International Selkirk Loop: An Epic US & Canada Road Trip!

Last updated on March 31st, 2026

We have spent years exploring the Pacific Northwest and Inland Northwest, from the rugged Oregon coastline, to the lush Washington rainforests and endless mountain peaks. And without a doubt, one of the best road trips we have been on in the Northwest is the International Selkirk Loop!

What is the International Selkirk Loop you may ask? The International Selkirk Loop is North America’s only multinational scenic drive. This route travels 280 miles (450 kilometers) through the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. It can be done by vehicle, bike, or motorcycle and along the way you can see stunning mountains, pristine lakes, rushing waterfalls, historic towns, wildlife, and unique hot springs. Plus ride a ferry!

It’s truly one of the most underrated road trips in North America! And in this guide we’re sharing all of our favorite stops along the International Selkirk Loop, important things to know before you hit the road, and our suggested itinerary based on our own trip.

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The best stops on the International Selkirk Loop

We’re covering our must-visit stops along the International Selkirk Loop, which you can view on the map above and read more details about below. It includes both stops right along the route, plus some along the route’s side trips. While it’s not an exhaustive list of every stop on the route (it would take months and months to see it all!), these are the places we’d suggest prioritizing on your first trip!

We’re starting the list in Sandpoint and going clockwise, as that is how we traveled the International Selkirk Loop. But you can easily do it in reverse!

Sandpoint, ID

Located in northern Idaho, Sandpoint is where we kicked off this epic international journey. Sandpoint is known for its historic downtown, Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pond-a-ray), Schweitzer Ski Resort, and tons of recreational opportunities. You could easily spend a week here going for hikes, checking out the local eats, and hanging out at the lake. But here are some of our top stops!

Explore (& eat in) downtown Sandpoint

Downtown Sandpoint is a cute, walkable area just a few blocks from the lake, making it super easy to grab coffee, enjoy a relaxing day by the water, and then grab a post-beach treat. Some of our favorite spots are Evans Brothers Coffee, Joel’s Mexican Food for burritos, and Panhandle Cone & Coffee for ice cream (get the huckleberry)!

As you wander around, make sure to check out the town’s outdoor murals and public art. And if you visit in the summer months, make sure to check out the annual Art Walk!

Hike the Mickinnick Trail

For the best views of the Sandpoint area, head up the Mickinnick Trail! This 6.3 mile (10.1 km) hike gains 2,148 feet (655 meters), taking you to a stunning overlook of Lake Pend Oreille and the nearby mountains.

It’s a tough and steep hike at times and can get very hot in the summer, so make sure to start early and pack lots of water and sun protection. We also saw a moose on the hike, so be aware of your surroundings and make noise, so you don’t startle any wildlife.

Hang out at Lake Pend Oreille

No visit to Sandpoint is complete without hanging out at Lake Pend Oreille! This is the largest lake in Idaho and one of the deepest lakes in the US, with beautiful water perfect for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and boating. There are countless places you can access the lake across the Idaho panhandle, but one of the easiest spots is Sandpoint City Beach Park. It’s just a short walk from town, has a pretty large free parking lot (which does fill up on summer days!), and lots of beach and grass areas to hang out.

Visit Schweitzer

Schweitzer is the largest ski resort in Idaho, with 2,900 acres of skiable terrain. But from mid June until early September it’s also a fun summertime playground, with tons of mountain biking trails, scenic chairlift rides, huckleberry picking, a zipline, hiking trails, and more!

Hike Scotchman Peak

While not technically on the International Selkirk Loop, just a short detour away in Clark Fork is the Scotchman Peak Trail. This was hands down our favorite hike of our International Selkirk Loop road trip! It is a challenging hike, with 3,717 feet (1,133 meters) of elevation gain over 7.6 miles (12.2 km). But for those able to tackle it, it is well worth it for the panoramic views at the top of Lake Pend Oreille and the Cabinet Mountains.

Plus, you’ll often find mountain goats hanging out at the top. We saw dozens of them, plus the cutest little baby! Just make sure to keep your distance and never, ever feed them. They aren’t very fearful of humans and are notorious for trying to lick the salt off of you, plus your gear. So make sure to keep an eye on your belongings at the top!

Metaline Falls, WA

Heading west from Sandpoint, you will continue through Idaho for less than an hour, passing by the turnoff for Priest Lake (another International Selkirk Loop side trip option!), before crossing into Washington. And while there are a handful of towns you could stop in along the Washington stretch of the International Selkirk Loop, our top pick is Metaline Falls.

