Kootenay River – Old Ferry Landing Picnic Site
Located along the waters of likely the calmest section of the Kootenay River, the old ferry landing site has for a long time been a launching point for all sorts of water adventures, especially canoeing and kayaking. Picnic tables were installed in the grassy area beside the parking area, making it the perfect place to enjoy a sunny afternoon alongside the river. Unfortunately, there are no garbage cans at the site so please take your garbage with you when you leave.
Goat River – Riverside Wilderness Park
For many years, Creston Valley residents and visitors have faced difficulty accessing Goat River near the town of Creston for recreational purposes. Although the river itself (up to high water mark) is public land, land access to the riverside is often not legally available to the public due to adjacent private landowners. Therefore, people are not able to enjoy many of the great places along the Goat River.
One of the few available river access points is the section of roadway on Highway 21 on both sides of the Goat River bridge. This is heavily used by the community during summer months. The ongoing problem with this location has been the unsafe conditions that currently exist: traffic driving at 80 km/h in both directions passing vehicles parked on both sides of the highway near the narrow bridge and pedestrians are forced into a dangerous situation alongside it all.
Trails for Creston Valley Society purchased a riverfront parcel of land, 1031 Highway 21, just off Highway 21 to provide safe, public access to our river and has turned it into a public park with a parking lot located a safe distance from the highway. TCVS has installed a public toilet and a change room and is preparing to install picnic tables and garbage cans.
Private properties surround the park so please be respectful of them and drive slowly after leaving Highway 21 and stay within park boundaries at all times.
Legend
Green circle: Most popular (likely because of ease of access, space, smooth level beach)
Yellow circle: Somewhat popular (likely not as well used because of difficult access, rocky shore, limited parking)
Grey circle: Least popular or no information available (likely not used because of a steep embankment, overgrown route, no parking)
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for Google Map directions and distance.
Kootenay Lake Access Map
This map can help you locate individual public access sites. There is a brief description for the most popular sites with photos to help you choose which site to visit.
Please make a note where the closest bathroom is located because most of these sites do not have facilities. Also, please help keep the site clean.
The Lake Access Project is a committee of the Trails for Creston Valley Society. Combining data from the RDCK and volunteer surveys we have put together this map to promote lake access and to help identify sites for upgrades. If you have any doubt about the location of any access point please visit the RDCK web map for the “Official” version of the data, including property boundaries and right-of-ways. This information was compiled by volunteers, and Trails for Creston Valley Society assumes no responsibility for errors. Many of the sites have no constructed trails and/or dangerous access only. Use of the these sites and this map is done at your own risk.
Please help us keep these sites clean, by packing out any garbage you bring or find!
Thanks to Marty Agabob at Levitated Lens for supplying many photos of our water access points.
A beach for everyone
A visit to Kootenay Lake shoreline is a treat in all seasons for: walks, kayaking, fishing off the rocks, playing in the sand, swimming from shore, picnicking, wildlife viewing, photography, painting, contemplating and soaking up the surrounding beauty. There are several public lake access points besides searching for sections of Crown Land that we have made known here. Please use at your own risk and please help to keep clean and beautiful.
Photo: Cheryl Jaggers
Martell Beach
“Martell Beach” is a popular Kootenay Lake “public lake access site.” You can find this beach on Lakeside Rd, roughly 1.5km south of the Glass House. It is also known as “Dog Beach” or “Kootenay Campsite Beach.”
The site is a relatively level area, making it one of the best locations for the mobility challenged to enter the water. However, the land is rugged with rocks and has tree debris. There is a spot for launching kayaks. Unfortunately, there isn’t a wheelchair ramp.
The Trails for Creston Valley Society (TCVS) has installed three concrete picnic tables for public use.
Visitors and volunteers maintain this beach. Please leave the beach better than you found it.
Enjoy Martell Beach with other beach goers and make some happy memories.
A few of the best spots
Kuskanook – S72
Kuskanook Rest Area and Boat Launch offers the closest fully serviced access to Kootenay Lake from Creston. Its more than just a boat launch however, as there is a beautiful beach on the south side well worth visiting.
GPS Coordinates: 49.29964, -116.66155
Kootenay Bay Ferry Landing – S19
This is a beautiful pebble beach next to the Ferry Landing. It can accommodate many beach goers but few people use it. Perhaps because they have little time between ferries or because they might think it is a private beach. The bathrooms, picnic tables and garbage cans are located at the Ferry Landing loading zone. To see a map with property lines click here.
GPS Coordinates: 49.67595, -116.87315
Twin Bays – S66a
The main site at Twin Bays has a beautiful beach with easy access for drop-off. Its fine sandy beach makes it the most popular beach on the East Shore of Kootenay Lake. Parking is available down the road. At the parking lot is a bathroom and garbage pickup.
GPS Coordinates: 49.34043, -116.71948
Riondel Park & Campground – S10
This site is privately owned by Teck Cominco. They have granted public access to this site. It has camping facilities, bathrooms, garbage pickup, covered picnic area and a beautiful beach with fabulous views of the lake and mountains.
GPS Coordinates: 49.76811, -116.85892
Garland Bay- S2
This is a Provincial Rec Site, with camping, outhouses, and plenty of lovely pebble beach. Its well worth the drive up the forest service road north from Riondel.
GPS Coordinates: 49.86989, -116.86081
Loki Point- S4
This beach takes a bit more work to get to than most, but its well worth it. Just a few kilometers from Riondel the trailhead for Pebble Beach Rec Site is easy to spot, but the hike down takes 30min. (maybe longer on the way back). Still, its a stunning private beach.
GPS Coordinates: 49.80904, -116.85504
About the Lake Access Project
The Kootenay Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in BC. However, it is one of the least inhabited lakes in BC, likely because it is underdeveloped. It largely remains in its pure natural raw state. This characteristic is part of its charm for many people who live on the lake or visit the Kootenay Lake every summer.
Highway 3A follows much of the Kootenay Lake east shore starting just before Kuskanook and ending at the Kootenay Ferry Landing at Kootenay Bay. The road also continues north of Kootenay Bay, to the town of Riondel, and a bit beyond. With every twist and turn (there are many) of the double lane road you will notice spectacular views of the lake. The trick is how do you get to the water. Much of the road passes by cliffs, trees and private residences.
Presently, there is only one Provincial Park for vehicle camping on this side of the Kootenay Lake and a couple community parks. The camping Provincial Park is Lockhart Beach and Camp Ground.
There is a camping rec site located beyond Riondel called Garland Bay. There is also a beach campground at Riondel that is run by a non-profit society.
A lovely Provincial Marine Park is located at Pilot Point near the Kootenay Ferry Landing. You can also find a few business campgrounds that make the lake more accessible.
There is also crown land (public access) along the lake but it is difficult to differentiate what is crown land and what is private land from the roadside. Identifying crown land can be done by visiting http://www.rdck.ca/EN/main/services/mapping-gis.html .
Fortunately, there are public lake access points along the lake that are accessible to most people but not for people who are mobility challenged. Most of these sites have not been developed and are not easy to spot from the highway. They have rugged shoreline access trails, no bathrooms or garbage cans. Please make note of where the closest bathroom is to the beach you select. People who visit these sites are encouraged to also help take care of them by packing out garbage. Please plan to bring along a garbage bag just in case there is garbage when you arrive. Nature and fellow users will be happy you helped out.
Each site has its own unique and special qualities. Some are also good for fishing from the shoreline.