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Canal Flats Provincial Park
North of town, east side of Columbia Lake
This day-use park is popular with swimmers, boaters and windsurfers. Great
views of the Rocky Mountains and Columbia Lake.
Findlay Falls is accessible by trail at km 7.5,
Skookumchuck Forestry Road
Whitetail Lake for fishing and recreation
Purcell Wilderness Conservancy
Wasa Lake Provincial Park - one of the best recreational lakes
in the East Kootenays and one of the warmest in the province. This 144
hectare is surrounded by the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Purcell
Mountains to the west, and protects one of the most threatened ecosystems
in the world. There's literally something here for everyone; the sandy
beaches on Wasa Lake are very good - perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
There are 104 vehicle/tent campsites at this park, as well as four day-use/picnicking
areas. Basic facilities – picnic tables, pit toilets, fire pits, firewood
and water – are provided, as well as flush toilets and a sani-station.
Some facilities are wheelchair accessible. A boat launch is available on
the east shore across from the campground at Camper’s Beach. Note to visitors,
during the fall, avoid the hillside east of the campground due to the presence
of berry eating bears. The park is open from May to October and fees are
collected during this time.
Forest of the Rainshadow, nature trail, a self-guided
2.7 km interpretive trail, within Wasa Park
Wasa Lions Way is the 7.5km paved path that
circles the lake and is suitable for hikers, cyclists and even
people in wheelchairs.
Cross-country ski trails and Ice Rink are
maintained and well groomed, in the Wasa area
Top of the World Provincial Park receives
top marks as an alpine region of sublime beauty.
Mount Morro (elevation 9,533 feet/2,914 m)
is the highest peak in the park. Many archaeological
sites are located here, in what was once the
traditional home of the Upper Kootenay First
Nation. Forest cover is mostly spruce, pine,
and some fir, and most of the plateau is carpeted
with alpine flowers. Small populations of large
mammals inhabit the park, and an abundance
of birds live around Fish Lake. This lake is
noted for its cutthroat trout and dolly Varden
fishery, but you must have a valid BC fishing
licence and a copy of the park's fishing regulations
before casting a line. There are backcountry
campsites available and rustic cabins.
Premier Lake Park is situated within the Hughes Range of the Rockies,
encompassing 5 emerald green lakes – Premier, Canuck,
Yankee, Cat’s Eye and Quartz. Fishing
is the premier attraction at Premier Lake Provincial Park and offers great
angling for trout, eastern brook, and Gerrard rainbow. Enjoy swimming,
canoeing, kayaking and hiking. There are many rewarding and beautiful hikes
on the recreation trails throughout the park. There are 56 vehicle/tent
campsites at this park, as well as a day-use/picnicking area. Basic facilities
are provided – picnic tables, pit toilets, fire pits, firewood and water.
Some facilities are wheelchair accessible. A boat launch is available at
the edge of the day-use area. There is also a children’s playground. The
park is open year-round; access depends on weather and road condition.
Fees are collected from May to October. The Kootenay Fish Hatchery collects
trout eggs from local lakes, and the Fish and Wildlife Branch have a fish
trap with an interpretive display at Premier Lake. Over 350 lakes throughout
BC are stocked with Premier Lake fish. .
Whiteswan Lake Park is situated on a plateau in
the Kootenay Range of the Rocky Mountains northeast of Skookumchuck.
Abundant fish populations of Whiteswan and Alces Lakes led to the
establishment of this semi-wilderness park. Both lakes are managed
for high-yield fisheries. Rainbow trout have been stocked in the
lakes since 1961, with annual releases of about 30,000 fingerlings.
Steps taken to make the fishery self-supporting include improvements
to the spawning channel, prohibiting motorboats on Alces Lake, and
restricting angling to fly-fishing only. During May and June, spawning
rainbow trout can be seen in Inlet and Outlet Creeks, and in the
channel between the lakes. Recreational activities include swimming,
fishing, canoeing, kayaking and hiking. There are 90 vehicle/tent
campsites at this park, as well as 3 wilderness/walk-in and 17 campsites
that can accommodate two camping units. Campsites are spread out
among four locations in the park, primarily at Alces Lake
Campground, Packrat Point Campground and Inlet
Creek Campground all easily accessed from the Whiteswan
Forest Rd. More sites are located at Homebasin Campground.
Basic facilities are provided – picnic tables, pit toilets, fire
pits, firewood and water – as well as a sani-station. Some facilities
are wheelchair accessible. A boat launch is also available. The campground
is open from May to September.
Wasa Slough Wildlife Sanctuary is certainly
worth a visit and is easily located south of Wasa Lake along
Hwy 93/95. Much of the roadside on Hwy 93/95 between Fort Steele
and Wasa is wetland and provides resting, nesting, and feeding
stops for large migratory birds such as Canada geese, great
blue herons, turkey vultures, ospreys,
and eagles.
Skookumchuck River meaning Strong Water or Turbulent Water in
the Chinook language, not surprisingly, the river is a favorite destination
for kayakers and anglers.
Skookumchuk Service Centre has long been popular as a stopping
ground for travelers moving between the Columbia Valley and Cranbrook,
with a coffee shop, gas station and a scenic picnic area with a host of
friendly ducks waiting to be fed.
Buhl Creek Hot Springs are worth a visit in late
summer, if you don't mind a long but scenic drive over logging roads
to get there. The springs are found in their natural state, with
clear and tasteless water. Good swimming in Skookumchuk River adds
to the visit.
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