In the heart of the East Kootenay’s, Cranbrook, BC, makes a great home base for outdoor winter activities. The winters are mild here, and the town is accessible by a small international airport and has a range of accommodation options suitable for every budget. It’s also located on the Powder Highway, known for heavy snowfalls, alpine snow sports and winter adventures.
The City of Cranbrook, also known as ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit, and the surrounding area is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Ktunaxa (‘k-too-nah-ha’) and Kinbasket Peoples. Five First Nations are located in this region. Four of them are Ktunaxa and one is Shuswap. We are grateful to have the opportunity to explore and play in this special territory.
If you want to be active outdoors, there are so many breathtaking places to explore and adventures awaiting. You’ll find excellent winter hiking, snowshoe trails, frozen waterfalls, mountain views, downhill and cross-country skiing and family-friendly activities like ice skating, tobogganing and outdoor play! Whether you’re in town for the weekend or a local looking for something new to explore, check out our list of the best winter activities in Cranbrook, BC.
Northern Explorers’ 5 Favourite Winter Activities in Cranbrook, BC
1. Alpine Skiing
Cranbrook is along the Powder Highway and in the centre of some of the best alpine skiing in North America. Seven well-known ski resorts are within a two-hour drive, the closest being Kimberley Alpine Resort (30 minutes away) and Fernie Alpine Resort (60 minutes away). Ski and snowboard lessons, programs and equipment rentals are available at all the resorts.
Kimberley Alpine Resort
Kimberley Alpine Resort is a family-friendly ski resort with terrain for all ages and abilities. It also has North America’s largest glade terrain, including runs for beginner skiers who want to experience fun in the trees. Kimberley has a dedicated kids’ ski run and learning area, ski-in/out accommodation, and several dining options for a relaxing après ski. You can also take advantage of Kimberley’s cross-country ski trails and snowshoe tours. The Ktunaxa name for Kimberley is Kukamaʔnam.
Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort is massive, offering over 2500 acres of rideable terrain throughout five alpine bowls and the highest vertical descent in the Canadian Rockies. Often, Fernie will get the most snow compared to nearby resorts and is a go-to for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Fernie also offers ski-in/out accommodation, dining, nightlife and shopping. The Ktunaxa name for Fernie is Ȼaqahak.
2. Cross-Country Skiing
If cross-country skiing is more your jam, a few places in the area offer maintained, groomed trails. The landscape here is beautiful, and you’ll enjoy mountain views, wide open valleys and tall, snow-laden forests.
Kimberley Nordic Club
Located on the edge of Kimberley Alpine Resort, offers a network of groomed trails with difficulty levels to accommodate all abilities of cross-country skiers! The club also offers memberships, programs, lessons and equipment rentals. Their mission is to make Nordic skiing accessible to everyone! View the Kimberley Nordic Club trail map.
South Star Trails
This multi-use trail system is great for winter activities in Cranbrook, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. A Nordic track is set up for classic skiing, and the main trail is groomed for skate skiing, totally over 60 km of trail through a beautiful forest. View the South Star Trails Winter Map.
3. Winter Hiking
Hiking is one of the most popular winter activities in Cranbrook, BC, and there are plenty of options for those ready to explore on foot! Whether you want a breezy walk in a winter wonderland or want to climb to a lookout with expansive mountain views, you’ll find it within 20 minutes of town. Here are some great winter hiking options:
Cranbrook Community Forest
Located just on the Northeast outskirts of town, this community of rest offers over 100km of trails weaving through a tall Douglas Fir forest. You’ll join many locals for dog walks and snowshoe adventures and can take your fat bike on the 23 km long groomed trail. Directions to Cranbrook Community Forest.
Eager Hill Lookout
Hike up this old fire lookout for sweeping views of the Rocky Mountain Trench, Columbia Lake, and Fisher Peak. This short 2.7 km out-and-back trail is steep and very rewarding. It should take most hikers an hour to complete. Due to its popularity, the trail will be packed down, so snowshoes might not be needed. Directions to Eager Hill.
Wyecliff Buttes
Walk 2 km to a rocky knoll and climb up (about 130m gain) to experience expansive views of the valley, rural landscape and surrounding mountain ranges. These buttes are known to local Indigenous people as ʔaqnamuknana, which means little cliffs. It is a significant place for the Ktunaxa as it was used for hunting expeditions. They could drive game and trap game between the two buttes, making the hunt more efficient.
Now, these twin buttes are a favourite place for walkers and hikers. This area is covered in wildflowers in May and June, but in the winter, it is a clean, crisp blanket of white. This viewpoint is an excellent spot to watch the sunrise, which happens at a more comfortable time in the winter! The trail is usually packed down from hikers, but bringing snowshoes is advisable if it has just snowed. Directions to Wyecliffe Buttes.
