Page 268 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

266  P A CIFIC NOR THWEST REGION B Y REGION

Exploring the Kootenays

Rushing rivers, deep lakes, and historic towns nestle among
the sheer mountains of the Kootenays, a region at the southern
end of the Canadian Rockies in the southeast corner of British
Columbia. The Kootenays offer a wide range of outdoor
activities, including heli-skiing, rock climbing, river rafting,
and fly-fishing. Its horse ranches, ski lodges, and chartered
houseboats offer visitors comfortable accommodation and
opportunities for active and memorable vacations.
Cranbrook
Nelson’s pink-brick and marble City Hall,
Road map 2 C4. * 19,000. ~ @
n 2279 Cranbrook St N, (250) 426- dating from 1902
5914. ∑ cranbrookchamber.com
Nelson
Cranbook, lying between the Road map 2 C4. * 10,500. @
Purcell and Rocky Mountain n 225 Hall St, (250) 352-3433.
ranges, is the largest town in ∑ discovernelson.com
southeast BC. A major transport-
ation hub, it is within easy reach One of the most attractive
of spectacular scenery and towns in southeastern British
boasts the highest density of Columbia, Nelson overlooks
grizzlies in the Rockies. These, Kootenay Lake. Established
along with the region’s other in the 1880s as a mining town,
Downhill skier on one of Fernie’s wildlife, which includes elk, Nelson flourished with the
spectacular ski runs wolves, and cougars, may be arrival of the railroad in the
spotted on the many trails in 1890s, becoming a center for
Fernie the area. Hikers should exercise the transportation of ore and
caution (see pp312–13). timber. Many of the town’s
Road map 2 C4. * 5,000. @
n 102 Hwy 3, (250) 423-6868. The Canadian Pacific Railway public buildings and houses
∑ tourismfernie.com reached Cranbrook in 1898. were constructed between
The Cranbrook History Centre 1895 and 1920. In 1979, a
Fernie is an attractive, tree-lined includes the magnificent Royal $3 million municipal renovation
town set amid the pointed Alexandra Hall Café with its program helped restore the
peaks of Crowsnest Pass. high decorative curved ceilings, historic façades of the
The town owes its handsome and 17 restored luxury cars, downtown buildings.
appearance to a fire that razed including the 1929 Trans- The town has a thriving
it in 1908. All buildings Canada Limited. cultural scene, with bookstores,
constructed since are brick art galleries, cafés, and craft
and stone. Among several E Cranbrook History Centre shops. Visitors can enjoy the
historic buildings, the 1911 57 Van Horne St S. Tel (250) 489-3918. short ride on Car 23, a 1906
courthouse stands out as BC’s Open mid-May–Aug: 10am–5pm streetcar that operated here
only chateau-style courthouse. daily; Sep–mid-May: 10am–5pm from 1925 to 1949. Restored
Fernie boasts the best powder Tue–Sat. & 7 partial. 8 = in 1992, it now travels along
snow in the Rockies; the ski ∑ trainsdeluxe.com Nelson’s delightful waterfront.
season runs from December to
April. The Fernie Alpine Resort
lifts can transport 12,300 skiers
up the mountain every hour.
During the summer months,
magnificent mountain scenery
can be enjoyed from a variety of
hiking and mountain biking trails
in Mount Fernie Provincial Park.
The Fernie Alpine Resort also
offers scenic chairlift rides, a tree-
top Aerial Park, zip lines, as well
as lift accessed mountain biking.
Guided fly-fishing and river rafting
tours on the Elk River provide
access to pristine wilderness. The opulent dining car on a restored train at the Cranbrook History Centre
For hotels and restaurants see pp290–91 and pp304–5

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