Crawford Bay, BC, Canada
Kootenays, British Columbia

Crawford Bay, BC is a small resort community located on the eastern shores of Kootenay Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Located south of the community is Creston, B.C. and across the lake (on the west side) are the communities of Balfour, Kaslo and Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.

Crawford Bay near the mouth of the Kootenay River (West Arm) is the site of the the Kootenay Lake Ferry. The ferry service transports vehicles and pedestrians across the lake connecting Crawford Bay with Balfour, B.C.

To bypass the long drive south around Kootenay Lake many travelers and locals decide to take the ferry across the lake thus saving them many hours.

Crawford Bay is best known as a retreat get-a-way destination with a selection of accommodations and resorts providing access to adventures like golfing, hiking, swimming, boating, kayaking, sailing, sightseeing and fishing.

Nearby are a small selection of provincial parks and hiking trails. The Pilot Bay Provincial Park includes a lighthouse, hiking trails and a day use area.

The Lockhart Creek Provincial Park is a park with hiking and horseback riding trails exploring alpine meadows and cedar forests.

The Lockhart Beach Provincial Park is campground and beach park popular for swimming, canoeing, camping and picnicking.

There are attractions and services operating in Crawford Bay, British Columbia attractive to travelers including a golf course, art studios, a grocery store, a pub, restaurants, gas stations and a marina.

Crawford Bay is also centrally located so day trips are easily planned. Take the ferry over to Balfour and explore glaciers, hot springs, hiking trails and the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park and the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. Travel south to Creston, BC and visit the popular birding site - the Creston Wildlife Management Area.

Please note that the Crawford Bay-Balfour ferry also provides transportation to a small enclave called Proctor which is isolated from the rest of the Kootenays by the West Arm Provincial Park. Many visit Proctor as part of a cycle tour or as a backpacking adventure.

How to Get to Crawford Bay, BC

From Nelson BC drive 35 kilometres northeast on Highway #3a to Balfour, BC. From Balfour board the free ferry crossing Kootenay Lake to Kootenay Bay. From Kootenay Bay it is a short drive to Crawford Bay.

From Creston, BC travel north on Hwy #3a for 76 kilometres (41 mi.) to the Crawford Bay-Balfour Ferry Terminal.