On the Water

How much do you know about the Elk River? Where does it start? Where does it go?

Winding and flowing its way from the Petain Glacier (Elk Lakes Provincial Park) all the way to Lake Koocanusa, the Elk River takes on every form of water movement. It begins as shallow lakes, turning into a tight stream, then to a friendly winding river that you see flowing through the town of Fernie. All of a sudden, near Elko, it transitions into a raging, white water frenzy, where only the bravest of white water paddlers will venture! Beyond the raging frenzy we find the happy medium, exhilarating whitewater; this is where commercial white water rafting is offered. All of this variation captured in about 220km of water, as the Elk River arrives gently in Lake Koocanusa. During the last few months the world as we know it has been altered. How quickly and easily things can be taken away from us, without much of a warning for its drastic change. I hope for you, it has given you a greater appreciation for those things that were considered normal, everyday occurrences. Maybe, simply realising the place we choose to live in is spectacular. This summer, I challenge you to discover something new about the river you likely catch a glimpse of every day. Appreciate the beauty of the Elk River and the exhilaration it can bring you through a journey floating downstream. Tubing, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and canoeing from the North Fernie Bridge to James White Park are great summer activities. The Elk River Alliance has created a map of the Elk River that has a wealth of information. You can purchase one from the Fernie Information Centre or the local Fly Fishing Shops. If you feel your life has been lacking some excitement, take a white water rafting trip! Perhaps you feel you need to ease back into the excitement with a gentle, scenic float. Are the fish luring you in? The Elk River is known for its Native Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Bull Trout. After checking the fishing regulations, try your luck and throw a line in. If all of this sounds a bit much, or you can feel the cold water from your living room, simply take a day to walk or bike along the river banks and watch the Elk River flow by. Who knows, you might surprise yourself, forget the water is cold and jump right in! You don’t need to travel to be a tourist. Luckily for us, we can be tourists in our very own beautiful town. Our local river outfitters would love to have you on board. As we’ve covered, the Elk River truly has a piece that would appeal to just about anyone. So, the challenge is on! Schedule in a day, on (or near) the water this summer and learn something new about our waterway. Possibly you’ll learn something about yourself too!