This area is said to be the birthplace of the International Selkirk Loop. A ranger at the nearby Colville National Forest helped get it started. And while the town itself is very tiny, with just a couple restaurants, like The Farmhouse Cafe, plus an ice cream shop, there are some pretty neat natural attractions to check out while here.

Peewee Falls

Located along the Pend Oreille River, Peewee Falls is one of the best waterfalls in Washington! Not only is this waterfall massive, at 233 feet (71 meters) tall, but it’s also unique because the best way to get to it is by kayak. However, you can view it from land as well. Here is a breakdown of your two options, so you can decide which is best for you!

Option #1: Kayak
The first option (and best experience) is to paddle to the waterfall from the Boundary Dam Campground. This is about a 15 minute paddle on calm water and will take you right to the base of the falls! There is also a cave you can paddle into around here, which only adds to the experience.

To do this, you will need your own watercraft, as there are no rentals nearby. Make sure to check the watercraft inspection rules before you put in! We attempted to do this in our inflatable kayak, but unfortunately overfilled it, causing it to pop. So instead, we had to do the second option.

Peewee Falls | Best waterfalls in Washington

Option #2: Overlook
If you don’t have any watercraft to visit the falls, you can see the falls from the Peewee Falls Overlook. This is on the opposite side of the river from the waterfall and requires a little bit of a windy drive, plus a short walk from a parking area. But the view from the observation platform is fantastic! We ended up coming here after our failed kayak attempt and think that even if you can kayak, it’s worth it to see the falls from this perspective as well.

Boundary Dam

Speaking of the Boundary Dam Campground, not only is it a great launching point to paddle to Peewee Falls, it is also an amazing FREE campground, with 22 sites. It can get busy though in the summer, so make sure to arrive by the early afternoon to ensure you get a spot! Even if you can’t paddle to the falls, this campground is well worth visiting for the amazing views and water access.

Beyond camping by the dam, you can also tour the facility from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fun fact: this dam and hydro-electric powerhouse supplies power to the city of Seattle!

Gardner Cave

Located in Crawford State Park near the Canadian border is Gardner Cave. This cave is the third longest limestone cave in Washington and offers views of stalagmites, stalactites, and other interesting cave formations. The cave is typically open for tours starting mid-May until mid-September and reservations are required.

Sullivan Lake

Sullivan Lake is located less than 15 minutes east of Metaline Falls and has fantastic views of the lake and surrounding mountains, multiple campgrounds to stay at, and some great hikes, including a section of the Pacific Northwest Trail!

US & Canada Border Crossing (Metaline Falls-Nelway)

After leaving Metaline Falls you will reach the border crossing to enter Canada. We have been to many border crossings to get into Canada and this was by far the smallest. There is only one lane and during our crossing, no one else showed up to cross on either side. Also, compared to some larger crossings, this one has more limited hours. So make sure to check the hours in advance!

Nelson, British Columbia

Nelson is the largest town on the Canadian side of the International Selkirk Loop and boasts a pretty epic backdrop, with its location right on Kootenay Lake and mountains around. We fell in love with it pretty instantly!

It also makes for the perfect basecamp to explore the rest of the International Selkirk Loop, plus go on some fun side trips. From here you can have access to Kootenay Lake, multiple Provincial Parks, lots of hikes and other outdoor activities, hot springs, delicious food, and historic towns. In our opinion, this is where the scenery on the International Selkirk Loop starts to get extra epic!

Explore in downtown Nelson

Downtown Nelson is known for its restored buildings that date back to a regional silver rush in the late 1800s. Here you’ll find some gorgeous historic buildings, murals, and waterfront views (like at City Dock!).

If you visit on a Wednesday or Saturday, make sure to visit the Nelson Farmers Market. And for the train lovers, hop onto the historic Nelson Streetcar #23, which has been in Nelson for over 100 years! It runs along the waterfront daily from mid May until mid October. Rides are donation based and you can ride as many times as you want within the same day.

Also, Nelson will be the best place to resupply on groceries after crossing the border. We went to Save-On-Foods and they had everything we needed!

Check out the local coffee & food scene

While in downtown Nelson, make sure to support some of the local businesses! For coffee, check out Oso Negro Cafe (their sandwiches are great too!), No6 Coffee Co., or L&C French Bakery.

