Staff Pick

Road Trip Kootenay – Kimberley, Creston, Nelson, Hot Springs

Kimberley Nelson
280
km
4h
drive
All seasons
season

The Itinerary

Southeast BC's Kootenay is one of Canada's best-kept secrets: a string of valleys between the Purcells and Selkirks, dotted with themed villages (Bavarian, hippie, railway), hot springs and arts-and-culture vibes. A 280 km loop via Highways 95A, 3 and 3A links the prettiest stops.

Kimberley, a former mining town reborn as the "Bavarian City of the Rockies," is known for its Platzl (pedestrian zone with a 6 m cuckoo clock) and microbreweries. Creston, the Kootenay's agricultural capital (cherries, apricots, Kootenay Meadows cheese), houses the Columbia Brewery (Kokanee beer).

The Kootenay Lake free ferry between Kootenay Bay and Balfour (the world's longest free ferry, 35 min) is a cult moment. Ainsworth Hot Springs — a thermal spring in a former mine cave — is unique in Canada. Nelson, a bohemian town with preserved Victorian architecture and 20+ craft breweries, hosts a jazz festival and the Whitewater Ski Resort (renowned for powder).

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Kimberley Platzl
    Bavarian pedestrian zone, 6 m cuckoo clock.
  • ✦
    Kootenay Lake Ferry
    World's longest free ferry, 35 min.
  • ✦
    Ainsworth Hot Springs
    Hot spring in a mine cave, unique in Canada.
  • ✦
    Nelson
    Bohemian town, Victorian architecture, 20+ microbreweries.

Fishing Spots Along the Route

🎣
Acorn Creek
Stream
🎣
Active Creek
Stream
🎣
Ailsa Lake
Lake
🎣
Akokli Creek
Stream
🎣
Algiers Creek
Stream
🎣
Alki Creek
Stream
🎣
Allen Creek
Stream
🎣
Allin Creek
Stream

Protected areas along the route

🌿
Mountain Station
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Arrosmith
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Irvine Creek
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
PILOT BAY PARK
bc_parks_protected_areas
🌿
Goat River
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
GROHMAN NARROWS PARK
bc_parks_protected_areas
🌿
Giveout Creek (Morning Mountain)
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Horse Barn Valley Interpretive Forest
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Northstar Rec Area
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
MEADOWBROOK TRAILS
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Giveout Creek Snowcat Shelter
bc_recreation_polygons
🌿
Giveout Recreation Area
bc_recreation_polygons

Take this route offline

Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Kimberley. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.

Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps work
Practical info
  • Departure Kimberley
  • Destination Nelson
  • Distance 280 km
  • Duration 4h
  • Category Long (250–500 km)
  • Best season All seasons
Themes
hot-springs village Skiing brewery kootenay ferry lake-loop gastronomy

Plan your adventure with our interactive map

Open the map
All road trips