Arriving by air is possible at the Cranbrook and Castlegar airports with flights out of Vancouver and Calgary (all other areas can be reached by road or rail).
Highlights:
Spring – water ways fill up and blossoms and bulbs come to life
Summer – meadows and hills splashed with bright floral colours
Autumn – the golden aspens (trees) and possibly encounter elk rutting (mating season)
Winter – fantastic snow sports (especially skiing)
Local Ski Resorts located in Kimberley, Fernie (south east region near Cranbrook), and Panorama
Hot Springs – soothing natural hot water springs found throughout the mountain range(Farimont or Radium Hot Springs)
Year round activities: railway tours, spelunking and wilderness camping.
History:
The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans Canada highway are the largest developments through the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. Surrounding towns saw much of the area open up because of these new ways of transportation and allowed an influx of travelers to continue to visit after the era of the Gold Rush fizzled out. Most of the pioneers reached this area by saddle train (caravan of horses) and explorers through the wilderness by boat (on rivers and lakes) had to first make it through the rugged and often dangerous Rocky Mountain passes that wind for miles. The valleys are sheltered from the harsh winter weather and often the regional rivers gave the First Nations bands and the pioneers sufficient fishing grounds to live off year round.
Climate:
Summer average warm 28 + degrees Celsius
Winter average above freezing in the valleys, - 5 degrees Celsius or less up in the Mountains