And for lunch or dinner, swing by Big Dee’s Fancy Wieners & Quality Ice Cream (if not just for the name alone 😂), Broken Hill, Pitchfork Eatery, Marzano, or Red Light Ramen.

Cottonwood Falls Park

Just a short walk from downtown Nelson is Cottonwood Falls Park, a free park with a pretty impressive waterfall that tumbles down Cottonwood Creek.

Hike up Pulpit Rock

One can’t-miss hike in Nelson is Pulpit Rock. This relatively short (2.2 miles/3.5 km), but steep trail gains 1,036 feet (316 meters) through the forest, ending at a rock that overlooks Kootenay Lake, the city of Nelson, and mountains and valleys in the distance.

The view from the rock is fantastic, but if you’re feeling full of energy continue up the trail to the flag pole for even higher views.

A+K Tip: Parking is alongside the road for this hike and does fill up, so we suggest arriving early in the day, especially if hiking on a weekend. There are no toilets at the trailhead either, so make sure to go beforehand!

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park

A little over 20 minutes up the road from Nelson is Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. This park is located right on both Kootenay Lake and Kokanee Creek and has hiking trails (we loved Kokanee Canyon!), water access, and a campground, which we camped at for a couple days.

But this park is most famous for its salmon spawning. Every year around mid August, thousands of Kokanee salmon come to this creek to spawn, laying millions of eggs. Unfortunately we were too early to see this, but if you can time your road trip to witness this annual phenomenon, it’s a sight to see!

A+K Tip: Make sure to walk over to Unkel’s Street Eats for some outrageous fish and chips and poutine!

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park

One of the top spots we wanted to visit on the International Selkirk Loop was Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. Located down a rough road (high clearance is recommended), this park is home to two glaciers, Kokanee and Woodbury, which feed over 30 lakes!

Unfortunately we were a bit too early in the season and the snow was still too high, but next time we hope to do this hike which goes by five lakes!

A+K Tip: On your way to the park, stop by the Old Growth Recreation Trail to see giant, ancient cedar trees! This came highly recommended to us by a local.

Kootenay Lake, British Columbia

The standard International Selkirk Loop ends just north of Nelson at Balfour, where you cross the ferry over to Crawford Bay (more on that in a bit!). However, we highly recommend continuing north along Kootenay Lake.

This section reminded us so much of the Sea to Sky Highway in western British Columbia, with the water and towering mountains. It was our favorite part of the road trip!

Ainsworth Hot Springs

Our first suggested stop along this detour is Ainsworth Hot Springs, where you can soak in the warm, relaxing spring water. While these hot springs are more of a pool environment than the typical remote, rugged hot springs we seek out, they do offer something we have never seen at a hot spring before: hot springs in a cave!

This area is home to the Cody Caves, which play a big role in the Ainsworth Hot Springs. As water flows down through fractures in the rock, it increases in temperature until it hits a lakeshore fault. Then, hydraulic pressure forces the water back up to the resort, where the water ranges from 35°C/96°F to 42ºC/108ºF, with the hottest water being in the cave.

While we did enjoy soaking in the pool portion of the hot springs, our favorite part was wading through the horseshoe shaped cave. It was dark, steamy, and so much fun!

Important to know: The hot springs are only open Monday and Wednesday-Sunday (check their hours here). It costs $18 CAD for adults and less for kids and seniors, with family packages as well. This includes use of their locker rooms and showers, which you are required to use before getting into the pool.

Fletcher Creek Falls

One of the biggest surprises on our road trip was Fletcher Creek Falls. A short hike takes you to various viewpoints of the impressive Fletcher Creek Falls, ending at a boardwalk inside a canyon, where you can stand close to the base of the falls and get blasted by mist!

While here, don’t forget to walk down to the water as well for beautiful views of Kootenay Lake and the mountains. This is also a great picnic area, with multiple tables to eat at.

Kaslo, BC

A few more miles north on Highway 31 is the charming small town of Kaslo. Formerly a gold and silver mining town, Kaslo sits right on the shore of Kootenay Lake and has a quaint downtown area with many historic buildings. We lost count how many times Adam said “I could live here!”

There are 60 restored Heritage Sites in town, including the SS Moyie National Historic Site, the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler! It launched in 1898 and for about 60 years, transported people, goods, and vehicles across Kootenay Lake, from Nelson to Kootenay Landing, connecting the Crowsnest Pass Railway with the Canadian Pacific lines to the west.