4. Winter Waterfalls
The breathtaking beauty of frozen waterfalls can make winter feel magical. Glistening cascades, towering ice formations, and the sound of running water through a snowy forest offer a serene escape from the hustle of town. If you’re looking for winter activities in Cranbrook that will provide exceptional photo opportunities, don’t skip these easy and accessible waterfall trails:
Marysville Falls
Located 26 km from Cranbrook, Marysville Falls is one of the most accessed waterfalls in the region. It’s right off the highway in Marysville, and the viewpoint of the waterfall is just a short 300-metre walk from the parking lot. Marysville Falls is a great winter walk for families of young children. It’s short and sweet but offers beautiful views. Directions to Marysville Falls.
Moyie/Lumberton Falls
Known as either Moyie or Lumberton Falls, this 40-minute, 2.8 km waterfall walk offers views of an icy and snow-covered cliff wall, split by the frozen (sometimes partially frozen) cascade. The hike is easy enough, but the road to the trailhead can be challenging. Lumberton Road is narrow, slippery and requires all-wheel or four-wheel drive to access. The trailhead is located near Lumberton, about 21 km Southwest of Cranbrook. Directions to the Moyie Falls Trailhead.
Cherry Creek Falls
If you’re close to Kimberly, drive just out of town and take a stroll down the Cherry Creek Falls trail. Cherry Creek Falls looks more like a frozen waterslide, but the park is well worth the visit. It’s quiet, serene and a great place to take the kids out for an adventure. Directions to Cherry Creek Falls.
5. Tobogganing
Cranbrook is home to an incredible tobogganing hill and has the amenities to make an entire day out of it. Idlewild Park is a local family favourite and offers a couple of tobogganing hills, maintained trails, and a skating pond. Idlewild Park also offers a few campfire and picnic areas, so you can warm up by the fire and drink hot chocolate between toboggan runs. The park is also dog-friendly and has a playground.
Other Toboggan Hills in Cranbrook
Parkland Middle School: The schoolyard offers a great toboggan hill with views of Elizabeth Lake.
St. Mary’s Middle School: This schoolyard backs onto Rotary Way Trail and Joseph Creek and has an awesome toboggan hill and a few playgrounds.
More fun winter activities in Cranbrook
We’ve chosen our favourite five things to do outdoors during the winter in the Cranbrook area, but this list certainly isn’t complete! You can visit Cranbrook Tourism to discover more winter adventures in the area, including:
- Snowmobiling
- Ice skating (man-made and frozen lakes)
- Fat biking
- Hockey clubs
- Snowshoeing
- Outdoor play!
They also have more information on hiking trails, lakes, parks and cross-country ski destinations.
How to get to Cranbrook, BC
Cranbrook is tucked into the Canadian Rockies on the southern tip of the Columbia Valley. This location is the meeting point for the Rockies and the Purcell Mountains and a beautiful road trip destination. It’s accessible via major highways in all directions. Cranbrook also has an international airport, making it a destination that is easy to travel to.
Car:
Those travelling from the north will enjoy a beautiful drive through the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia Valley along Highways 93 and 95. These highways go through town and right into Idaho and Montana! The quickest route from Southern Alberta is to follow Highway 3 through the Crossnest Pass.
Air:
International and domestic travellers can arrive in Cranbrook via the Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC). Air Canada and WestJet both fly into this airport, which has connections to major cities like Vancouver and Calgary.
Bus:
A weekly bus line runs between Calgary, Alberta and Kaslo, BC. It departs Kaslo on Mondays and returns from Calgary on Tuesdays. Check out the routes and stops offered by Mountain Man Mike’s Bus Service.
Getting around Cranbrook, BC
Rent a car
A car is the best way to explore Cranbrook and the region. You can rent a car within the city and from the Canadian Rockies International Airport. If you don’t have access to a car while in town, you can always hire a taxi or catch an uber for quick trips around town.
Take the bus
BC Transit also operates a bus service around the city centre and throughout Cranbrook. If you want to travel from Cranbrook to neighbouring communities, check out BC Transit’s Connector service. You can travel to:
Ride a bike
Cycling is a great way to get around Cranbrook (though this is easier in the summer), and the city is small enough to make most areas accessible via bike. You can also travel from Cranbrook to Kimberly on the Northstar Rails to Trails network, which offers paved and beginner-friendly trails. If you want to cycle the scenery south and east of town, check out the gravel Chief Isadore Trail from Cranbrook to Wardner. If you’re biking in the winter, a fat bike is recommended!
Northstar Rails to Trails Map
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