Pend d'Oreille Recreation Area
Trail, West Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada
( swimming, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, camping )

Pend d'Oreille Recreation Area is a sightseeing and recreation destination park situated on the shores on the Pend d'Oreille River Reservoir located east of the community of Trail, BC in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The recreation area includes viewpoints overlooking 7 Mile Dam and a day use/campground accessing the reservoir.

The day use/campground area is a good place to access the river. There is a gravel boat launch, a floating pier, a swimming area and a day use parking area. Some of the activities enjoyed at the Pend d'Oreille Recreation Area include swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, sightseeing, picnicking, wildlife viewing and camping.

The campground is a very well maintained recreation site operated by BC Hydro. Both the day use area and the recreation campground are fronting a grass lawn area and a sandy beach. There are (wheelchair accessible) pit toilets and drinking water onsite.

The drive along the Pend d'Oreille River is a sightseeing tour of rolling hills, river valleys leading to a BC Hydro electric dam - the Seven Mile Dam. Along the route, there are roadside pull out viewpoints with picnic tables and information billboards. The pull outs overlook the river and 7 Mile Dam.

The 7 Mile Dam project consists of a concrete gravity dam, a spillway and a powerhouse. The dam is easily seen from the road as one approaches. The mist generated from the crashing waters is intense. The structure is hard to miss standing tall at 65 metres (215 ft.) with a wing span of 350 metres (1140 ft.).

How to Get to the Pend d'Oreille Recreation Area

Travel to the community of Trail, BC. From Trail travel south east on Hwy 22A. At about the 9 kilometre point look for signs directing you to Seven Mile Dam Road. Continue traveling on the Seven Mile Road for 12 kilometres to the dam and recreation area. The recreation area is located after the dam.