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Town
of Creston
The Town of Creston is located 89 km (55 miles) east of Salmo
and 107 km (66.5 miles) south-west of Cranbrook
on Hwy 3.
Idaho
The USA state of Idaho is only 13 km (8 miles) away from Creston
at the Rykerts/Porthill customs crossing. Creston also serves as
the gateway to the Lower Kootenay Lake with the junction Hwy 3A
splitting off to the north.
BC's
highest frost free days
The weather in Creston is quite temperate when compared with the
rest of British Columbia. Winter time is not so harsh and the summer
is not quite as hot compared to the Okanagan Region in the West.
Blessed with a large fertile valley combined with some of BC's highest
frost free days, the Creston region is able to grow a number of
crops plus having a long season.
Beautiful
Fruit Orchards
Agriculture has always been an important resource in the region
and is quite noticeable. Signs of it are everywhere from the elevators
in town to the fruit orchards and vegetable gardens spread throughout
the Creston region. For people who love fruit stands, Creston is
well noted and has stood out for its very excellent quality through
the years.
Wildlife
Viewing
With so much wetland area around Creston and the district wildlife,
especially waterfowl, is very abundant. For wildlife viewings take
in The Creston Valley Management Area located just north on Hwy
3A by Wynndel.
Photo
Opportunities
The CVMA is comprised of Lower Kootenay Lake, Duck Lake, Six Mile
Slough and Leach Lake. The area is beautiful and will provide lots
of photo opportunities when taking pictures.
Kokanee
Beer
While you are in Creston, make sure you visit The Columbia Brewery
where the famous BC beer Kokanee is brewed. Kokanee beer has had
a long presence in these parts and is a fixture of Creston and the
Kootenay Region.
Free
Tour
If you have time there is also a free tour of the Creston Brewery
Company offered during the summer months. Just a warning though
"Look out for a Sasquatch" and the ghost of "Brew."
Other
things to do
Creston has a few attractions and things for you to do. The tour
through the Creston & District Museum and Archives is excellent
offering local history. Canyon Heights Golf Course is nice for golfing
and generally no lineup. Or, on a hot dry summer night, it is always
quite pleasurable to just plain old walk through town smelling all
the flowers.
Driving
Tours
The area around Creston is awesome, nestled between the Selkirk
and Purcell Mountains with clean lakes, slow meandering rivers,
lush orchards and dense forests. A good driving tour includes going
up the east side of Kootenay Lake on Hwy 3A to Kootenay Bay and
catching the ferry to Balfour.
Lockhart
Provincial Park
On the way here you can stop off and visit Lockhart Provincial Park
and explore the trail up Lockhart Creek then relax at Lockhart Beach.
Goat
Canyon
If you have a truck and like the back-country, a favourite road
goes up the Goat River Forestry Road located just east of Creston
on Hwy 3. The road travels north and ends up giving you access to
Kianuko Provincial Park. Along the route you can stay at the FSR
site at Goat Canyon. The highlight of this site is an excellent
panoramic viewpoint.
Motels
and Campgrounds
Once you see Creston and discover what's around, you'll want to
stay for a while. Look for a large selection of motels on both the
east and west sides of town while on Hwy 3. Three campsites you
might want to look at are Little Joe's, Kozy Tent and Trailer plus
Scottie's RV Park & Campground.
Coming
to Creston
If you are coming to Creston there are a couple of different ways
you might want to consider. To and from Salmo
on Hwy 3 the road is very steep causing brake problems or overheating.
High
Snow Conditions
Also, during the winter Hwy 3 could be closed because of high snow
conditions. Instead, if you travel on Hwy 3A through Nelson,
you could be a little easier on your vehicle. The downside is the
route could take a little longer and you'll miss out seeing Stagleap
Provincial Park.
Information
on Creston
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