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Kootenay Lake BC beach east shore

Beaches    Boating  |  Fishing  |  Provincial Parks  |  Trails

One Of Canada's Largest Warm Water Lakes

Kootenay Lake

Kootenay Lake map

Location

Kootenay Lake is a long, narrow and deep fjord-like lake located between the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. Crawford Creek Regional Park buffers Kokanee Springs Resort and the lakes 2 local beaches.

Area Map
glacier

Formation

Kootenay Lake formed through river erosion and later from glaciation as glaciers began to melt and ice filled the valley, which caused the lake to begin to form. Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park is a popular hiking area in the nearby West Kootenays.

Area Map
Kootenay Lake geographic map thumbnail

Orientation & Size

Although primarily oriented North and South, Kootenay Lake has a western arm that extends approximately 35 kilometres into the town of Nelson. The lake is one of BC's  largest at round 104 kilometres in length with a maximum depth of about 150 metres.

Area Map

About The Lake

East Shore Life

On the countless days when the winds are calm, the glass surface of the lake is perfect for boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, wake boarding, wind surfing and jetskiing.

 

Personal watercraft can be launched from the local beaches or from one of two Federal boat launches. As for boat owners, there's a boat launch at nearby Kootenay Bay.

Boating & Fishing

boy fishing Kootenay Lake
Crawford Bay shore line

Crawford Bay is a beloved feature of Kootenay Lake. The bay offers a great degree of serenity and is semi-sheltered by the surrounding peaks of the West Kootenays. Small communities dot the peaceful, natural shoreline of the bay where your camera will capture an array of picturesque, sandy and semi-rocky waterfront landscapes.

Crawford Bay

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