Two half-day adventures near Nelson and Kaslo BC

What do caving and ziplining have in common? Beyond being family-friendly, a ton of fun, and requiring no experience, these half-day adventures are located just a short drive from the bustling mountain communities of Nelson, Kaslo, Balfour, and Crawford Bay BC.

It wasn’t all that long ago that summertime activities around Kootenay Lake were limited to water sports and golf. But along with the boom in mountain biking and other outdoor recreational pursuits, the region is full of things to do all summer long.

Activity providers include the “Nelson Adventure Alliance” featuring Cody Caves Tours and Kokanee Mountain Zipline. With professional and highly trained guides, stunning locations, and accessible adventure for the whole family, these locally owned activities provide good times above the trees or even below ground.

Ziplining

If aerial acrobatics are more your speed, Kokanee Mountain Zipline should be on your bucket list. Nestled between two provincial parks and overlooking Kootenay Lake, you’ll be feeling like Tarzan in no time. Beginning with a couple of short introductory pitches, you’ll soon be soaring through the air on ziplines over 1000 feet in length and more than 300 feet above the forest floor. There is nearly a mile of ziplines in total, including a 2400 foot monster run that crosses the fast flowing Kokanee Creek. The 1.5-2 hour tour will get your heart pumping and feeling superhuman (transformation into the company’s Yeti mascot not guaranteed).

“Fantastic zipline and amazing staff” This was such an awesome experience, the staff there are so friendly and amazing, the ziplies are the best and biggest I've ever done. Can't rate this high enough.  -  Kelly M, September 2018, TripAdvisor Review

Cave Tours

For those seeking a quieter and more mystical type of adventure, the subterranean cave network along the north end of Kootenay Lake is just the ticket. Cody Caves Tours is one of only three caving operators in all of Western Canada, and offers a number of different tours to explore the deep dark labyrinth of tunnels near Ainsworth Hot Springs. The Family Tour gives guests an introductory overview of the unique rock formations over 2 hours. The more in-depth Explorer Tour is a 5 hour journey up ropes and ladders and deeper underground, while the 7 hour Adventure Tour is a full day experience including the spectacular soda straw passage and tight squeezes.

“Best family day trip” We have been on the cody caves family tour twice and both times were amazing. The guides were knowledgeable and relaxed. Kept the kids entertained and safe. Left us with a healthy respect for the conservation of the cave environment while still wanting more.  -   Laura K, August 2018, TripAdvisor Review

Whether in the air or underground, the Kootenay Lake region allows guests to truly "choose your own adventure".