You can see the outside of the sternwheeler while walking in town, but we highly recommend paying to tour the ship itself ($14/adults). The ship has 3 stories to explore including the cargo area and kitchen on the lowest floor and the passenger level with beautiful period decorations. But the highlight is the captain’s bridge where you can sound the whistle!

It is one of the best preserved historic sites we’ve visited in Canada. And that’s saying something because they have all been wonderful!

Hang out at Kootenay Lake

With miles and miles of Kootenay Lake to explore, make sure to dedicate some time to relax at the lake. Provincial Parks like Kokanee Creek and Kootenay Lake offer beach areas to hang out at or launch a kayak or paddleboard. But if you want to get out on the water and do not have your own watercraft, check out Kaslo Kayaking for rentals!

Take the Kootenay Lake ferry

Kootenay Lake Ferry on the International Selkirk Loop

To continue back on the main International Selkirk Loop you’ll need to get across Kootenay Lake. And to do so, you get to take a ferry!

The ferry from Balfour to the Kootenay Bay Terminal near Crawford Bay takes about 35 minutes. And the best part (besides the amazing scenery)? It’s free! In fact, it’s the world’s longest free ferry. The ferry runs on a limited schedule so make sure to look up the times beforehand.

East Shore of Kootenay Lake

Once back on the official International Selkirk Loop, you will continue south down Kootenay Lake, but this time on the east shore. This side of the lake seemed less developed, but there are a few fun stops to make!

Crawford Bay

North Woven Broom Co | International Selkirk Loop

After disembarking the ferry, the first town you’ll come across is Crawford Bay. And it’s a must-stop! This teeny tiny town is known for its artisan shops and creative community. Make sure to pop into North Woven Broom, one of the most magical shops we have ever been to!

Inside this old log cabin you’ll find the owner and his team creating handmade brooms, including some Harry Potter brooms, using antique broom making equipment. We never knew a broom shop would excite us so much!

After you’ve had your fill of artisan shops head down the road to Red’s Bakery, where you can find all kinds of delicious baked goodies. We loved their cinnamon bun and the butter tarts!

Red's Bakery | International Selkirk Loop

The Glass House

Located about half way between Crawford Bay and Creston is The Glass House, which is a house made of over half a million glass bottles! We’ve been to a handful of bottle houses in our travels and although we didn’t visit this one, it looks like it would be the most impressive one yet.

Creston, British Columbia

After about an hour of driving with gorgeous scenery out the window along the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake, you’ll reach Creston, BC. Here the scenery changes quite a bit, to fruit farms and local wineries with a mountain backdrop.

If you visit in the summer or fall months you can go fruit picking at the farms around Creston like at Flamenco Farms and Blue Canoe Orchards. And if you don’t have time to pick your own, there are plenty of fruit stands around town to get some fresh fruit. A couple popular stands are Wloka Farms Fruit Stand and Margo’s Farm.

And for wineries check out Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery and Red Bird Estate Winery. But since we do not drink, we opted to swing by Good Company Coffee instead for a quick coffee and a Nanaimo bar! Their coffee and treats were fantastic, but the best part is the outdoor deck that overlooks neighboring orchards and the mountains in the distance.

A+K tip: If you decide to pick fruit or buy local produce, be sure to check if you can take your haul back across the border. Here are the regulations and a list of prohibited items.

US & Canada Border Crossing (Porthill-Rykerts)

Once leaving Creston, it’s a short drive down to the US border. This border crossing is slightly larger than the one near Metaline Falls, but was still super quick and easy, with no one else crossing at the same time as us. Make sure to check the hours in advance, as it is not open 24 hours.

Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Myrtle Falls | International Selkirk Loop

Located about 30 minutes south of the US border is Bonners Ferry, the final major town along the International Selkirk Loop! The town boasts an old fashioned downtown and sits in the Kootenai River Valley, with lots of outdoor recreation, interesting history, a casino, and all services you need to stock up for your adventures.

Our top thing to do in this area is head to the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. This park was first established as a migratory waterfowl refuge and it is now home to over 220 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, and 22 species of fish. We loved the Myrtle Falls Trail here, which is super short and has a fantastic view of a waterfall at the end!

And afterwards, head to Bonners Ferry Pupuseria for pupusas…one of our favorite foods!

International Selkirk Side Trips

Besides the Kootenay Lake side trip we did and mentioned above, there are quite a few other side trips you can add on. You can see a full map for the International Selkirk Loop, plus side trip options on this map. We hope to do the North Kootenay Lake & Silvery Slocan Super Side Trip next time!

