Invermere + Windermere

Situated on the shore of one of the warmest lakes in the Kootenays, Invermere and Windermere are all about sun and fun. People come here to golf, spend afternoons at the beach and take in the local shops. In the winter, the lake fun continues with ice fishing, skating, pond hockey and nordic skiing on the world's largest outdoor ice trail - The Whiteway.

Fishing in the Columbia Valley

Fishing

Lake Windermere offers the widest variety of game fish in our selection of excursions. You can catch rainbow or cutthroat trout, char, kokanee, mountain whitefish, northern pikeminnow, and burbot. Lake Windermere is also one of the few lakes where bass fishing is allowed in this region. Explore this vast lake in search of breathtaking views or for that elusive big bass. Reel Axe Adventures are local fishing guides that offer half and full day trips onboard the "Sunny Manana" pontoon boat. Other fishable waterways popular for a variety of fish are: Columbia Lake, Columbia River (from shore or by boat) and Whiteswan Lake near Fairmont Hot Springs. 

Fairmont Ski Area

Fairmont Ski Area

Sunny slopes, softer snow, and incredible value, Fairmont Ski Area is a great ski area for families, novices but also offers up some challenging runs for big turns. Just a few minutes from the world-famous hot springs, the Fairmont Ski Area combines fantastic snow conditions for skiing and boarding as well as some extra fun at the Aquafina Tube Park. 

Skating Columbia Valley

Skating

The Lake Windermere Whiteway is a well-maintained skating loop from Windermere to Invermere which features fire pits and hockey rinks along the way. The best access for skating is at Kinsmen Beach in Invermere, Invermere Bay Condos and one at Windermere Beach. Kinsmen Beach access has heated public bathrooms and park benches, as well as shovels and fire pits. Skate rentals are available at Inside Edge, downtown Invermere or at Columbia Cycle, across from the A&W Restaurant.

ATV Tours

ATV Tours

Toby Creek Adventures near Panorama Mountain Village offers ATV tours to suit all ages. With access to hundreds of kilometers of trails, these ATV adventures are perfect for beginners to experienced riders, even groups.

Scenic Flights from Invermere Airport

Scenic Flights

The Invermere Airport is known to be one of the best mountain soaring and flying sites in the world. This area offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, Glaciers, Mountain Lakes and the Columbia Wetlands. Take to the sky in a Cessna airplane, helicopter or even soar silently in a glider

Massage and Spa in Invermere/Windermere

Massage & Spa

Fusion Day Spa and Wellness Centre, located in downtown Invermere as well as at the Copper Point Resort, offers an extensive menu of massage and esthetic services. Balanced Health & Wellness, also in downtown Invermere offers a unique combination of services from acupuncture to pedicures.

Heli-Skiing Columbia Valley

Heli-Skiing

RK Heliski, located at Panorama Mountain Village, 20 minutes from Invermere offers 1,500 square kms of incredible terrain in the spectacular Purcell Mountains, on the edge of the Bugaboo mountains. Their heli-ski/boarding tours are led by some of the world's best mountain guides accessing wide open alpine slopes, scenic glaciers and gladed forests dusted with annual snowfalls of up to 1,100 cm/36 feet. This location allows for easy helicopter access to the seamlessly unending glaciers and perfectly spaced treed runs… and all that glorious powder. Choose from single day or multi-day heli-ski trips, group trips, sightseeing and heli-fondue trips.

Hiking in the Columbia Valley

Hikes & Walks

The Columbia Valley is mecca for hiking. Some of the best hikes in and around Invermere are: Swansea Lookout, Pedley Pass and Lake of the Hanging Glaciers. Kootenay National Park near Radium is an explorers paradise. To the south discover the Hoodoos near Fairmont.

Hot Springs & Pools near Invermere

Hot Springs & Pools

Since Invermere is centrally located in the Columbia Valley, you can choose to visit either Fairmont Hot Springs 20 minutes south or Radium Hot Springs 15 minutes north. For a primitive dip, visit the Lussier Hot Springs in Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park, 1 hour and 15 minutes drive. 

Windermere Swimming & Beaches

Swimming & Beaches

Lake Windermere, one of the warmest lakes in the Kootenay Rockies, is a perfect place for sun worshippers and water babies. The combination of sun and splashing around the shoreline is a summer memory waiting to happen. Choose from Kinsmen Beach or James Chabot Park in Invermere or Windermere Beach in Windermere.

