West Kootenay
Around West Kootenay
Photo: Murray Foubister · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · British Columbia · 62k people
West Kootenay
Where mountains meet orchards and hot springs.
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Welcome to the West Kootenay, where the mountains meet the rivers. Whether you're soaking in hot springs, picking cherries, or catching a hockey game, you'll find a friendly community here.
Clubs for West Kootenay
No clubs for West Kootenay yet.
The room
One room for everyone around West 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 West Kootenay. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Brilliant Suspension Bridge Doukhobor-built span over the Kootenay River
- Doukhobor Discovery Centre Tells the story of the Doukhobor settlers in Castlegar
- Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area Vast wetlands perfect for birdwatching and hiking
- Red Mountain Resort Historic ski hill known for steep terrain and big snow
- Nakusp Hot Springs Natural mineral pools in a forest setting
- Christina Lake One of BC's warmest lakes, great for swimming and boating
- Outdoors Hiking the Slocan Valley Rail Trail
- Outdoors Mountain biking at Red Mountain
- With kids Visit the Doukhobor Discovery Centre
- With kids Pick cherries at a Creston orchard
- Evenings Live music at local pubs
- Evenings Brewery taprooms
- Locals love Hot springs
- Locals love Ski hills
Through the year
- Castlegar Sunfest August Summer music festival in Castlegar
- Rossland Winter Carnival February Winter celebration with ski races and community events
- Creston Blossom Festival April–May Celebrates the cherry blossoms and orchards
- Grand Forks Fall Fair September Agricultural fair with exhibits and rides
- Salmo Sourdough Rendezvous Fall Small-town heritage festival with music and food
Mild, four-season climate with warm summers and snowy winters. Best time to be out is summer for lakes and hiking, and winter for skiing. Best: Summer for lakes and hiking, winter for skiing.
Getaways
- Nelson Heritage town with arts and cafés
- Trail Historic smelter town and river walks
- Bonners Ferry Small Idaho town on the Kootenai River
- East Kootenay Mountain playground with hot springs and ski hills
Local flavour
Teams
- Castlegar Rebels KIJHL
- Creston Valley Thunder Cats KIJHL
- Grand Forks Border Bruins KIJHL
Eat and drink
- Doukhobor borscht A hearty beet soup from the Russian pacifist settlers
- perogies Often served with fried onions and sour cream
- Creston cherries Sweet cherries from the valley orchards
- huckleberry pie Wild berries from the mountains
Where people go
- Nakusp Hot Springs Natural mineral pools in the forest
- Red Mountain Resort A classic ski hill above Rossland
- Creston Valley orchards Cherry and apple orchards along the Kootenay River
- Doukhobor historic villages Preserved communal buildings and museums
- Columbia River The mighty river that threads through the region
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Nearby
Every areaTrailBritish ColumbiaSmall-town heart, big-mountain soul.NelsonBritish ColumbiaWhere mountains meet the lake and art thrives.Bonners FerryIdahoGateway to the SelkirksEast KootenayBritish ColumbiaWhere the mountains meet the skyPend OreilleWashingtonHome to the wild Pend Oreille and the Selkirk high country.CranbrookBritish ColumbiaMountain air, small-town heart.PentictonBritish ColumbiaWhere sun-soaked orchards meet the lake's edgeSandpointIdahoLife at the edge of the lake and the sky.
Rural Central Kootenay and Kootenay Boundary, 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.