Our top tips for driving the International Selkirk Loop

Crossing the border

If you plan on driving the entire International Selkirk Loop, you’ll be crossing the US-Canada border twice. As we mentioned under our suggested border crossings, the hours can vary and be more limited, so make sure to check the hours in advance.

You will also want to check what you can and cannot bring across the border (US rules, Canada rules). To be honest, it’s a bit confusing. Besides firearms, meat and produce are the items they will ask about the most. Our general rule is to not have any produce or meat in our van fridge. But during this road trip we made the mistake of trying to bring firewood kindling into Canada. After having our van searched (not fun!), the border agent let us bring it and also ended up giving us free firewood that someone wasn’t allowed to bring into the US.

Also, if traveling with pets, be aware of the rules for crossing with them. Make sure to have a copy of their rabies vaccination on hand (we did get asked to show this when crossing into Canada). And you will need to fill out the CDC Dog Import form before crossing back into the US.

Don’t forget your passport

Regardless of if you’re a US or Canadian citizen, you will need your passport at some point!

Check the crossing times for the ferry

Make sure you check the ferry schedule for the Kootenay Lake ferry. Depending on the time of year, they operate more vessels and have more crossings to accommodate for the higher demand. It’s first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early during the peak season.

During our visit in mid June, we arrived about 45 minutes early and were first in line, even with only one ferry running at the time. But we imagine it gets busier later in the summer!

Be bear aware

If you plan to go hiking anywhere along the International Selkirk Loop (highly recommended!), make sure you’re bear aware. The Selkirks are home to both black bears and grizzly bears. So we suggest carrying bear spray and always having it readily available. Scotchman Peak had a grizzly sighting just days before our hike.

Can you bring bear spray across the US and Canada border? Yes! While pepper spray is illegal to bring, bear spray is allowed. Just make sure to tell them!

Bring a roadside assistance kit

Even though you’ll pass through many towns or villages on the International Selkirk Loop, it’s never a bad idea to carry a roadside assistance kit for any road trip. In these kits you’ll find jumper cables, tow straps, a safety triangle, poncho, and more.

Download offline maps

The International Selkirk Loop is a well traveled and populated route, but there could be times where you encounter little to no cell service, especially the further north you go along Kootenay Lake. Make sure to download Google Maps for offline use so you can still navigate even when out of cell service.

We also recommend downloading offline AllTrails maps for all of the hikes, just to ensure you stay on the right route.

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!

We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

Download the International Selkirk Loop App

This guide we’ve written focused on what we experienced and recommended along the loop, but for everything there is to know about the loop, download the Selkirk Loop Mobile App. We found it to be helpful to learn about the different sights along the way!

When is the best time to drive the International Selkirk Loop?

The best time to drive the International Selkirk Loop would be Spring through Fall. Going in the Spring time will offer melting snow, blooming flowers, and less crowds. However, if you want to do any higher elevation hikes, there will still be too much snow.

The summer months (July and August) are the peak time to go and will have the warmest weather. It’s also the ultimate time for hiking up in the mountains or going for a swim in the water! But if you want some of the perks of summer (like less snow), but with less people, we suggest going between September and early October. The fall colors are excellent too!

We personally did this route in mid June. While the weather was mild (it did rain a few days though!) and the crowds were not that bad, we would go later in the future so we could do more hiking.

How much time do you need to drive the International Selkirk Loop?

While the loop could technically be done in a very long day, it would be extremely rushed. There is so much to see and experience along the way, so we’d recommend spending at least 3-4 days.

We personally did the route in 8 days, which allowed us to explore at a slower pace and have time to work and rest along the way. We’ll include our exact itinerary below!

Where to stay along the International Selkirk Loop

Since you’ll be traveling through several towns and natural areas, you’ll have lots of options of places to stay, including hotels, vacation rentals, and camping.

Hotels and vacation rentals

If you want to stay in a hotel, your best options will be in Sandpoint, Nelson, and Bonners Ferry. Some good options include:

Talus Rock Retreat (Sandpoint, ID)
Prestige Lakeside Resort (Nelson, BC)
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort (Ainsworth, BC)
Best Western Plus Kootenai River Inn Casino & Spa (Bonners Ferry)

You can also find vacation rentals in many of these towns, which are a great option if traveling with a larger group or if you want more amenities. There are some pretty great options near the lake, including this Modern Mountain Haven (Nelson, BC) and Waterfront Condo (Sandpoint, ID).

