Cranbrook - city in British Columbia, Canada

For other places with the same name, see Cranbrook (disambiguation).

Cranbrook is a city of approximately 20,000 (2016) (26,000 in the area) that is the primary administrative and commercial center for the Kootenay region in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, Canada. It serves the surrounding area of over 82,000 people.

Understand

History

The area was inhabited by Ktunaxa peoples. The land that Cranbrook now occupies was bought by European settlers, notably Colonel James Baker who named his newly acquired land Cranbrook after his home in Cranbrook, Kent, England.

In 1898, Baker had convinced Canadian Pacific Railway to establish its Crowsnest Pass line through Cranbrook rather than nearby gold rush boom town Fort Steele. Cranbrook became the major centre of the region, while Fort Steele declined; however, the latter is today a preserved heritage town.

Get in

Cranbrook is often visited unintentionally since it's on British Columbia's Highway 3 that crosses the southern portion of the province. Cranbrook is easily reached in 4 hr of driving from Calgary, and about 10 hr driving from Vancouver.

Cranbrook can be reached from the United States from either Idaho by crossing at the Kingsgate/Eastport crossing on US 95 or from Montana at the Roosville crossing on US-93.

By plane

Airport

Canadian Rockies International Airport (IATA: YXC), 49.6145°, -115.7864°, +1 250-426-7913. 2022-05-26 There are dally flights to Cranbrook from Vancouver (1.25-1.75 hours) and Calgary (1 hour).

Airlines

Canadian airlines operating to Cranbrook:

• Air Canada, +1-514-393-3333. Canada's largest airline with hubs in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. 2022-04-25
• Pacific Coastal Airlines, +1-604-273-8666, reserve@pacificcoastal.com. Operates flights primarily in the south coast area of British Columbia with its hub in Vancouver. 2022-04-25
• Westjet. Canada's second largest airline services with hubs in Calgary and Toronto. It operates across Canada and services international destinations. 2022-04-25

Other airlines operating to Cranbrook:

• Delta Air Lines also has a seasonal service 3 times a week from Salt Lake City.

By bus

• Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service, +1-778-382-7729, info@mountainmanmikes.ca. Weekly service between Calgary and Kaslo with stops in Okotoks, High River, Claresholm, Lethbridge, Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Salmo, Nelson, and Balfour. Travel time to Cranbrook, from Calgary is 7 hours, from Lethbridge is 4 hours, from Sparwood is 2 hours, from Nelson is 3 hours, and from Kaslo is 4 hours. This service provider also offers a twice per week service between Kaslo and Vancouver via Nelson. 2022-03-19

Get around

Being a small city, getting around Cranbrook is best done by automobile. Some roads in Cranbrook are in poor shape, especially side streets. Main arterial roads, however, have been given some much needed attention in the past couple of years and are generally in good condition.

Most restaurants and hotels are located on Highway 3/95, which is also known as Van Horne Street in the south end of the city and Cranbrook Street in the north end. The whole Hwy 3/95 going through Cranbrook is usually called "The Strip". Downtown stretches along Baker Street.

Much of Cranbrook is pretty flat so biking around town would also be a reasonable option.

By public transit

• BC Transit (Cranbrook Transit System), +1-250-417-4636. Operates several bus routes within Cranbrook throughout the week. 2022-04-08
  • Cranbrook's transit system consisting of seven routes connecting residential areas of the city to the downtown area as well as shopping centres. The Cranbrook transit system is geared more towards residents and is not of much use to tourists.
  • Below are Health Connections trips. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. The trips are open to all members of the public, but as "Health Connections" trips, people traveling to medical appointments receive priority for reservations
  • • Two days per week there is bus service between Golden and Cranbrook with a stop in Invermere. Travel time to Cranbrook from Golden is 3.25 to 3.5 hours and from Invermere is 2 hours.
  • • Two days per week between Creston and Cranbrook with a stop in Yahk. Travel time is 2 hours between Creston and Cranbrook.
  • • Two days per week between Elkford and Cranbrook with stops in Sparwood and Fernie. Travel time between Cranbrook and Fernie is 1 to 1.25 hours.
• BC Transit (Kimberley Transit System), +1 250-427-7400. Two buses a day M-F (45 min) between Kimberley and Cranbrook. $3 (no change provided) 2020-05-11

By taxi

• Key City Cabs, +1 250-426-1111. 2022-07-28
• Star Taxi, +1 250-426-5511. 2022-07-28

See

Cranbrook has as its backdrop the Rocky Mountains. Any visitor equipped with a camera will find no shortage of locations to photograph nature. Elizabeth Lake, located at the south end of Cranbrook, is a wildlife sanctuary and home to many different birds and animals, ripe for the photographing. Cranbrook dates back to the late 1800s and has lots of history to check out around downtown.

