Your new waterfront home in the Rockies offers you all the benefits of rural country living in an ideal location that also provides access to a variety of amenities just a short drive away.  To the west, you’ll take in amazing views of the Purcell Mountains and to the north and east, spectacular vistas of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies. 

Jimsmith Lake is situated only 10 minutes from the regional city centre of Cranbrook, BC.  In addition to being the largest city in the BC Rockies with a population of 20,000, Cranbrook is known to be the sunniest place in the entire province.  It boasts a wealth of shopping and entertainment options and offers access to an international airport and any professional service that could be desired. For those seeking outdoor recreational activities, the Cranbrook area has it all; from world-class golf to backcountry hiking and camping to swimming in some of the warmest lakes in Canada, plus every winter activity imaginable.

Attractions:

Golf the BC Rockies

Living at Jimsmith Lake, you’ll have the opportunity to experience a number of local golf course options and play in the region’s abundant sunshine.

The championship 18-hole Cranbrook Golf Club on 2nd Street South is a mature parkland layout that plays from 5,200 to 6,800 yards, offering challenge and enjoyment to golfers at all levels. Each hole of the mature course is beautifully framed in tall evergreens, affording a quiet dignity that feels quite special and invites you to play.

Way-Lyn Ranch Golf Course is a challenging 18-hole executive par 3 golf course located in the beautiful Saint Mary's River Valley, on Highway 95A between Cranbrook and Kimberley. Golfers enjoy an inspiring view of the Purcell Mountain Range to the west, and the majestic Rockies to the east.

The family-oriented executive Par-3 Mission Hills Golf Course on Theatre Road features 18 holes nestled in mature ponderosa pines, with spectacular vistas of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

The 18-hole golf course at St. Eugene Mission on Mission Road (above photo) winds its way through open links land and rolling woodlands, with spectacular views of the St. Mary’s River and Fisher Peak, and on the opposite side of the valley, the Purcell Mountains are etched against the sky. Plays 5,398 yards to 7,007 yards from the championship tees.

There are 2 additional major golf courses between Cranbrook and Kimberley:  Shadow Mountain and Bootleg Gap.  Two more courses are in Kimberley (25 minutes away); Trickle Creek and Kimberley Golf Club.

Ski World-Class Resorts:

Whether you're looking for night skiing, recently groomed runs, moguls, tree skiing, a half-pipe, or an untouched fresh powder run, Kimberley Alpine Resort has it all and is only 25 minutes from your doorstep.  The resort's challenging runs and friendly local ambience draw skiers and snowboarders of all abilities.  A little farther, about an hour’s drive to the east of Cranbrook, is the world-renowned Fernie Alpine Resort. Up the Columbia Valley you'll find Panorama Resort near Invermere, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden and Banff and Lake Louise Resorts in Alberta's national parks of the Canadian Rockies.

Hiking, Mountain Biking & Hotsprings:

The fact that part of Jimsmith Lake is indeed protected as a provincial park should help to illustrate its importance as year-round destination for outdoor recreation, nature study and wildlife viewing.  In addition to your own backyard and the lake itself you will enjoy exploring some of the other parks and attractions in the region, including:

Elizabeth Lake Wildlife Sanctuary which is a must see for bird watchers. This 249-hectare marshland is located just south of Cranbrook and attracts all manner of migratory birds and waterfowl as they pass through to the Elk Valley corridor. The wildlife area also provides prime habitat for muskrats, turtles, reptiles, elk, moose and white-tailed deer.

Moyie Lake Provincial Park, at the north end of scenic Moyie Lake, encompasses lightly forested landscape, a small pond, and several trails. Moyie Lake is the spot if you enjoy cool, secluded picnics beside a welcoming lake on a hot summer day.

Norbury Lake Provincial Park is situated off the beaten path in the broad, rolling valley of the Rocky Mountain Trench. The park encompasses two lakes - Norbury and Peckham’s - and offers spectacular views of the Steeples in the Hughes Range.

Silver Springs (in photo above), is a spectacular chain of three lakes about 40 minutes east of Cranbrook on Crowsnest Highway 3 (accessed by a short hike.) It features crystal clear waters for cliff jumping, swimming and fishing.

Hiking: Hikers can head to the Cranbrook Community Forest and South Star Recreation Trails. For a vertical challenge, the trails continue to Fisher Peak (2,900 metres/9,514 ft), the highest peak in the southern Rockies.

Natural Hot Springs in the area include Fairmont Hot Springs and Lussier Hot Springs (photo at right). Less accessible are the Dewar Creek Hot Springs, and Ram Creek Hot Springs, which are accessed from Skookumchuk via Premier Lake Premier Lake Road and Sheep Creek Road North. A snowmobile or cross-country skis are required to reach the Ram Creek pools in winter.

Local Links of Interest: