With the Rocky Mountains at its doorstep and a heritage that dates back to the gold rush era of the 1800s, Cranbrook is the perfect place to meld outdoor adventure with local history.
Visitors can start their journey by exploring Fort Steele Heritage Town. Located 16 kilometres northeast of Cranbrook, Fort Steele is a pioneer boomtown that features over 60 shops and buildings, along with a steam train, wagon rides and live theatre.
ATVers and other off-road users can then delve a little deeper into the history of the area by taking a ride up to Fisherville, which is the original townsite of Fort Steele. Now a ghost town, Fisherville was at one time home to about 5,000 residents who had come for the gold found in nearby Wildhorse Creek. Many of them did strike it rich but they moved on when the easy-to-access deposits on the surface dried up. Today, gold can still be found by those interested in using traditional gold panning methods. From Fisherville, ATVers will also find a large supply of roads and trails to explore.
The abandoned Estella Mine behind Wasa is another popular ride to try. At an elevation of 1,830 metres, the mine offers spectacular scenery and fantastic views of the Columbia Valley below. The road up is steep, narrow and rocky but easily passable by ATV or dirt bike. At the site, visitors can hike around, peer into one of the old mine shafts and look for interesting artifacts. Over the years, the Estella Mine produced silver, lead, zinc, cadmium, copper and gold.
Urban adventures
After spending some time on the trails, why not take a break from the throttle to experience Cranbrook’s many urban adventures.
For history buffs, there is the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. Located in the Cranbrook History Centre, this museum showcases 23 rail cars and one locomotive. There is also a fully restored dining room known as the Royal Alexandra Hall.
On Saturday mornings, Rotary Park plays host to the Cranbrook Farmer's Market. From locally grown fruits and vegetables to handmade arts and crafts, there is always a wide variety of vendors at the market.
“If you want to take it easy, we have some of the best golf courses in North America,” said Kevin Weaver, business and economic development manager for the City of Cranbrook.
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino is one of them and here you can cap the day off with a delicious meal and a game of chance in the casino.
“Our summers here offer a wide range of activities,” said Weaver, “both in terms of the outdoor riding opportunities and in the community itself.”
Did you know?
Colonel James Baker, who was the founder of Cranbrook, B.C., named the city after his hometown of Cranbrook in Kent, England.
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