About the Area

Nelson and Area

Nelson is nestled in the Selkirk Mountains and is located on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.

The legacy of the past, evident in the more than 350 preserved heritage buildings, mixes with a dynamic arts and culture scene. The variety attracts outdoor enthusiasts, creatives, entrepreneurs, and urban refugees year round. Known as the Queen City for over one hundred years, it’s a vibrant town, rich in art and culture, with numerous restaurants, breweries, and summer markets featuring produce and crafts from the surrounding areas.

If you are visiting the area in summer for an active vacation there are endless possibilities on land or on the water. Boating, sailing, water-skiing, fishing, kitesurfing, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and road biking are well represented. Golfing options abound in Nelson, Balfour and Crawford Bay.

If you are passing through as a sightseer, then scenic, lakeside roads deliver pleasurable driving and motorcycling experiences. The renowned, 450km long International Selkirk Loop passes our door. In winter, the ski resorts of Whitewater and nearby Red Mountain offer great downhill skiing, with cat ski operations for the adventurous off-piste hounds. Cross-country ski enthusiasts can enjoy local track-set trails, and backcountry options abound throughout the Selkirk Mountains.