British Columbia’s massive interior freshwater lakes and mountain systems provide an awe-inspiring opportunity for biking, trekking and river rafting in addition to incredible kayaking. A dry climate and warm temperatures combine with endless freshwater and lack of tides make the lake and river systems ideal for exploring. Kootenay Lake is surrounded by glacial peaks and offers a myriad of campsites and secluded beaches along with impressive side hikes and first class scenery.
Nelson is a mecca for extreme sports such as snow-cat skiing and mountain biking. It is also considered one of the best small art towns in North America. In one incredible week we’ll touch on as many disciplines of adventure as possible. Participants will paddle the northern end of Kootenay Lake beneath the impressive peaks of the Selkirk mountains. You’ll try rafting the mighty Salmo river as it blasts through canyons en route to the 49th parallel. There will be plenty of time for hikes in glacial terrain that will overload your senses. Mountain bike on undulating single track that winds through endless wilderness, absorbing the vistas of the Purcell ranges. Soak in natural hot springs, fly fish for record trout or simply kick back and plan your evening on the town.
Some claim the best part of the Multi-Sport is coming home at the end of the day. We utilize beautiful heritage homes and country inns and serve up delicious meals and endless supplies of gourmet treats. The properties we choose have been selected for their ideal location, aesthetics and the charm of the resident proprietors. Our journey is circuitous by nature and is crafted magnificently from start to finish
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Kootenay Multi-Sport Photo Gallery
Find out what past participants have said about this trip on the ROAM blog.
Kootenay Multi-Sport Adventure Travel Planner
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The Terrain & Cultural Notes
Nelson grew quickly as a result of the frantic mining activity started in 1867 when gold and silver were found in the area. Dozens of other mining communities sprang up along Kootenay Lake, two railways were routed through Nelson and noted architect Francis Rattenbury came to design granite-hewn, chateau-style civic buildings. By 1910, Nelson had its own hydro generating station, streetcars, sewer system, and police force. Englishmen came to plant lakeside orchards, and Russian Doukhobors, sponsored by Tolstoy and the Quakers, tilled the valley bench lands.
Education became a new focus for Nelson when Notre Dame College was opened in 1950 and the B.C. Vocational School (with Kootenay School of the Arts) was established in 1960. Now the Notre Dame buildings house Selkirk College and their affiliated Music School. The former Vocational School is now a campus of Kootenay School of the Arts. Nelson's heritage potential was realized in 1977 with the designation of over 350 heritage buildings.
Kokanee Creek is a 235-hectare park situated on the north shore of the west arm of Kootenay Lake. Its huge sandy beach and delta area is backed by a gently rising upland, giving way to the forested slopes of the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains. There is a spawning channel where visitors can observe the remarkable transformation that spawning kokanee undergo in late summer. Their bodies become a deep crimson color and their heads turn emerald green. Like other Pacific salmon, they die after completing their fascinating spawning activities, drifting downstream to the lake, their bodies enriching the area and providing a smorgasbord for grizzlies and black bears. In the native Ktunaxa language 'kokanee' means 'red fish', the name given to these land-locked salmon.
Kokanee Glacier Park is located in the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains, between Slocan Lake and the north arm of Kootenay Lake. It is a mountain wilderness of 32,035 hectares, most of which lies above 1,800 meters, with half at elevations above 2,100 meters. Protection of significant grizzly bear habitat was the main reason for an expansion of the park in 1995. The glacier, for which the park is named, clings to the slopes of the 2,774-metre Kokanee Peak at the center of the park.
The Kokanee Glacier is one of three glaciers within the park that feed over 30 small lakes and form the headwaters for most of the park’s waterways. The rugged area is composed of an immense system of granite rock known as the Nelson batholiths. As the earth cooled, pressure forced slower cooling minerals into holes and cracks in the granite. These deposits and finger-like veins of minerals rich in gold and silver were discovered in the late 1800s, attracting prospectors from afar. Small mining operations sprung up in the area during this time. Many of the park’s trails that exist today were built for miners hauling ore and supplies.
Ainsworth Hot Springs is set into the mountainside overlooking the vast expanse of Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountains. The village is the location of the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, whose natural hot springs feature a unique horseshoe-shaped cave where the darkness, the mineral deposits and the humidity all combine to offer an exhilarating experience. The hot steamy, odorless shower of mineralized water falls from the cave's roof and forms a waist-deep pool, providing a rejuvenating natural steam bath. The main pool provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay's majestic scenery.
