The Columbia Valley is one of British Columbia's most celebrated secret getaways. Located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River, between the ancient Purcell Mountains and Rocky Mountains, 'the valley' is a thriving community of 9,000 outdoor recreation loving people. Long a popular cottage and weekend getaway for Calgarians and Southern Albertans, the valley has the amenities and services of a city of 30,000 tucked into a series of beautiful small towns, including Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs, Canal Flats, Panorama Mountain Village, Windermere and more. With world-class hot springs, ski facilities, Kootenay National Park, thousands of square kilometres of wild and beautiful Crown land to explore, spectacular mountain lakes, the internationally renowned Bugaboos, the recently Ramsar-designated Columbia River Wetlands and a golf scene that ranks as one of the finest in Canada the Columbia Valley has something for everyone, 12 months of the year. In addition, the valley is a great base location to explore the rest of the East Kootenay, including Cranbrook and Kimberley, as well as the Golden, Banff National Park and Lake Louise areas. |