With only one paved road linking it with the rest of the world, Elkford is a community in a cul-de-sac.
There's just one other route out of the village – a gravel road that ends in the high mountain wilderness of the Kootenay Rockies, at Elk Lakes Provincial Park.
Elkford is also accessible along the Rockies & Ranchlands Circle Route.
Car Travel
All traffic to and from Elkford passes through Sparwood 34km/21mi to the south. On Highway 3, Sparwood is just 18km/11mi west of the Crowsnest Pass and the BC/Alberta border.
Over the pass to Fort MacLeod and north on Alberta Hwy 2, Calgary is a four-hour drive away. Vancouver is a little more than 1,000km/600mi west on Highway 3 – an approximately 11.5-hour drive.
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The closest car rental agency is in Fernie, 20 minutes southwest of Sparwood. At these high elevations, winter tires are essential equipment for a large part of the year.
Air Travel
The closest airport is the Canadian Rockies International Airport, just west of Cranbrook, offering service to Vancouver, Calgary and Salt Lake City. Car rentals are available at the airport, which is located 159km/99mi west of Elkford.
Calgary International Airport is 342km/212mi to the east, while the Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, Montana is a 252km/156mi drive. Both offer car rentals.
A 1,220m/4,000ft airstrip, used by private aircraft, is located 26km/16mi south of Elkford.
Public Transportation
Greyhound Canada operates two buses per day into Sparwood, with service to Calgary and Vancouver.
BC Transit operates the Elkford, Fernie, Sparwood Loop from Monday through Friday, with additional service to Elko on Thursdays. The nearest taxi service is based in Fernie.
Free maps of Elkford and the Kootenay Rockies region are available at the Elkford Visitor Centre.
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Transportation Service Providers