The hot springs are heated naturally and vary in temperature between 40-42°C (104-114°F) in the Cave, 35-38°C (96-101°F) in the Pool, and 4-10°C (40-50°F) for the Cold Plunge. The caves are old mine tunnels carved out by miners attempting to increase the flow of hot water from the springs. The hot springs were first discovered by native Indians who came up to Kootenay Lake in the late summer to take advantage of the Kokanee Salmon run. Since this timing coincided with the ripening of the huckleberry crop, it would be natural to assume that after spending the days clambering around the hills, these people would welcome a soak in the hot springs.
Kaslo enjoys the distinction of being called British Columbia's Prettiest Town and the Switzerland of the Americas...and justifiably so. Elegant Victorian-era buildings, tree-lined streets and magnificent lake and mountain views give credence to these titles. This quaint little hamlet is nestled on the shores of Kootenay Lake, between the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains.
With a history rich in mining lore, Kaslo was actually originally staked as a sawmill site in 1889, becoming a silver ore mining and transshipment boomtown in the 1890s, with a population peak of 6,000. Steeped in history and surrounded by parks and wilderness, this is one of the most pristine areas in the world. Summers are sheer magic, with fabulous camping, scores of hiking trails, excellent fishing, swimming and world class kayaking. No visit to Kaslo would be complete without a look at the SS Moyie, a Canadian Pacific Railways sternwheeler that plied the waters of Kootenay Lake from 1898 until 1957. Beautifully restored, the Moyie is designated as a national historic site, and is the oldest remaining vessel of her type in Canada.
Jazz-lovers can enhance their experience of the charm of Kaslo during the Kaslo Jazz Festival over the August long weekend. Great acoustics, superb musicians, the unique floating stage set just offshore from the sandy beach, and the great views all combine to make the festival a fabulous annual event.
Valhalla Provincial Park is a magnificent world-class wilderness, encompassing 49,600 hectares of natural landscape and 30 kilometers of the pristine shoreline along Slocan Lake. According to Norse mythology, Valhalla was a palace roofed with shields, wherein lived the bravest of the slain Norse warriors. There, under the leadership of the god Odin, they lived a happy life waiting for the day when they would be rallied to march out of the palace and do battle with the giants. The spirit of Valhalla lives on in the splendor of this portion of southeastern British Columbia, where great palaces of rock call forth majestic images with names such as Asgard, Gimli and Thor.
The Valhalla Range is a dramatically diverse area in the Selkirks. Deep river valleys, large sub-alpine lakes and granite peaks of up to 2,827 meters grace this park. In the northwest, New Denver Glacier at 2,758 meters dominates the landscape, while the block-shaped Devil’s Couch at 2,667 meters and Hela Peak at 2,717 meters define the central area. Along the southwestern boundary is an outstanding group of spires including Mount Dag, the Wolfs Ears, Gimli, Asgard and Gladsheim – all over 2,660 meters. Numerous cirque basins, several larger deep lakes and chains of small lakes surround the ridges. Slocan Lake sits at 537 meters, well below most of the park, forcing waterways to cut deeply in the landscape as it descends some 2,000 meters before reaching the lake - numerous cascades and waterfalls are scattered throughout the park.
Backcountry wilderness hiking and camping are the main recreational activities in this park. The park is a rugged wilderness area without supplies or equipment of any kind. We do some hiking in the Valhallas but prefer to kayak on Kootenay Lake, as Slocan Lake is known for strong crosswinds that may blow up suddenly. The shoreline of Slocan Lake is for the most part a rugged combination of bluffs and large rocks interspersed with beautifully isolated pebble and sand beaches. Pictographs on the rock bluffs overhanging the lake are reminders of former native inhabitants, while overgrown trails and logging flumes mark the passing of the local mining boom that brought Europeans to this area a century ago.
Professional Guide Services
Our guides are as impressive as the scenery and passionate about their work. Seasoned professionals, they are delighted to pass on their knowledge and skills. As university and college graduates, they have strong backgrounds in natural history, geology and anthropology. They also have knowledge of the local region and its folklore. Part chef, part naturalist, trained in wilderness first aid and professionally certified, our leaders are eager to please and will ensure you have a memorable experience.
