            |
|
|
General Information
|
 |
The
area known as the Kootenay Rockies is geographically defined as the southeast corner of British Columbia, a
region composed of a series of north/south extending valleys and mountain ranges including
the Monashee, Columbia, Selkirk, Purcell and world-renowned Rocky Mountains. These
boundaries include the Alberta border with BC in the east, the U.S. border with Canada in
the south and extend north to the centres of Revelstoke and Golden and west to the
Boundary Country. |
    
Rarely do you find a region that contains within its boundaries four
National Parks! The Kootenay Rockies
region is home of Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National Parks all
featuring stunning beauty and vistas. Provincial Parks are also plentiful and are
great locations for a picnic, camping or some hiking activities.
Accessible by major Class
A highways (see Map) travelling into the region from all compass points and enhanced by
spectacular scenery, motor travel is a very desirable way to tour through the area.
By air, major gateway cities of Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; and
Spokane, Washington, provide easy air access. The region’s two commercial
airports at Cranbrook and Castlegar offer scheduled flight service into the heart of the
region with both Canadian Regional Air and Central Mountain Air. (See Map)
The range of activities available in the Kootenay Rockies is truly astounding. There is
adventure hiking, mountain climbing, mountain biking, river rafting, canoeing,
sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and fishing. There’s golfing at its best,
sunbathing on lakeside beaches and lots of historic sites. Ski and snowboard resorts
are located throughout the region and world-renown heli and cat skiing operations access
the steep and deep of the numerous ranges. Snowmobilers love the awesome terrain and
the ambience of the friendly communities. Festivals, shopping and great eateries can
be found in every corner of the region.
Wildlife is a part of a visit to the Kootenay Rockies where there are the largest herds of
bighorn sheep in North America along with deer, elk, moose, black and grizzly bear,
coyote, wolf and eagles.
The mild, gentle climate of the area is also blessed with an abundance of
sunshine all year round. The average summertime high temperature is 25
degrees Celsius/78 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, the
Kootenay Rockies is referred to “as the warm side of
the Rockies” with average high temperatures of 5 degrees Celsius or 40 degrees
Fahrenheit.
|
|
|
