Invermere is a jumping off point for countless skiing and boarding adventures.
Just 15 minutes west of Invermere,
Panorama Mountain Village is a superb family resort, offering over 100 downhill runs from gentle slopes to "steep and deep" terrain. There's also 20.5 km (12.7 mi) of groomed cross-country trails to explore.
Guided tours in Panorama Mountain Village take you from valley bottom, up 2,438 m (8,000 ft) where you'll find an expansive bowl for powder riding. Local operators can pilot heli-skiers to ski amid the granite spires of the Bugaboos or in open bowls near the village.
Other ski resorts within a 2.5 hour drive of Invermere include
Kicking Horse (
Golden),
Kimberley,
Fernie and Fairmont Hot Springs.
After the slopes, head to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort or
Radium Hot Springs to soothe in revitalizing mineral spring waters.
The Columbia Valley is a world-renowned golfing destination. The
Riverside and
Moutainside golf courses at Fairmont Hot Springs feature stunning Valley vistas.
Greywolf at Panorama has bent grass from tee to green.
SCOREGolf Magazine named the "Springs Course" at Radium Resort one of the "20 Best Golf Courses" in 2003. Also check out the "Resort Course" at Radium. And Eagle Ranch's sculpted canyons have made it one of Canada's "Top Golf Courses For Conditioning" according to
SCOREGolf Magazine in 2003.
You can try a guided heli-hiking adventure or follow your own path hiking amid the towering granite spires of the Bugaboos. And traiheads to Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park will lead you to lakes, glaciers and alpine meadows.
Kootenay National Park has over 200 km (120 mi) of trails with four vehicle accessible campgrounds. Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park has five campgrounds, with many lakefront sights and access to natural hot springs.
Panorama Mountain Village comes alive in summer with everything from horseback riding to mountain biking. There are also diverse biking trails, ATV Tours, flightseeing, glider rides, and paragliding/hang gliding to tempt you.
Situated along the sandy shores of 15km (9.3 mi) long Windermere Lake, Invermere is a great place to enjoy canoeing, kayaking, swimming and fishing.
To unwind, try
Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs or the wilderness setting of Lussier Hot Springs-all within a short drive from Invermere. Catching Rainbow or Cutthroat Trout is one reward of fishing the glacier fed creeks, rivers and pristine lakes of the Columbia Valley.
Whitewater Rafting on Toby Creek at Panorama Mountain Village will have you floating on turquoise waters through steep canyons. Kicking Horse River drenches paddlers with nearly continuous Class III to IV rapids. And the Kootenay River features wildlife viewing and family-friendly Class II and III rapids. You can also canoe the Columbia River for a gentle float down river past diverse wildlife.
Some of the hottest attractions are the body-soothing hot springs pools. Try
Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs or the wilderness setting of Lussier Hot Springs. Panorama Mountain Village is a year-round resort with great downhill and cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in winter, horseback rides, hiking, mountain biking and more in summer. Some two dozen galleries showcase local and international artists in the Columbia Valley. Pynelogs Cultural Centre has a local art gallery and presents live music and theatre.
Visit the Columbia Valley Botanical Gardens. Windermere Valley Museum offers insights into First Nations and pioneer history.
Spanning some 180km (112 mi), the world-renowned Columbia River Wetlands form the longest continuous stretch of wetlands remaining in North America.
These wetlands of the Pacific Flyway are critical resting and feeding areas for migratory birds. Birders come to witness the second largest concentration of Great Blue Herons in western Canada, some 15,000 waterfowl in autumn and more than 1,000 Tundra Swans during spring. Over 265 bird species have been recorded in the area near Invermere alone.
Each May join Columbia Valley residents to celebrate the return of the birds during the spectacular Wings Over the Rockies Bird Festival.
Kootenay National Park offers diverse terrain and remarkable wildlife viewing. You may spot Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Elk and Moose.
Famous for its spectacular 70 million year-old spires-some reaching 3,000 metres high (9,843 ft) - Bugaboo Provincial Park leaves hikers, climbers and mountain bikers awestruck by its natural beauty.
Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park has two mountain lakes with superb Rainbow Trout fishing, natural hot springs and views of the towering Rockies.
Several well known artists make their home in the Columbia Valley and you'll find dozens of galleries and studios showcasing their work, from paintings to pottery. The Pynelogs Cultural Centre houses a gallery and gift shop with the work of local artists on display. Overlooking Windermere Lake, the Centre also hosts live music and theatre. Windermere Valley Museum traces the valley's history, from First Nations and pioneers up until the 1950s. Visit the Museum's seven heritage buildings including a train station, trapper's cabin and old school house. See the dugout canoe crafted by an early member of the Shuswap Nation.
On the north end of Windermere Lake, relax on the sandy beach in James Chabot Provincial Park. Enjoy windsurfing, swimming, canoeing and kayaking. The beach is also backed by an open, grassy play area, perfect for families. Kinsmen Beach and Park is Invermere's largest beachfront park on Windermere Lake.
For a restorative plunge, dip into the area's mineral-rich hot springs. Try
Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs or the wilderness setting of Lussier Hot Springs-all within a short drive from Invermere.
With over half a dozen spas in the area, indulge in gentle massages and body treatments from deeply soothing hot stones to body wraps and aromatherapy.