Equipment
Our kayaks are manufactured in B.C. and are ideally suited for the waters we are paddling. When on the river, we utilize state-of-the-art self-bailing rafts. The rafts have been designed with center mount oar rigs and allow participants the option of paddling or just soaking up the views. For those unfamiliar with self-bailing boats, the benefits are revolutionary. As water enters the boat, it collects on the inflated floor then drains out through grommet holes along each side.
Weather
During the summer months, the weather in the Kootenays could not be better. Mid-summer trips enjoy T‑shirt weather throughout the long hours of daylight. Temperatures may range from 22-35 degrees Celsius (70-90º F) but lake breezes have a gentle cooling effect. Evenings are generally mild and ideal for sleeping. In the summer, extended periods of rain are unlikely as the heavy precipitation responsible for the large amounts of winter snow falls primarily in the months of November to March. Water temperatures remain cool year-round – about 10 degrees Celsius (55º F) - so we generally swim around the warmer sand bars and back eddies.
Wildlife and Flora
British Columbia is one of the richest wildlife viewing areas in Canada. The alpine slopes in the Kootenays are the summer home for a wide variety of wildlife, including mountain goats, cougar, coyote, wolf, deer, black bears and grizzlies. More frequently observed, however, are smaller mammals like the hoary marmot, marten, ground squirrel and pika. Blue and Franklin grouse inhabit the forests while ptarmigans can often be seen in the open areas and dippers can be found around the many lakes. Sharp-shinned hawks and golden eagles are sometimes seen soaring through the open skies overhead.
British Columbia is truly a birder's haven. More than a million birds migrate on the Pacific Flyway, and thousands stop over or stay through the year. The diverse and extraordinary creatures range from Aise Swallowtails and Green Herons to Trumpeter Swans. This region is also noted for having one of the highest osprey concentrations in North America. At the south end of Kootenay Lake lies the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, a showplace of migratory waterfowl, with up to 265 species.
Also to the south of Kootenay Lake, is Stagleap Park. It is situated 21 miles (34 kilometers) west of Creston at the Kootenay Pass. The pass, commonly called the Mile High Pass, is at an elevation of 5,820 feet (1774 meters), the highest paved road in Canada. The park is named for the woodland caribou that migrate through this area. These large, majestic animals are related to reindeer and other members of the deer family. These Selkirk Mountains woodland caribou are actually the source of the only population in the United States, as they migrate through this part of B.C. and into northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and occasionally into northwest Montana. They are on the US endangered species list.
At the north end of the lake lies Purcell Wilderness Provincial Conservancy. Early in this century, Earl Grey, then Governor-General of Canada, crossed the Purcell Mountains from Invermere in the Columbia Valley to Argenta on Kootenay Lake. His route followed a trail up Toby Creek and down Hamill Creek over a 7,401-foot (2257 meter) pass. This route, later named the Earl Grey Pass Trail, had already been well defined by the Shuswap Indians. Despite Grey's urging to set aside this magnificently scenic area as a park, not much was done until the 1970s, when the area was designated as a roadless tract in which the natural environment would remain undisturbed by any development. Consequently, there's no road access, and all forms of mechanized access are prohibited, including helicopters. Over 85 miles (137 kilometers) of hiking trails, challenging mountaineering, horse riding, and winter recreation await backpackers in the five biogeoclimatic zones spread throughout this central portion of the Purcell Mountains.
Three biogeoclimatic zones are found in the Kokanee Glacier Park region, although it is primarily in the Engelmann spruce/sub alpine fir zone. At higher elevations, forests give way to alpine communities of dwarf blueberry, white rhododendron and heather interspersed with open grassy areas, wildflower meadows and moss and lichen covered boulders. At lower elevations, forests consist of a mix of Engelman spruce, alpine fir, lodgepole pine, hemlock and western red cedar. The numerous steep slopes and avalanche paths support slide alder and huckleberry.
Fishing
Kokanee Creek and Kootenay Lake maintain considerable populations of various fish species, including kokanee, rainbow and cutthroat trout, dolly varden, burbot, and whitefish. Kootenay Lake supports record-sized rainbow trout, and the world's largest recorded kokanee was taken from the lake. Rainbow trout are plentiful in Lockhart Creek on the east side of the south arm of Kootenay Lake. If you intend to fish while on the trip, you must obtain a sport fishing license. Licenses can be purchased in most sporting goods stores in Nelson, Balfour or Kaslo. We carry both spin and fly fishing rods and encourage all to give it a try. We also troll for trout out of our kayaks.
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