Free
Kinsmen Beach and Lake Windermere
A sandy public beach and park on the lake, a short walk from downtown Invermere, for a swim or a lakeshore picnic.
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Columbia Valley, British Columbia
Invermere and Radium
A lake town in the Columbia Valley, with a sandy beach at Kinsmen, a boardwalk at James Chabot, a trail up Mount Swansea, and the Radium Hot Springs and Sinclair Canyon a short drive north.
Photo: Lake Windermere in the Columbia Valley, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Invermere sits on the north shore of Lake Windermere, a widening of the Columbia River between the Purcells and the Rockies. Kinsmen Beach is a short walk from the shops. At the outlet of the lake, James Chabot Provincial Park has a sandy shore and a short wildlife boardwalk into the wetlands.
Fifteen minutes north, Highway 93 cuts through Sinclair Canyon and the Radium Hot Springs sit at the west entrance to Kootenay National Park. The Paint Pots and Olive Lake are a little farther up the park road.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
James Chabot Provincial Park
A day-use park at the north end of the lake, with a sandy beach, paddling and a short elevated boardwalk into the wetlands.
Free
Mount Swansea
A trail and a forest road to a summit above the lake, with wide views of the Columbia Valley, the Purcells and the Rockies.
Cheap
Sinclair Canyon
A narrow rock canyon at Radium, where Highway 93 passes between high walls. A park trail follows the rim; a Parks Canada pass is required to stop at park trails.
Cheap
Paint Pots, Kootenay National Park
An easy walk to iron-rich mineral springs that stain the clay ochre, a short way up the park road from Radium. A park pass is required.
Cheap
Olive Lake
A small, easy-to-reach lake in Kootenay National Park, along the highway toward Banff, with a short shore walk. A park pass is required.
Cheap
Radium Hot Springs
A Parks Canada mineral pool in Sinclair Canyon, open year-round, with a hot soak pool and a cooler swimming pool. Hours change with the season; admission is first-come at the door.
Season Open year-round, including holidays; hours are shorter in fall and winter (check before you go).
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Downtown Invermere
A short, walkable cluster of shops and patios just up from the lake, with the mountains at the end of the street.
Cheap
Windermere Valley Museum
Local history in a collection of heritage buildings at the edge of town. Admission is by donation.
Season Summer (June 1–September 30) daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; winter Saturdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (check before you go).
Paid
Panorama Mountain Resort
A ski mountain in winter, in a side valley west of Invermere; hiking and downhill biking once the snow is gone.
Season The 2026–27 ski season begins December 4, 2026, and typically runs into April (check before you go).
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Invermere Farmers and Artists Market
A seasonal market in town. Dates are posted on the official market page; check before you go.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Free
Shops and patios near the lake
Independent shops, bakeries and patios between downtown and Kinsmen Beach.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Radium Hot Springs
Admission to the Parks Canada mineral pools in Sinclair Canyon, open year-round. Hours change with the season; tickets are sold at the door.
Season Open year-round, including holidays; hours are shorter in fall and winter (check before you go).
Kootenay National Park pass
A Parks Canada pass is required to stop at park trails and day-use areas, including the Paint Pots and Olive Lake.
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Panorama Mountain Resort Tickets
Part of our The Kootenays guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The lake is better in the evening, when the wind drops and the Purcells are still in the sun.
- A beach day, a soak at Radium and a walk in Kootenay National Park need a night in between.
- Mount Swansea is a morning or late-day climb, not something you add to a long drive.
Nearby and worth the drive
Goldenabout 1 h 40 · Guide ↗
Yoho, the Kicking Horse and the north end of the Columbia Valley.
Fernieabout 3 h 20 · Guide ↗An Elk Valley mountain town, a longer but natural next stop south.
Ready-made trips with Invermere and Radium
Good to know
- Kootenay National Park: A Parks Canada pass is required to stop at park trails and day-use areas, including the Paint Pots, Olive Lake and the Sinclair Canyon trail: parks.canada.ca/kootenay. The highway through Sinclair Canyon is a public road.
- Radium Hot Springs: Admission is first-come at the door; Parks Canada says advance and online tickets are not available. Hours change with the season. Check the official hours page before you go.
- James Chabot: There are no lifeguards. Pets are not allowed on the grass or beach; they may be on leash on the gravel path and Dragonfly boardwalk.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Lake Windermere in the Columbia Valley, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Boats on Lake Windermere in summer, Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0
Photo: The highway through Sinclair Canyon near Radium, mmmmngai@rogers.com, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: The Paint Pots in Kootenay National Park, Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo gallery, CC BY 2.5
Photo: The chairlift at Panorama Mountain Resort, Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada, CC BY 2.0
Photo: A street corner in downtown Invermere, User:Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0