How do I get to the Creston Valley

Creston is located on Highway #3, an hour and a quarter west of Cranbrook, or an hour and a half east of Nelson or Castlegar, travelling over the Kootenay Pass and twenty minutes from the U.S. border at Ryckerts. Creston is within two hours of two major airports, the Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) in Cranbrook and the Castlegar Airport (YCG). The Creston Valley Airport, six km south of Creston, is suitable for light aircraft and small charter planes. South of Creston, in Washington, the Spokane International Airport (GEG) is a three-hour drive. Google Map

Travellers coming from Nelson, Kaslo or Nakusp also have the option of a scenic trip along Kootenay Lake's West Arm on Highway 3A, followed by a trip on the M.V. Balfour or M.V Osprey 2000 between Balfour and Kootenay Bay. The six-mile ferry trip is the longest free ferry ride in the world, which makes the picturesque trip even more unique.

The Creston Valley includes the historic mining town of Riondel on Hwy 3A south through idyllic east shore communities such as Crawford Bay, Gray Creek, Boswell and Sirdar that are havens for artisans, writers and musicians. Each community has its own unique tourist attractions as well as public beaches at Lockhart Provincial Park, Twin Bays and Kuskanook Harbour.

At Sirdar, the Kootenay River flows into Kootenay Lake, and the fertile valley widens into orchards and farms that surround the town of Creston, which is nestled between the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges. The Creston Valley continues east along Hwy 3 beside the Goat River through the small community of Kitchener and onto the junction of Highways 3 and 95. Here the small and friendly community of Yahk lies beside the Moyie River.

Approximate distance chart

Driving distance and approximate travel time from [location] to Creston British Columbia:

Banff: 384 km - about 4 hours 53 mins
Calgary: 495 km - about 6 hours 1 min
Cranbrook: 105 km - about 1 hour 20 mins
Edmonton: 786 km - about 8 hours 51 mins
Fernie: 202 km - about 2 hours 30 mins
Grand Forks: 215 km - about 2 hours 38 mins
Jasper: 609 km - about 7 hours 45 mins
Kelowna: 423 km - about 5 hours 30 mins
Nelson: 125 km - about 1 hour 41 mins
Vancouver: 735 km - about 9 hours 13 mins


USA destinations:
Porthill (Idaho): 12.2 km - about 14 mins
Bonners Ferry (Idaho): 54.8 km - about 52 mins
Spokane (Washington): 227 km - about 2 hours 59 mins