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SNOWMOBILING IN Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake, the snowmobiler’s paradise

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

This quote by an unknown author describes the snowmobiling on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. So, if you are looking for an uncommon experience and like to make new tracks in new snow, make this area a priority for your next trip.

The elevations run from about 2000 feet all the way up to 7,000 feet. The main season runs from December to April. In fact, around mid-April you could snowmobile one day and golf the next.

The key trails in the area offer large staging areas, are ungroomed, are not crowded and range from snow covered logging roads to fantastic powder bowls and snow chutes. In most areas avalanches are not an issue.

You will appreciate the good quality accommodations and great food in the area. There are even a couple of pubs open year round for your enjoyment.

For more information contact Mike Rowland (250) 227-9616

Key Trails
There are literally hundreds of back country trails in the area with a few key ones providing access to the others. A few are described below.

Crawford Creek Trail
There is a large staging area just beyond the Crawford Bay transfer station. From here an old forestry service road leads you up the mountain providing access to a variety of trails some of which go up as high as 6,000 feet.

Gray Creek Trail
This trail is part of the trail system that goes over the Gray Creek Pass and on to the city of Kimberley, BC. The Gray Creek trail is great for trail riding and offers impressive scenery and vistas of Kootenay Lake and surrounding mountains. It provides access to the Redding Creek trail, as well as many others in the St. Mary’s Alpine area and leads into some areas offering great powder bowls.

Kootenay Lake Trail
Leaving from a plowed staging area just north of Riondel, there is a forestry service road (FSR) that runs north along the east side of Kootenay Lake. This FSR goes almost to Johnson’s Landing and provides access to many side trails running down to the lake or up the mountainside offering a variety of terrain and lots of territory to explore.

So, visit Kootenay Lake for a snowmobiling experience that will take your breath away. Remember to follow basic safety procedures whenever you travel the back country trails.

Miles and miles of unmarked powder are characteristic of the literally hundreds of ungroomed trails in the area. With mild temperatures, an average of 8 to 12 feet of fabulous snow, and breathtaking scenery the ride is always a thrill. A wide variety of terrain provides a memorable experience for all riders from the novice right through to the expert and even those looking for "extreme snowmobiling".