Christina Lake

Christina Lake is a small village in the West Kootenays, of British Columbia. Christina Lake boasts the warmest water of any tree-lined lake in Western Canada and is a summer time destination for power boating and water sports.

Understand

The Trans Canada Trail, the historic Dewdney Trail, and Kettle Valley Railway Trail meet at Christina Lake, attracting hikers and tourists from around the world.

• 1 Christina Lake Welcome Centre, 1675 Highway 3, ☏ +1 250-447-6161, tourism@christinalake.ca. M-F 10AM-3PM, Sa Su 9AM-2PM. (updated Sep 2020)

Get in

By car

Christina Lake is near the Canada/United States border, 20 km (12 mi) east of Grand Forks and 73 km (45 mi) southwest of Castlegar along the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3), and 190 km (120 mi) north of Spokane at the northern terminus of US Highway 395.

By bus

• Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service, ☏ +1-778-382-7729, info@mountainmanmikes.ca. Twice per week service between Kaslo and Vancouver with stops in Balfour, Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Rock Creek, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton, Manning Provincial Park, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, and New Westminster. This service provider also offers a weekly route between Kalso and Calgary via Nelson. (updated Mar 2022)
• Silver City Stagelines Limited, support@fritztravels.com. Multiple days per week bus service between Trail and Kelowna with stops in Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, and Rock Creek. (updated Mar 2022)

Get around

To get around you either need a car or a boat.

See

• 1 Arts On 3 Gallery (Christina Lake Arts & Artisans Society), 1675 Highway 3 (inside Christina Lake Welcome Centre), ☏ +1 250-447-6161, artson3gallery@gmail.com. Features local artists and international glass artists; also sponsors performances and run classes in all sorts of art mediums. (updated Sep 2020)

Do

• There are numerous beaches along Christina Lake.
  • 1 Christina Lake Provincial Park, 140 Park Road. Day-use area with 350 m (1,150 ft) of sandy beach and parking for over 200 vehicles. (updated Sep 2020)
• Canoe or kayak the northern end of the Christina Lake.
• Fishing; there are 19 species of freshwater fish in all four seasons.
• Golf
  • 2 Cascade Par 3 Golf Course, 282 2nd Avenue, ☏ +1 250-447-9705, cascadepar3@gmail.com. 9-hole golf course. $18 (9 holes); $28 (18 holes). (updated Sep 2020)
  • 3 Christina Lake Golf Club (CLGC), 230 2nd Avenue, ☏ +1 250-447-9313. 18-hole golf course. (updated Sep 2020)
• 4 Gilpin Grasslands Provincial Park. This park was designated to protect a distinctive grassland ecosystem and offers trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding, as well as opportunities to swim or canoe along the Kettle River. (updated Sep 2020)
• Hiking:
  • The historic Dewdney Trail is a 720-km trail established in the mid-19th century that was a critical factor in the development and strengthening of the British Colony of British Columbia, tying together mining camps and small towns.
  • Kettle Valley Railway Trail: the KVR Trail and the Columbia & Western Rail Trail is the longest rail trail network in British Columbia extending from Hope to Castlegar. The decommissioned tracks form an extensive recreational trail providing almost 650 km (400 mi) of connected pathways throughout the region. It is part of the Trans Canada Trail, which spans Canada from coast to coast to coast.

Buy

• 2 Huckleberry Mountain Market, 1720A Sandner Frontage Road, ☏ +1 250-447-6171. Open daily. Groceries and liquor. (updated May 2023)

Eat & drink

• 1 Dueling Oaks Restaurant, 282 2nd Avenue (Cascade Par 3 Golf Course), ☏ +1 250-447-9705. 9-hole golf course. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Marti's Portly Penguin Pizza, 1670C Santa Rosa Road, ☏ +1 250-447-9090. (updated Sep 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Blue Mountain Lodge, 81 Kingsley Road, ☏ +1 250-448-6238, bluemountainlodge@hotmail.com. Features six self-contained 1 & 2 bedroom suites, cottages, and campground. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Christina Lake Motel & RV Park, 19 West Lake Drive, ☏ +1 236-350-0013. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Gladstone Provincial Park (Texas Creek campground), 3535 East Lake Drive (12 km N (east) of Christina Lake on Hwy 3), ☏ +1 250-584-9025. (updated Sep 2020)
• 4 Lakeview Motel, 1658 Highway 3, ☏ +1 250-447-9358, toll-free: +1-877-447-9358, info@christinalakeviewmotel.ca. (updated May 2023)
• 5 Totem Motel & Resort, 61 Kingsley Road, ☏ +1 250-447-9322, totemmo@shaw.ca. Motel & RV park. (updated May 2023)

Go next

Routes through Christina Lake

Osoyoos ← Grand Forks ←	W  E	→ Jct E → Castlegar → Cranbrook / Nelson via
ENDS at ←	N  S	→ → becomes → Kettle Falls → Spokane