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The International Selkirk Loop

A 450 km (280 mi) touring route through Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. Kootenay Lake's East Shore and North Shore carry the loop's British Columbia segment; a driver on this side crosses the US border south into Idaho or Washington to complete the circuit.

What the International Selkirk Loop is

The International Selkirk Loop is a 450 km (280 mi) touring route encircling the Selkirk Mountains across 3 jurisdictions: Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. selkirkloop.org, the route’s own site, describes it on its homepage as “a 450 km / 280-mile scenic drive encircling the spectacular Selkirk Mountains of Washington, Idaho and British Columbia.”

For a driver crossing north from Washington or Idaho, the loop’s British Columbia segment runs along Kootenay Lake’s East Shore and North Shore before the route continues west and back south into the United States.

Verified 2026-09-22 against selkirkloop.org.

The map

selkirkloop.org publishes its own interactive driving map, covering the full three-state, one-province loop; see the loop’s driving map for the whole route. The map below is this site’s own, plotting the Kootenay Lake communities on the BC segment and the Balfour–Kootenay Bay ferry crossing that links them.

Sailing times are Pacific Time, the time in Balfour, Nelson and Kaslo. Creston and most of the East Shore keep Mountain Standard Time all year, which matches Pacific in summer and runs one hour ahead in winter.

Map loads after the page

The British Columbia side

selkirkloop.org’s own Kootenay Lake Scenic Shoreline Drive page names the BC segment’s communities in this order:

Crawford Bay, Kootenay Bay, Balfour, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Kaslo, and Boswell.

Verified 2026-09-22 against selkirkloop.org’s Kootenay Lake Scenic Shoreline Drive page.

How long does it take to drive?

selkirkloop.org’s own loop-overview page gives no fixed hours-or-days figure for the full 450 km loop. The only driving-time guidance it states is this: "Be sure to allow ample time to explore; we suggest 3-7 days."

Verified 2026-09-22 against selkirkloop.org’s loop-overview page.

Where to stay on the lake

This site’s own campground data file lists 5 operators on the East Shore and North Shore — the two shores the BC segment of the loop follows.

  • Mirror Lake Campground — near Mirror Lake. At 5777 Arcola Rd, Kaslo, overlooking Mirror Lake; the site advertises lake views but does not mention a boat launch. www.mirrorlakecampground.com. Verified 2026-09-22.
  • Schroeder Creek Resort — near Shutty Bench. On Kootenay Lake at 128 Bickel Rd, Kaslo, with a concrete boat launch and boat fuel; open April 15 to October 15. schroedercreekresort.com. Verified 2026-09-22.
  • Crawford Bay Cottage & RV Park — near Gray Creek. 32 full-service RV lots plus two cottages and tent sites on Highway 3A; the site does not mention a boat launch. www.crawfordbayrvpark.com. Verified 2026-09-22.
  • Woodbury Resort & Marina — near Ainsworth Hot Springs. RV, tent, motel and cabin accommodation at 4112 BC-31, Ainsworth Hot Springs, with a full-service marina, boat rentals and fuel dock. woodburyresort.com. Verified 2026-09-22.
  • Riondel Community Park & Campground — near Riondel. On the shore of Kootenay Lake at 1709 Eastman Ave, Riondel; open seasonally, and the site does not mention a boat launch. riondelcampground.ca. Verified 2026-09-22.

See camping on Kootenay Lake for the full list, including the 4 BC Parks properties this site’s data file places on the East Shore or the North Shore.

Common questions

How long does it take to drive the Selkirk Loop?

selkirkloop.org's own overview page gives no fixed hours or days figure for the full 450 km loop, only this general note: "Be sure to allow ample time to explore; we suggest 3-7 days." This site does not add a drive-time estimate of its own beyond what that source states.

Is there a map?

Yes, at https://selkirkloop.org/maps/driving-map/ — selkirkloop.org's own interactive driving map. The map above on this page plots the BC segment's communities and the Kootenay Lake ferry crossing instead, the same British Columbia section of the loop from a different source.

Which border crossing?

selkirkloop.org's own border-crossing table names 4 road crossings between British Columbia and the United States on or near the loop: Paterson, BC – Frontier, WA (Hwy 22 / Hwy 25 N); Nelway, BC – Metaline Falls, WA (Hwy 6 / Hwy 31); Kingsgate, BC – Eastport, ID (Hwy 95 / Hwy 95 N); Rykerts, BC – Porthill, ID (Hwy 21 / Hwy 1 N). See https://selkirkloop.org/border-crossing/ for hours and any current advisory at each one.

kootenaylake.org is an independent guide published by Delcaro Media in Kitchener, BC. It is not affiliated with Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, the Kootenay Lake Chamber of Commerce, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit, Western Pacific Marine, BC Parks or any business listed on it.