Area Description: The largest nearby city, Cranbrook, sits on a sloping plain between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. It has spectacular views of the Steeples, a series of peaks in the Rockies, and is the service center of the East Kootenay region, serving a population of almost 60,000. The city of Cranbrook was founded by Colonel James Baker, who arrived in 1884 from Cranbrook, Kent, England. He purchased several thousand acres and developed a trading post and ranch, which he named for his home in England. He later lobbied to have the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Crowsnest Route come through Cranbrook rather than Fort Steele. The railway arrived on August 23, 1898. However, long before any buildings were erected, the area was inhabited by the Ktunaxa people. Archeological evidence points to the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket nation living in the area for as long as 14,000 years. To read more about Cranbrook’s history, visit the ... [Read More]

Area Description: The largest nearby city, Cranbrook, sits on a sloping plain between the Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges. It has spectacular views of the Steeples, a series of peaks in the Rockies, and is the service center of the East Kootenay region, serving a population of almost 60,000. The city of Cranbrook was founded by Colonel James Baker, who arrived in 1884 from Cranbrook, Kent, England. He purchased several thousand acres and developed a trading post and ranch, which he named for his home in England. He later lobbied to have the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Crowsnest Route come through Cranbrook rather than Fort Steele. The railway arrived on August 23, 1898. However, long before any buildings were erected, the area was inhabited by the Ktunaxa people. Archeological evidence points to the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket nation living in the area for as long as 14,000 years. To read more about Cranbrook’s history, visit the following website: http://city.cranbrook.bc.ca/historyframe.htm One of Cranbrook’s heritage buildings is Colonel Baker’s home, which has been preserved as a historical landmark and houses several businesses. You can take a walking tour beginning in downtown Cranbrook and view 41 buildings that date back as far as the 1880′s. The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel has a large selection of Canadian passenger trains from the golden age of rail travel. The museum is home to the restored Royal Alexandra hall, which was transported to Cranbrook from Winnepeg, where it was part of the CPR Royal Alexandra Hotel. Their website is located at http://www.crowsnest.bc.ca/cmrt/ Fort Steele Heritage Town is a restored 1890′s pioneer boomtown. Children and adults alike will enjoy exploring the heritage shops and display buildings. During the summer, they have comedy shows at the Wild Horse Theatre. You also can enjoy train and wagon rides. Visit their website: http://www.fortsteele.bc.ca/visitor/main/index.asp The nearby trout hatchery is always a favorite place for a short visit. Both adults and children enjoy the display of three varieties of trout (did you know they get that big?!!), as well as information on the lives of the fish and the work the hatchery does. A short drive from the hatchery takes you to Bull River Falls, truly one of the prettiest falls in the area and a great place for a picnic lunch. The Cranbrook area offers two great ski areas: Fernie and Kimberly Alpine Resorts. Both resorts are adjacent to towns of the same name with a variety of interesting shops and restaurants. These town are about a 45 minute drive from the cabin. Fernie was founded in 1897, when William Fernie reported a major discovery of coal in the Crowsnest area of southeastern British Columbia. The mining community which emerged was named after him. Be sure to visit this area, as it is one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. The Elk River runs through town and offers fabulous fishing and canoeing/rafting opportunities. A number of guides are available for fly fishing adventures. Fernie Alpine Resort is the fastest growing ski resort in Canada, and was voted “top ten in North America.” It averages over 25 feet of snow per year. Kimberley is famous for its Bavarian-themed downtown and its Platzl pedestrian mall, with cuckoo clock and wandering minstrels. The city is on the slopes of Sullivan and North Star mountains and lays claim to Canada's highest city (at an elevation of 1,113 metres). The city was home to the Sullivan Mine, the world’s largest underground lead-silver-zinc mines. You can visit the Heritage Museum or take a ride on a narrow-gauge train with the Bavarian City Mining Railway. Kimberly Ski Resort has downhill skiing in the winter and a summer alpine slide which whisks you down 1,233 metres (4,045 feet). Their website is located at: http://www.skikimberley.com/ Golf enthusiasts have a large choice of courses, with over a dozen in the area, including the Delta St. Eugene Mission Resort (ranked top 3 best new Canadian courses in 2001 by Golf Digest), Trickle Creek Golf Course, Kimberly Golf Club, Mission Hills Golf Course, Cranbrook Golf Club, Bootleg Gap, Riverside Golf Resort and Eagle Ranch Golf Resort. Fly fishing is a popular sport here, with many knowledgeable guides available. Both rivers and lakes abound. Premier Lake, about an hour north of Cranbrook, is a beautiful, emerald-green lake surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, and is known for its rainbow and brook trout. Moyie Lake, just a short drive from Cranbrook, is home to rainbow trout, Dolly Varden and Kokanee. Near our cabin is Lake Koocanusa, where you can catch Kokanee and cruise for miles. Other popular lakes include Tie, Norbury, Baynes and Jim Smith lakes. The East Kootenay is home to elk, moose, white tail and mule deer, black and grizzly bears, cougars, bighorn sheep, and many species of migratory and resident birds. There are plenty of opportunities to view and photograph wildlife, and for those who prefer to shoot the animals rather than photos, many guide outfitters in the area offer hunting trips to any size group. With more sunshine hours than any other city in B.C., many people like to bike or hike the wide variety of trails in the area. Fisher Peak, Cranbrook’s signature mountain, stands 2,900 metres. The hike is demanding but can be worth the effort. Trails in the city include the Rotary Way Cycle Walk Trail, Elizabeth Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, South Star Recreation Trails, Cranbrook Community Forest, and Isadore Canyon. Of course, you can hike for miles and days right off of our property in the Mayook Valley. The Crown land adjacent to our cabin has numerous old logging roads and animal trails to hike. Cranbrook offers over 50 restaurants featuring a wide range of food, including Cantonese, Greek, Mexican, Italian and German. Additionally, most of the ‘fast food’ chains have a presence in Cranbrook, including Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Tim Horton’s, Subway and A&W. Cranbrook’s community facilities include swimming pools, a curling rink, performing arts theatre, multi-screen movie cinema, and a library. Area events include Rockin’ in the Rockies and Sam Steele Days – Cranbrook & Fort Steele - in June; International Old Time Accordian Championships in Kimberley in July; Cranbrook Pro Rodeo and Heritage Showcase in August; International Music and Dance Festival in Kimberley in September.