the town’s early history. Those are just some of the highlights in Southeast-
ern B.C., a region with much to explore and much to be enjoyed during the summer season.
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