Waterside camping near Invermere with a private bathroom

On the edge of the Canadian Rockies, the lakeside community of Invermere is a good base for exploring the mountains and hot springs of British Columbia’s East Kootenays. Just under two hours’ drive from Banff and Lake Louise, it’s also convenient to Kootenay and Yoho national parks. Cafes and galleries line the town’s main street, Lake Windermere features a family-friendly beach, and in James Chabot Provincial Park, also on the lake, you can swim, kayak, and windsurf. Campers choose from private campgrounds and provincial parks, or the camping areas in Kootenay National Park.

July and August are the busiest months of the Kootenay Rockies’ peak season, which runs from late May through early October. Fall is an excellent time to travel for good weather and fewer crowds. Radium Hot Springs hosts a unique autumn event, the Headbanger Festival, during the “rut,” or breeding, season for the numerous bighorn sheep that live around the national park. You can watch the curly-horned males butt heads to display their dominance and learn about the region’s wildlife.

• The closest major airport for Invermere and the East Kootenays region is in Calgary, Alberta, a three-hour drive from Invermere. The most direct route from Calgary is to take Highway 1 west through Banff, and turn south on Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park. It’s pretty difficult to explore this area without a car.
• Both Invermere and Radium Hot Springs have groceries and other supplies for campers.
• If you love good coffee, visit Invermere’s Kicking Horse Coffee, one of Canada’s top organic, fair-trade coffee roasters. You can buy coffee beans for your campsite, or enjoy a cup with a snack in their café.