Free
Kaslo River Trail
A maintained walking trail along both sides of the Kaslo River, just west of the village.
Kootenay Lake, British Columbia
Kaslo
A small heritage village on the north arm of Kootenay Lake, with the world's oldest intact passenger sternwheeler at the town dock, a riverside trail, a fire lookout above the water, and hot springs and caves a short drive south.
Photo: The SS Moyie at the Kaslo town dock, BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kaslo sits where the Kaslo River meets Kootenay Lake, a compact grid of wooden heritage buildings under the Purcells. The SS Moyie, a National Historic Site, is berthed at the foot of Front Street, the oldest intact passenger sternwheeler in the world, open for self-guided tours in the warmer months.
A few minutes' walk takes you to the Kaslo River Trail and a town beach. South along the lake road are Ainsworth Hot Springs, with a horseshoe-shaped soaking cave, and Cody Caves Provincial Park, where guided trips follow an underground stream through limestone.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Free
Kaslo Bay and Front Street beach
A swimming beach and green park beside the sternwheeler, right in the village.
Free
Buchanan Lookout
A refurbished fire lookout and a short loop trail with wide views over Kootenay Lake.
Free
Kootenay Lake Provincial Park
Lake-access campgrounds at Davis Creek and Lost Ledge, north of the village.
Paid
Cody Caves Provincial Park
A limestone cave system above Ainsworth, visited on guided tours. The access road is rough.
Season Guided tours roughly May–Sept (check before you go).
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Front Street heritage village
A short, walkable main street of wooden storefronts facing the lake.
Free
Kaslo City Hall
The oldest wooden municipal hall still in use in British Columbia, a National Historic Site.
Cheap
SS Moyie National Historic Site
The world's oldest intact passenger sternwheeler, berthed at the town dock for self-guided tours.
Season Open roughly mid-May–Thanksgiving weekend (check before you go).
Cheap
Langham Cultural Centre
A restored 1890s hotel with galleries, a small theatre and a Japanese Canadian museum.
Paid
Ainsworth Hot Springs
Mineral pools and a horseshoe-shaped cave soak on the lakeshore, about 15 minutes south. Open year-round.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Kaslo Saturday Market
A seasonal market in Front Street Park.
Season Saturdays, roughly mid-June–early Oct (check before you go).
Free
Visit Kaslo visitor centre
Local maps and advice, in season, beside the sternwheeler.
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.
Cody Cave Tours
Guided trips through the limestone caves above Ainsworth.
Season Guided tours roughly May–Sept (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Ainsworth Hot Springs Experience
Part of our The Kootenays guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- The lake at dusk from Front Street is the reason to linger.
- A soak at Ainsworth and a cave tour fill a second day.
- Nelson is about an hour down the West Arm, an easy overnight loop.
Nearby and worth the drive
Nelsonabout 70 min · Guide ↗
A mountain town of brick streets on the West Arm.
Goldenabout 4 h · Guide ↗The Kicking Horse and Yoho's doorstep.
Revelstokeabout 4 h · Guide ↗Mount Revelstoke and the Meadows in the Sky Parkway.
Ready-made trips with Kaslo
Good to know
- Season: The SS Moyie and the Saturday market keep summer hours; Cody Caves is guided and the access road is rough. Check before you go.
- 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: The SS Moyie at the Kaslo town dock, BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Boathouses on Kaslo Bay, Revelstoked, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Downtown Kaslo, Darren Kirby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Kaslo City Hall, Darren Kirby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Ainsworth Hot Springs and the Purcells, Hontanar, CC BY-SA 3.0