Skiing & Snowmobiling
Kootenay Lake, the winter paradise. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
Miles and miles of unmarked powder are characteristic of the literally hundreds of ungroomed trails in the area. With mild temperatures, there is an average of 10 to 15 feet of fabulous snow and breathtaking scenery. A wide variety of terrain provides a memorable experience for all. The elevations run from lake level all the way up to 7,000 feet. The main season runs from December to April.
Please remember to follow basic safety procedures and carry appropriate equipment whenever you travel the backcountry trails.
Trails
There are literally hundreds of backcountry trails in the area with a few key ones providing access to the others. The key trails in the area offer large staging areas, are ungroomed, uncrowded and range from snow covered logging roads to fantastic powder bowls and snow chutes. In some areas avalanches are not usually dangerous but caution and proper equipment are always necessary.
North Kootenay Lake Trail
Leaving from a plowed staging area just north of Riondel, there is a forestry service road (FSR) that runs north along the east side of Kootenay Lake. This FSR goes almost to Johnson’s Landing and is access to many side trails running down to the lake or up the mountainside providing a variety of terrain and lots of territory to explore.
Crawford Creek Trail
There is a large staging area just beyond the Crawford Bay transfer station. From here an old forestry service road leads you up the mountain providing access to a variety of trails some of which go up as high as 6,000 feet.
Kokanee Springs Golf Course sets a track for cross country skiers. Please note: snowmobiles are not welcome here.
Gray Creek Trail
This trail is part of the trail system that goes over the Gray Creek Pass and on to the city of Kimberley, BC. The Gray Creek trail is great for trail riding and offers impressive scenery and vistas of Kootenay Lake and surrounding mountains. It provides access to the Redding Creek trail, as well as many others in the St. Mary Alpine area and leads into some areas offering great powder bowls.
Sanca Creek Trail
This trail is road accessed and can be characterized as offering rolling terrain as you ride or ski through trees from one clear-cut section to another through connecting trails. The trails lead you to a couple of frozen lakes, including Wooden Shoe Lake.