Invermere & Windermere Water Sports

Water Sports

Lake Windermere offers tranquil bays for SUP (stand up paddleboards) or explore the Columbia River and wetlands between Invermere and Radium by canoe or kayak. Perhaps you are after a bit more "splash" and want to jet ski, wakeboard, waterski or tube. It's all here in Invermere and Windermere. For SUP, check out Syndicate Board Shop or Columbia River Outfitters. Power boat rentals are available through Pete's Marina in Invermere or Shadybrook Resort in Windermere. Canoes and kayaks are available through Columbia River Outfitters

Snowshoeing Columbia Valley

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to enjoy the winter wonderland in the Columbia Valley. This activity requires little equipment and basically you can hit the trails or make your own tracks. Some of the most preferred snowshoeing areas in the Kootenay Rockies is at Radium Hot Springs - Dog Lake, at Fairmont Hoodoos and of course, the many trails available at Nipika Mountain Resort. Pretty much anywhere there are ski trails, you can snowshoe. Please respect tracks and keep off the ski trails though.

Mountain Biking in the Columbia Valley

Mountain Biking

The Columbia Valley is a favourite for mountain biking. Trail systems surround the town of Invermere and Windermere. Some of the fan-faves are: Mount Swansea, Johnson and Kloosifier trail networks

River Rafting in the Columbia Valley

River Rafting

Invermere is the hub of river rafting in the Columbia Valley. Choose from the Columbia River for a lazy float between Invermere and Radium or to the south in Fairmont. Toby Creek in Panorama offers a more exhilarating whitewater experience. For those who really want to get wet, the Kicking Horse River to the north in Golden is where it's at. Kootenay River Runners or Glacier Raft Co are available in the valley for your whitewater rafting tour excursion.

Panorama Mountain Village

Panorama Mountain Village

With 2,847 massive acres of terrain across 4,000 vertical feet of fall line perfection, you just might find a new favourite run with every descent. Glide down endless, meandering, corduroy cruisers, or watch all of the action in the Rockstar Terrain Park. Tackle the freshly gladed, powdery paradise of Taynton Bowl, with its over 750 acres of ex-heliskiing glory, or drop in to the Extreme Dream Zone and see if your turns are tighter than the spacing of the trees. From absolute beginner to World Cup champion, Panorama Mountain Village is the definition of one size fits all. Panorama also offers night skiing on the weekends and during holiday seasons.

Kootenay Rockies Golfing

Golf

The Kootenay Rockies is a golfer's paradise with over a dozen courses to choose from. Enjoy a longer season and the stunning mountain views of the Canadian Rockies. Read More (link to Golf page)

Snowmobiling the Columbia Valley

Snowmobiling

Toby Creek Adventures provides the ultimate Canadian Adventure in 32,000 acres of wilderness on the western slopes of Banff National Park. There is no other tour operator in the area providing such a spectacular experience. Their experienced guides will take you through old growth forest to high alpine bowls with soaring rocky peaks.  Tours are suitable for all levels of experience (beginners to advance riders).  All you need to do is give us a call and we will book your Rocky Mountain snowmobiling adventure for you. The folks at Toby Creek Adventures, based in Panorama, BC take care of all the gear and equipment.  It's that simple and that exhilarating. Choose from 1 hour to full day trips, VIP tours, even dine and ride tours with candlelight dinner on the mountainside. 

Cross-Country Skiing Invermere Windermere

Cross-Country Skiing

The Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club is proud to promote and maintain the Lake Windermere Whiteway. The Whiteway is a 34km groomed track that runs all the way around the lake and connects the towns of Invermere and Windermere. The Whiteway has tracks for classic cross-country skiers, a groomed skate skiing track, and a cleared ice-skating track. There are three official entry points onto the Whiteway; one at Kinsmen beach in Invermere, one at the Invermere Bay Condos in Invermere, and one at Windermere beach.


We do more than hand you the keys!

  • we send you a local area guide with your reservation so you can start planning
  • we book your tee times at one of twelve area golf courses that we partner with
  • we make restaurant recommendations and book your reservation
  • we order your ski lift tickets for Panorama Mountain Village
  • we book activities for you and your group such as fishing and ice-fishing, snowmobile tours, ATV tours, white water rafting, bike rentals, boat and SUP rentals
  • we are glad to share our recommendations for area activities, local events, favourite shops and spas

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