The Kootenay Rockies, British Columbia’s unique, mountain oriented vacation region, situated in the southeastern corner of the province offers an incredible variety of unequalled recreational and getaway opportunities.

The region includes five different, spectacular mountain ranges, including the Canadian Rockies, that create breathtaking mountain and river valleys each with their own character.

Vacations include clean, natural, uncrowded outdoor activities and experiences that reflect the lifestyle, the culture and the community of Canada’s West.

The history of this region begins with the valleys and majestic mountains that define its geography. For thousands of years, long before the first Europeans arrived, native people prospered here.

Ktunaxa (pronounced ‘Tan-an-ha’) is the ancient Aboriginal name of the Kootenay Tribe, known today as the Ktunaxa Nation, or the Kootenay or Kutenai Nation.

(pronounced ‘Tan-an-ha’) is the ancient Aboriginal name of the Kootenay Tribe, known today as the Ktunaxa Nation, or the Kootenay or Kutenai Nation.

Prior to contact with the Europeans, the Ktunaxa enjoyed a rich and bountiful existence, migrating seasonally from river bottom lands to high mountain valleys and from salmon rich rivers to distant buffalo pastures. Ancient petroglyphs can still be found along the shores of the Kootenay Lake.

In the 19th century, contact with European fur traders and settlers exposed the Ktunaxa to previously unknown diseases that heavily impacted their population. Subsequent gold and silver strikes brought more Europeans and other nationalities into the territory introducing new culture and religion, and a new language.

The 19th century gold strikes at Wild Horse Creek and Rossland, along with the discovery of silver in Nelson and the Slocan Valley, and coal in the Elk Valley, brought dramatic change.

Steam-powered sternwheelers took the place of traditional canoes and dynamite shattered the serenity of mountains as railroads were carved through impossible terrain.

The mighty industrial revolution had arrived. The promise of striking it rich attracted dreamers and schemers from across the continent.

Throughout the 20th century, new waves of immigrants came to the region in search of a better life. As did their culture as well.

Today, the region is a haven for artists, craft people, writers and performers, each working to shape the rich artistic and cultural life of the Kootenay Rockies.

The communities of the Kootenay Rockies are rich in history.

The area is dotted with architectural delights of yesteryear. Nelson is home to some of the most incredible heritage architecture in British Columbia.

These dramatic homes, magnificent buildings and churches reach back to Nelson’s early years, as a silver mining boom town.

In the town of Fernie, the Leroux Mansion (1912) is a fine example of late Victorian gothic architecture. Discover these and others in the downtown centre.

Another favourite is the Salmo Hotel which was built in 1912 and restored to its original splendour in 1981. Salmo also boasts the world’s largest penny and the world’s oldest phone booth. This phone booth was carved out of the trunk of a grand old cedar tree that is approximately 500 years old.

Another attractive feature of the area is its hot springs.Most hot springs in Canada occur in British Columbia.

The geological nature of the Kootenay Rockies lends itself to extensive geothermal activity and many people today value the spring water for therapeutic use.

For more info go to www.kootenayrockies.com