Horseshoe Lake Recreation Site is a recreation destination and wilderness campground
located east of the community of Cranbrook, BC in the East Kootenay
region of British Columbia, Canada. The site is located in a
valley referred to as the Rocky Mountain Trench and, behind
the site, are the looming Steeples Mountains of the Rocky Mountain
Range.
The Horseshoe Lake Recreation Site is perched
on gentle rolling hills, surrounded by grasslands and forests
of pine and aspen trees. The site centres around the lake which
is spring fed therefore the water levels will rise and fall
with the seasons.
The wilderness recreation destination is a
self serve campground shared with free roaming cows. So.. a
cow sighting is very possible. Self serve means you pack out
what you pack in. Leave no trace behind so others may enjoy
the lake also.
The campsite locations vary. Some are lakefront
on the open grassy slopes, while others are hidden in trees
high up on a ridge. Most campsites have picnic tables and fire
pits. And there are pit toilets in various locations.
Some of the outdoor activities enjoyed at the
Horseshoe Lake include hiking, birdwatching, camping, mountain
biking, swimming, fishing and canoeing. There is a roof top
boat launch located at the north end of the lake. No power boats
are permitted on this lake.
Some arrive at Horseshoe Lake to enjoy activities
away from the lake in the backcountry. Therefore the lake becomes
more like a base camp for adventure. Some of the nearby adventures
include backpacking into the Steeples Mountain Range or dirt
biking and atving the gravel roads.
There are other activities in close proximity
to the recreation site. The Fort Steele
Heritage Town is northwest of the lake on Highway #93/95.
While the Norbury Lake Provincial Park is located southeast of the recreation site on the Wardner Fort
Steele Road.
How to Get to Horseshoe
Lake Recreation Site:
Travel to the community of Cranbrook BC. From
the community continue traveling north on Highway #3/95. Just
outside of the community take a right on Highway #93/95 towards
Fort Steele Heritage Town. It is 16 kilometres northeast of
Cranbrook.
300 metres past the Fort
Steele Heritage Town take a right on
the Wardner Fort Steele Road. Continue down the road for about
11 kilometres. Here it gets tricky as signage is poor. Look
on your left for a fence with many baseball caps on it. The
gravel road opening in the fence is Horseshoe Lake Road. Proceed
over the cattle guard for a few hundred metres to a "Y"
in the road. Take either road as it is a loop road circling
the lake. |