Neighbouring Elkford

ELKFORD

When travel restrictions in British Columbia are lifted, your next great adventure begins where the road ends.

At the end of Highway 43, you’ll find the district of Elkford. A hidden gem of the East Kootenay, this high-altitude Rocky Mountain municipality caters solely to the adventurous in spirit. Without a traffic light or shopping mall in sight, its rugged mountain ranges, iconic Canadian wildlife and thousands of hectares of untamed wilderness are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true.

Welcome to Elkford

Elkford is among the most remote communities in British Columbia. Built in 1971, as a homestead for mining industry workers and their families, Elkford also boasts the amenities, recreation facilities and luxuries of a much larger city. This idyllic mountain hamlet provides approximately 2,500 residents with postcard-perfect views, beautifully maintained community parks, a nine-hole golf course, hiking and mountain biking trails, world-class fishing, emerald lakes and endless acres of wilderness to explore. Wilderness is at the core of Elkford’s identity, and wildlife is often sighted strolling down the streets. Wildlife native to the region include grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, moose, lynx, wolves, wolverines, foxes, cougars, elk and deer. More bighorn sheep inhabit the district of Elkford than any other place in North America, and wildlife photographers will be pleased to find them dotting the cliffs on the edges of town.

Destination: Isolation

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there are plenty of ways for locals to get outside and play tourist in their own town, all while adhering to the orders and directives of regional and Provincial health authorities. Lace up your boots and leash up your dog! Elkford contains over 30 kilometres

of scenic hiking trails. Beloved local trails include: Bare Hill Lookout, the Boivin Creek Peace Trail, Lost Lake and Lily Lake loops and Josephine Falls. More of an adrenaline junkie? Experienced climbers and seasoned backcountry hikers delight in summitting the craggy peaks that surround town, such as Wapiti Mountain and Grizzly Peak, and hardcore mountain bikers enjoy the sublime single-track that snakes through the Elk Valley’s subalpine terrain. Whether you are hiking, camping or backpacking this summer, we ask that residents practise physical distancing, stay close to home and follow the Leave No Trace principles of outdoor ethics. Before heading into the backcountry, always plan and prepare for hazards, emergencies, wildlife and extreme weather conditions.

A Slice of Mountain Paradise

If relaxing against majestic mountain backdrops is more your speed, Elkford also provides more laid-back outdoor pursuits. Landscape photographers will recognize Elkford as the gateway to some of the most legendary wilderness parks in Western Canada: Elk Lakes and Height of the Rockies Provincial Parks. Each summer, their alpine meadows fill with wildflowers and explode into kaleidoscopic bloom. A two-hour drive north of Elkford, accessible only by logging roads, Elk Lakes Provincial Park showcases mirror-like lakes, cascading waterfalls and remnant glaciers encased within 17,000 hectares of breathtaking wilderness. At Mountain Meadows Golf Course, golfers of all ages and abilities can enjoy a round of golf with incredible scenery. The nine-hole layout was built on a natural elk grazing meadow in 1976. Each hole has two sets of tees, so the back nine plays much differently than the front nine. The course winds through towering spruce trees and along a bubbling

Walk out our back door into a world untamed, where spectacular recreation and nature abound. Explore our mountain playground…visit Elkford, British Columbia.

brook, where water comes in to play, and offers spectacular mountain views all the way through. The Elk and Fording Rivers are an angler’s paradise, with an abundance of Westslope Cutthroat, Bull and Rainbow Trout populating the largely undisturbed waters. Whether you prefer to fish in rivers, streams or pristine alpine lakes, we ask that you obtain a fishing licence and adhere to all B.C. and waterspecific fishing regulations. Come armed with a cooler full of cold drinks and spend a lazy summer day casting in world-class Kootenay waters.

Now is not the time to travel to other communities in B.C., but we hope to inspire our residents to explore local and our neighbours to visit in the future. When inter-community travel restrictions are lifted, we look forward to welcoming you to Elkford!

Going the Extra Mile.

Fresh Deals

Savings • Service • Convenience

Proud supporter of our community. Our friendly Fernie and Sparwood team members are always ready to help you because we love to go the EXTRA MILE for our neighbours.