The Columbia Valley is a popular resort area. Lake Windermere is one of the closest lakes to the Calgary area and is a popular location for second home owners. Situated between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, it offers a multitude of recreation opportunities in both the winter and summer seasons.
Invermere is the geographic central hub to the region and is situated next to Lake Windermere (home of the WhiteWay ski and ice skate trails in the winter). Adjacent trail systems include the Kloosifier and Johnson, as well as Lillian Lake trails, a short drive away. Around the Village of Radium are existing trails, such as the Old Coach Trail and Juniper network that offer some of the earliest season riding and running opportunities to residents and tourists (Canmore and Calgary being the primary weekend warrior group). Nipika is adjacent to the east and offers an extensive cross-country ski and mountain bike trail network with paddling and hiking opportunities. Panorama to the west offers downhill skiing, lift accessed mountain biking, cross-country skiing and hiking. The adjacent mountains bordering the valley offer extensive hiking trails to summits, glaciers, lakes, and alpine ridges. Please check out our Trail Finder App for more!
Recreation trails have many important benefits, both for local communities and for individual users. They strengthen communities, they contribute to local economies, build pride and put places ‘on the map’. Trails offer users a wide range of rewards, physically, mentally and emotionally, many of which are directly transferable into both work and home environments. The benefits of recreation trails are well researched and documented. Greenways provides trail enthusiasts, local government authorities, and community groups with a vision to begin to plan for and develop recreation trails in a sustainable way.