Did you know there are crystal clear, teal-blue lakes with road access nestled in the Rocky Mountains without the crowds you see at other popular destinations? Norbury Lakes is one of many relatively unknown paddling gems in the valley between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, where Cranbrook is located. The area is surrounded by beautiful, epic waterbodies to stand up, paddle board, kayak, canoe, or play in some whitewater. This article will tell you everything you need to know to plan a paddling trip to Cranbrook, BC.
Norbury Lake
Norbury Lake Provincial Park is home to two lakes, Norbury and Peckham’s, with teal blue water. The Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and western larch forests give way to views of the Steeples, a distinctive ridge of towering rocky peaks situated within the Hugh’s Range of the Rocky Mountains. The provincial park has forty-six first-come-first-serve campsites for those who want to stay the night, but the park is under a 30-minute drive from Cranbrook, making it a perfect day trip. Norbury Lakes are ideal for stand up paddle boarding and kayaking; no motorized vessels are allowed, so you don’t have to worry about waves bumping around your paddle board.
St. Mary Lake
Venturing West from Cranbrook into the Purcell Mountains, paddlers will find St. Mary Lake, nestled between mountains on either side. This 730-acre lake is a great kayak fishing, canoeing, and bird-watching spot. The lake is home to several fish species, including rainbow trout, bull trout, cutthroat trout, white fish, and ling cod. The West end of the lake, where nutrients from the St. Mary River flow into the lake, is known to be one of the most productive spots for fishing on the lake.
St. Mary River
White water curious? The St. Mary River is the perfect beginner and family-friendly rafting location. The rafting run starts slow for several kilometres before launching you into class 2/3 rapids. Kootenay Rafting Co. (https://kootenayrafting.ca/adventures/st-marys-express/) is a local company offering guided rafting and kayaking trips down the river. Along with the rafting trips, Kootenay Rafting Co. offers kayak tours down the river for those who want a little more adventure than your typical rafting experience.
Bull River
As the water levels rise with snow melt and rain in the spring, the Bull River offers one of the most sustained stretches of class IV water in the East Kootenays. The river has two sections: the upper section, which boasts a more approachable mix of class II and III rapids, and the Lower Section, which provides classic big-water paddling and includes iconic rapids such as “Bubbalicious” and “The Canyon.” Kayakers looking to run the Bull River are encouraged to do their research and connect with the knowledgeable staff at Just Liquid Sports in Cranbrook to get up-to-date info on how the river is running. If you are interested in white water rafting but don’t have the experience needed to run the Bull, Just Liquid Sports also offers intro to White Water Kayaking courses that will teach you everything you need to know to get started safely.
Elk River
For those who want to run a guided rafting trip in some big water rapids, take a look at the Elk River! Located about sixty-five kilometres from Cranbrook is the little town of Elko, where Tunnel 49 raft company will pick you up to take you on a 16km trip through the Elk Canyon as the white water carves its way into the depth of the Rocky Mountains. Paddlers can expect epic canyon views, hoodoos, opportunities to view wildlife, and adrenaline-pumping white water. In the spring, the river provides some ‘big water’ classic, and when the water levels are lower, boulder gardens become exposed, and some stretches of calm water appear.
Moyie Lake
Moyie Lake is a unique type of water body known as a “kettle pond,” which means the lake was formed by a depression created at the outflow of a historic glacier. This area has a unique ecosystem with two distinct types of plant life based on the moisture in the area. Larch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and white spruce can be found in the drier areas, while black cottonwood, trembling aspen, willow, and alder flourish along the waterways. Moyie Lake Provincial Park is the perfect place to launch your watercraft and explore this lake. High cliffs rise from the lake’s surface along the undeveloped western shore. The lack of development on this lake and the preserved riparian areas also make it an excellent place for viewing wildlife. Paddlers should keep their eyes peeled for beaver, muskrat, waterfowl, whitetail deer and numerous woodland birds while paddling.
Nestled in the heart of the East Kootenay region, Cranbrook is an underrated gem for paddling, offering a blend of serene lakes and world-class white water. While many know that Cranbrook offers killer mountain bike trails and golf courses, Cranbrook is somewhat of an unknown destination for paddling. Enjoy the calm waters of St. Mary’s, Moyie, and Norbury lakes, or get the adrenaline pumping in the white water on the Elk, Bull, and St. Mary rivers. Cranbrook is a paddling paradise with uncrowded waterways waiting for visitors who like to travel away from the crowds.
