East Kootenay
Around East Kootenay
Photo: Connormah · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · British Columbia · 38k people
East Kootenay
Where the mountains meet the sky
Deep evergreenAlpine blueSunset orange
Welcome to the East Kootenay, where the Rockies meet the rivers. Whether you're here for the powder or the lakes, you'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors. Get ready for some fresh air and good times.
Clubs for East Kootenay
No clubs for East Kootenay yet.
The room
One room for everyone around East Kootenay. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around East Kootenay. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Kootenay National Park Home to hot springs, hiking, and wildlife.
- Fort Steele Heritage Town Restored 1890s frontier town with living history.
- Kimberley Nature Park Large urban nature park with trails and viewpoints.
- Fernie Alpine Resort Big mountain skiing with a lively base village.
- Radium Hot Springs Natural mineral pools in Kootenay National Park.
- Lake Windermere Popular for swimming, boating, and summer fun.
- Outdoors Hike in Kootenay National Park
- Outdoors Ski at Fernie Alpine Resort
- With kids Visit Fort Steele Heritage Town
- With kids Swim and picnic at Lake Windermere
- Evenings Craft beer at local breweries
- Evenings Live music at the Fernie Arts Station
- Locals love Mountain biking trails
- Locals love Hiking trails
Through the year
- Fernie Griz Days February Winter carnival with ski races, parades, and family fun.
- Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships July Accordion players from across the continent compete in the Bavarian-style town.
- Lake Windermere Days August Summer festival on the lake with water sports, music, and fireworks.
- Elkford Coal Miner's Days June Community celebration of the town's mining heritage with games and a parade.
Continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, dry summers. Best time to be outside is summer for hiking and winter for skiing. Best: Summer for hiking and winter for skiing.
Talk like a local
- “The Kootenays”
- The region itself, often called 'the Kootenays'.
- “Elk Valley”
- The area around Fernie.
- “Columbia Valley”
- The area around Invermere and Radium.
- “Griz”
- Short for Grizzly, Fernie's mascot and local pride.
Getaways
- Cranbrook Largest city in the region, with museums and galleries.
- Nelson Artsy town with a great vibe on Kootenay Lake.
- Bonners Ferry Cross-border trip to Idaho's scenic Boundary County.
- West Kootenay Explore more lakes and mountain towns.
Local flavour
Teams
- Kimberley Dynamiters KIJHL
- Fernie Ghostriders KIJHL
- Columbia Valley Rockies KIJHL
Eat and drink
- Huckleberry pie A local favourite made from wild huckleberries picked in the mountains
- Bison burgers Often featuring locally raised bison, a nod to the region's ranching heritage
- Craft beer from local breweries Fernie and Kimberley each have breweries that reflect the mountain lifestyle
Where people go
- Hot springs Radium and Fairmont hot springs are natural gathering spots
- Ski resorts Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort draw locals and visitors alike
- Mountain trails Hiking and biking trails weave through the Rockies and Purcells
- Lakes Lake Windermere and Columbia Lake offer summer recreation
- Historic mining towns Kimberley’s Bavarian‑style downtown reflects its mining past
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaCranbrookBritish ColumbiaMountain air, small-town heart.NelsonBritish ColumbiaWhere mountains meet the lake and art thrives.Bonners FerryIdahoGateway to the SelkirksWest KootenayBritish ColumbiaWhere mountains meet orchards and hot springs.TrailBritish ColumbiaSmall-town heart, big-mountain soul.Libby–Thompson FallsMontanaQuiet valleys, big-hearted towns.SandpointIdahoLife at the edge of the lake and the sky.CanmoreAlbertaAlpine air, mountain soul
Rural East Kootenay, BC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.