Camping

If you plan on tent camping or are traveling in an RV or van like us, get ready for some beautiful camping! There are 11 Provincial Parks, 3 Idaho State Parks, and a variety of other options along the way.

Here is where we stayed along the way:

Bonner County Fairgrounds (Sandpoint, ID)– We stayed here for a couple nights, since we were low on power. It’s pretty compact and has no privacy, but is in a convenient location.

Schweitzer Ski Resort (Sandpoint, ID)– This is a FREE option for RVs and vans! We stayed here for a night and it was great.

Clark Fork Drift Yard (Sandpoint, ID)– We stayed here after completing the International Selkirk Loop and it was awesome! There’s a parking lot, plus a few dispersed sites, which are located along Lake Pend Oreille.

Boundary Dam Campground (Metalline Falls)– We loved this campground and can’t believe it’s free! All sites come with a picnic table and firepit, plus there are toilets.

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park (North of Nelson, BC)– We stayed at the Friends Campground, since it had more exposure to the sky for solar and Starlink. But the Sandspit Campground would be our top pick for the more private, forested campsites.

Kootenay Lake Provincial Park – Davis Creek Campground (North of Kaslo, BC)– This campground is more primitive than Kokanee Creek, but the location on the lake is fantastic. Some of the sites are very close together and have little privacy. In our opinion, the best sites were sites 1-10.

These are a few other options you could consider as well!

Round Lake State Park (Sandpoint, ID)
Kaslo Village Campground (Kaslo, BC)
Kootenay Lake Provincial Park – Lost Ledge Campground (North of Kaslo, BC)
Gray Creek Camping Resort (Gray Creek, BC)
Scottie’s RV Park & Campground (Creston, BC)

To see even more camping options, check out our guide to finding free camping!

Our International Selkirk Loop Itinerary

Unsure how to fit all of these amazing stops into one big road trip? Here is the exact itinerary we had for our 8 days along the International Selkirk Loop.

Since we were working many of these days, we had some less busy days mixed in. If you have less time than we had, you could easily combine some of these days!

Day 1: Sandpoint, Idaho

We kicked off our first day on the drive by hiking the Mickinnick Trail, grabbing takeout at Joel’s, and then heading to Lake Pend Oreille for a picnic and swim. Followed by some huckleberry ice cream of course!

Day 2: Metaline Falls

On our second day we left Sandpoint early and drove to the Boundary Dam Campground near Metaline Falls. We intended to spend the afternoon kayaking, but after our kayak popped, we ended up just hanging out at camp.

If you do not want to camp or have less time, you could easily make the drive from Sandpoint, kayak to Peewee Falls, and even visit the falls viewpoint, before crossing into Canada and staying in Nelson for the night.

Day 3: Nelson

We left the Boundary Dam Campground early to cross into Canada, stopping at the Peewee Falls Overlook along the way. Once in Nelson, we walked around town and the waterfront, but the majority of our day was spent working at a coffee shop and stocking up on groceries. However, we did manage to squeeze in a hike up Pulpit Rock though, before heading to camp at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.

Day 4: Nelson

We intended to go to Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park on day 4, but recent reports showed that the snow was still too high. So instead, we hung out at Kokanee Creek Provincial Park all day. We hiked at Kokanee Canyon and grabbed food at Unkel’s Street Eats, before rain rolled in and washed out the rest of the day.

Day 5: Kootenay Lake

This was probably our favorite day of the drive! We started off with a gorgeous drive along the lake, before enjoying a couple hours soaking at Ainsworth Hot Springs. Then, we headed just up the road to Fletcher Creek Falls, before spending some time in Kaslo and touring the SS Moyie. We then made the drive to the Davis Creek Campground at Kootenay Lake Provincial Park.

Day 6: Kootenay Lake

We spent this day just hanging out at our campsite at Kootenay Lake Provincial Park. Since we didn’t have cell service here and our Starlink didn’t work well with the trees, we spent the day reading by the lake, playing games, and enjoying the water views. If you have less time, you could easily cut out this day.

Day 7: Driving back to the US

We kicked off day 7 by taking the ferry from Balfour over to near Crawford Bay. We stopped for pastries, checked out the broom shop, and then headed down to Creston for coffee, before crossing back into the US. Once in Idaho, we explored the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge for the rest of the afternoon.

Day 8: Clark Fork

Our final day of the drive was spent hiking Scotchman Peak. We spent about half the day completing this hike!