Columbia Valley
Own at Bighorn and Experience Clear, Sparkling, Mountain Lakes and Rivers, Hundreds of Miles of Hiking and Biking Trails, Historic Towns and Villages.
A lively arts and cultural community and so much more with a Columbia Valley getaway!
This beautiful area and all its nature is waiting for you to explore when you come to stay or play in the Columbia Valley.
The Columbia Valley follows the upper Columbia River as it lazily meanders from its headwaters in Columbia Lake at Canal Flats, a few minutes’ drive south of Radium Hot Springs, to Spillimacheen just North of Radium. Breathtaking views to the east include the majestic Canadian Rockies and to the west is the Purcell Mountain range.
Map of Columbia Valley and surrounding regions
The drive across the mountains to the Columbia Valley is a scenic 1-hour trip from the Alberta border, 2 ½ hours from Calgary. You will travel through Banff and Kootenay National Parks and cross the Continental Divide. There, the waters part, the Alberta rivers flowing towards the Atlantic and the British Columbia rivers flowing to the Pacific. There are usually plenty of opportunities to view the wildlife along the way. You could see bears, wolves, moose, coyotes, mountain goats and more. You might even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring overhead.
The weather in the Columbia Valley is moderate, with lots of snow in the higher elevations during the winters and hot, dry summers. This makes the valley a true 4-season recreation mecca for thousands of visitors each year. In wintertime; snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating The Whiteway and skiing or snowboarding attract many visitors to the area. Ski hills within an hour drive include; Kicking Horse in Golden; Sunshine in Banff; Panorama Mountain Resort by Invermere; Fairmont Ski Hill in Fairmont Hot Springs; and Kimberley Alpine Resort in Kimberley. In summertime; hiking, mountain biking, ATVing, motorbiking, white-water rafting, para-gliding, boating, fishing, canoeing/kayaking and golf are main attractants. There are more than 15 golf courses in the area to choose from!
Every type of outdoor sport can be enjoyed here so no matter what time of year you plan to come, there are plenty of memories to be made at your Columbia Valley getaway and Radium/Invermere/Fairmont vacation!