Sunshine & Side Quests
Summer in the South Kootenay is all about being outside. Hike a mountain, ride a trail, cast a line, jump in a lake, paddle a river or find a shady spot and do absolutely nothing for a while. From adventures in the mountains to lazy days by the water, there are endless ways to spend a day. Take the scenic route from Rossland to Fruitvale, stop for lunch in Trail or wander through the farmers markets. Continue through the Kootenays and chase a sunset or find a local swimming hole. With long days and warm evenings there’s always something worth exploring!
Where the day has room for at least one more adventure.
Biking
Bring a bike to the South Kootenay and you’ll quickly realize there’s no shortage of places to point it. Rossland is the big draw, with 200+ km of singletrack ranging from mellow forest trails to the legendary Seven Summits and lift-accessed riding at RED Mountain Bike Park. Trail brings a different kind of riding, with trails winding through the Bluffs above the Columbia River, while Fruitvale offers Barclay Creek, rolling roads and connections into the broader regional trail network. Add the Columbia & Western Rail Trail for a longer, more leisurely ride through some seriously beautiful country, and you’ve got everything from family spins to full-day epics. Big ride, little ride, mountain bike, gravel bike or just a bike, all you need to do is decide where you want to go first.
Fishing
Fishing runs deep in the South Kootenay, and Trail is a pretty great place to start. The Columbia River runs through the city and offers excellent fishing and fly-fishing opportunities from docks or rocks – with plenty of room to find your own stretch of water. From there, head into the surrounding valleys and mountains to explore the region’s lakes and creeks. Whether you prefer casting from shore, wading a river or heading out by boat, there’s plenty of water to explore and even more fish to catch!
Hiking & Trail Running
Summer is prime hiking season in the South Kootenay, with trails for everything – from an easy morning wander to a full-day mountain mission. In Rossland, hike through old-growth forest, climb toward alpine ridges or tackle bigger all-day hikes like Old Glory. Around Trail, the Bluffs and Miral Heights deliver views over the Columbia River and valley, while Warfield, Montrose, Fruitvale and the surrounding areas offer plenty of other routes to explore. If you are looking to pick up the pace, trail running is an awesome way to experience the trails just that little bit faster.
H20
There is no shortage of ways to get in, on or beside the water in the South Kootenay region. Spend the day at Nancy Greene Lake, where you can swim, paddle, launch a kayak or stand-up paddleboard, and camp just steps from the waters edge. Trail’s Columbia River waterfront offers a different kind of summer day: swim at Gyro Beach, let the kids loose in the spray park, walk your dog along the paved river path, picnic on the grass or watch the boats go by. For a quieter escape, head to the Pend d’Oreille, where Buckley Campground has a sandy beach, swimming, boating and lakeside camping. Near Fruitvale, Champion Lakes Provincial Park brings together three lakes, warm-water swimming, beaches, paddling and a forested campground. And you don’t have to leave town for the kids to cool off — Montrose has its own spray park, too. Pack the towels, fill the cooler and leave room for one more stop at the water.
Golf
Tee off with a view. The South Kootenay serves up big mountain backdrops, lush fairways and plenty of reasons to squeeze in another round. Challenge your crew at Redstone Resort in Rossland, take in the Columbia Valley views at Birchbank Golf Course or play a scenic round at Champion Lakes Golf Course past Fruitvale. More into flying discs than birdies? Trade your clubs for a disc and check out the disc golf courses at Black Jack, Marsh Creek and Warfield. From serious golf days to casual rounds with friends, there’s a course for every kind of player.
Camping
Pack the tent, load up the van and follow the winding roads through the mountains, charming small towns, beautiful forested valleys and easy access lakeside campgrounds. Pitch a tent at Nancy Greene Lake or Champion Lakes, head for the sandy shores of the Pend d’Oreille, or find a spot to camp beneath the stars and make a weekend of it. Along the way, stop in Rossland for small mountain-town charm, explore Trail’s vast Columbia River waterfront, wander through the Beaver Valley or take a detour down a backroad. Distances are short, the scenery keeps changing and there’s always another lake, trail or little town worth pulling over for.