• Cranbrook History Centre (Canadian Museum of Rail Travel), 57 Van Horne St S, 49.51101°, -115.77376°, +1 250-489-3918. Tu-Sa 10AM-3PM or 4 PM, closed Su & M. Museum dedicated to the history of Cranbrook and the surrounding area. Includes a fossil exhibit, train car collection and model railway. No train buff's trip to Cranbrook would be complete without a trip here. Static exhibits of passenger rail cars built in the 1920s for the CPR and in the 1900s for the Spokane International Railway. The gift shop features products made by local artisans. Cranbrook historic walking tours offered in the summer. $5.50/adult, $3.50/senior, $3.50/child, train tours extra 2020-09-26
• Fort Steele Heritage Town, 9851 Highway 93/95, Fort Steele (17 km NE of the city), +1 250-417-6000. A ten-minute drive north of the city, Fort Steele is a collection of heritage buildings set up as a North-West Mounted Police outpost. Staff in period costumes help illustrate how live was during that era. Adult or senior $7, youth 6-17 $5, child free
• Key City Theatre, 20 14 Ave N, 49.5129°, -115.7615°, +1 250 426 7006. From internationally renowned performers to community productions, this is the heart of the Kootenay's performing arts scene. A 600-seat centre for performing arts, conferences & cultural events, with an on-site gallery. 2020-09-26

Do

• Cranbrook Golf Club, 2700 2nd St S, 49.50896°, -115.74343°, +1 250-426-7812, golfpro@golfcranbrook.com. They call themselves the "Hidden Gem of the Kootenays". Good golf at a good price.
• Cranbrook Community Forest, 49.5326°, -115.7193°. Has over 100 km of hiking trails. Is a common place for mountain biking. 2023-03-28

Buy

• Baker Street, 49.51216°, -115.76753°. Along Baker Street is an interesting mix of clothing stores and specialty shops, and also is in the area of Cranbook's downtown. As with many growing cities, the downtown seems to be suffering as more and more people shop at the malls and big box stores located at the north end of the city along Cranbrook St N. 2023-03-28

• Tamarack Centre, 1500 Cranbrook St N, 49.52480°, -115.75005°, +1 250-426-2231. Has a number of shops, fast food outlets, and a movie theatre. 2023-03-28

• With its growing collection of big box stores, Cranbrook is a good place to stock up on supplies before you head into the wilderness There are numerous options on Cranbrook St N (also known as Highway 3 and Highway 95) at the north end of the city.

Canadian dollars are the official currency here, but given Cranbrook's proximity to Idaho and Montana, US dollars may be accepted too. Just ask.

Eat

Cranbrook has most major fast food restaurant chains. Casual dining is somewhat limited and includes chain a number of chain restaurants. You will find that fine dining is severely limited.

Some local favourites include:

• Max's Place on Victoria, 301-21 10 Ave S, 49.51112°, -115.76781°, +1 250-489-3538. Trendy coffee shop. A good place for lunch with fresh sandwiches, salads and desserts. 2023-03-28
• Pita Wrapbit, 1517 Cranbrook St N, 49.52674°, -115.75180°, +1 587-227-6009. Pita Wrapbit specializes in wraps, pitas, juices, soups and smoothies. There is also a location at the College of the Rockies. 2023-03-28
• East Side Mario's, 1201 Cranbrook Street N, 49.52393°, -115.75521°, +1 250-489-2822. East Side Mario's is everything you like about Italian. The warm welcome, the relaxed, fun and friendly atmosphere - this is the essence of Little Italy. 2023-03-28
• The Sports Grill, 408 Cranbrook Street N (south end of strip near petro-can), 49.51656°, -115.76273°, +1 250-489-3525. In business for 23 years, Perry makes homemade pizza, burgers, steaks and cold pints of draft. Fully licensed. $5-25 2023-03-28

Drink

Cranbrook has its share of bars, most of which are in the downtown core, off Baker Street.

• Shotties, 12 10 Ave S, 49.51154°, -115.76740°, +1 250-464-0100. The closest thing to a night club in town. 2023-03-28

Sleep

• Elizabeth Lake Lodge, 590 Van Horne Street S, 49.50176°, -115.78945°, +1 250-426-6114. 2023-03-28
• Sandman Hotel, 405 Cranbrook St N, 49.51717°, -115.76392°, +1 250-426-4236. 2023-03-28
• Super 8 Motel, 2370 Cranbrook St N, 49.53399°, -115.74124°, +1 250-489-8028. 2023-03-28
• Heritage Inn, 803 Cranbrook St N, 49.51994°, -115.76036°, +1 250-489-4301. 2023-03-28
• Lazy Bear Lodge, 621 Cranbrook Street N, 49.51892°, -115.76137°. 2023-03-28
• Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, 209 Van Horne St S, 49.50829°, -115.77864°, +1 250-417-0444. 2023-03-28
• St. Eugene Mission Resort, 7731 Mission Road, 49.58602°, -115.75659°, +1 250-420-2000. 2023-03-28
• Flamingo Motel, 432 Van Horne St S, 49.50448°, -115.78598°, +1 250-426-7073. 2023-03-28
• Almo Court Motel, 316 2nd Street S, 49.50871°, -115.77611°, +1 250-426-3213. 2023-03-28
• Best Western Cranbrook Hotel, 1019 Cranbrook St N, 49.52234°, -115.75744°, +1 250-417-4002. 2023-03-28
• Days Inn by Wyndham Cranbrook Conference Centre, 600 Cranbrook Street N, 49.51822°, -115.76049°, +1 250-426-6683. 2023-03-28
• The Mount Baker Hotel, 1017 Baker Street N, 49.51194°, -115.76638°, +1 250-908-7888. 2023-03-28
• College of the Rockies, 2700 College Way, 49.51808°, -115.73987°, +1 250-489-8282. Provides short term accommodations in student housing from mid-May to mid-August, when school is out for the summer. 2023-03-28

Go next

Getting out is much the same as getting in. Other interesting places to visit in the area are Kimberley and Fernie.

A paved biking trail has been completed, connecting Cranbrook with Marysville, just south of Kimberley. This is a "rails to trails" conversion, running mostly parallel to the highway through pine forests and fields, about 25 km.