13 Best Things to do in Creston BC
Creston BC is a small town that seems to be growing in popularity and has lots of fun things to do around it.
When we were traveling around some of BC’s best mountain towns on our Kootenay hot springs road trip, we kept being asked if we were stopping off at Creston, BC.
I’d never heard of this small town, but when people told us there was great food and an excellent new brewery in town we were sold.
If you’re traveling in the Kootenays, stop at this up-and-coming town.
This list of the best things to do in Creston BC has you covered!
The best things to do in Creston BC
The best time to visit Creston BC is during the summer. As you walk or drive down the main street in Creson you’ll see roadside fruit and vegetable stalls, great restaurants, art galleries, and more.
Just a short drive outside of Creston there is golfing, paddling, or boating on Kootenay Lake and hiking opportunities.
Below are some of our favorite things to do in Creston BC.
1. Get Fresh Berries from the Farm Stalls
As we drove into Creston from the east we started seeing signs for fresh cherries and berries. We couldn’t resist and so pulled over to stock up on some fresh fruit.
We ended up getting cherries from J&B Smagh Orchards & Fruit Stand which had just come into season and they were incredibly juicy and flavoursome.
If you’re visiting Creston in the summer you absolutely need to add the farm stands to your list of things to do in Creston BC! There are also U-picks which are an awesome family activity in the Creston Valley!
2. Check out the Art at the Kunze Gallery
Right near downtown Creston is the Kunze Gallery which is located in the historic grain elevators of Creston, BC.
In addition to the gallery, there’s a gift shop.
With the works changing regularly, it’s always a good time to visit the gallery and see what’s new.
3. Grab Coffee from Fly in the Fibre
Fly in the Fibre is a super cute cafe in Creston.
Not only do they make great coffee, but it’s also an art gallery and art supply shop too!
You’ll find art and designs from local artists.
There’s minimal seating but it’s the perfect place to grab a coffee to go and browse the art.
4. Visit the Creston Valley Farmers’ Market
The Creston Valley Farmer’s Market is award-winning and is where some of Creston Valley’s finest artists, farmers, and makers come to showcase their goods.
The farmer’s market takes place all year round. It’s indoors in the winter months and outdoors in the summer.
You can find fruit and vegetables, eggs, preserves, wine, cider, and spirits as well as pottery, soaps, and more.
5. Check out the Vineyards
There are quite a lot of Creston Valley vineyards to discover. So many in fact that Creston Valley has been dubbed British Columbia’s next craft wine, beer, and spirits destination: Move over Kelowna and the Okanagan!
Some of the best to visit are the Red Bird Estate Winery, Wynnwood Estate Cellars, Skimmerhorn Winery, and Baille-Grohman Estate Winery.
Most have a beautiful patio and outdoor area where you can enjoy a fresh glass of wine with a light meal or charcuterie.
6. Get Lunch at the Real Food Cafe
We stopped off for lunch at the Real Food Cafe in Creston which is one of the best restaurants in Creston, BC.
It has a beautiful outside area that’s shaded making it perfect for hot summer days (which happen a lot in Creston!).
It seems to be popular with locals and you might need to wait for a seat, but it’s worth it.
7. Drive the International Selkirk Loop
The International Selkirk Loop takes you both through Canada and the US and can be started from Nelson.
The entire route takes around 3-8 hours depending on how many stop-offs you want to do and it’s absolutely stunning.
You’ll go through both Idaho and Washington State and it would make for a super cool road trip!
8. Visit the Creston Museum
The Creston Museum offers a fascinating insight into the history of the Creston Valley.
You’ll learn about the industries and how they’ve changed over the years and built the community.
There are interesting stories such as the steamship that kind of became a tractor, the Great Railway Race, and the Great Creston Bank Robbery.
It’s a great place to while away a few hours while learning more about the area!
9. Grab a Beer from Wild North Brewery
Wild North Brewery in Creston is a super cool British Columbia brewery that uses local ingredients wherever possible in their beer.
We treated ourselves to a flight so we could try lots of different types of beer and were impressed with them all.
The taproom is spacious with a patio too and they hold regular live music and open mic nights. It’s the perfect spot for a drink after you’ve been out to explore Creston.
10. Head up to Kootenay Lake
On a nice summer day head up to Kootenay Lake and discover the beauty that is in this area.
The drive is stunning and I recommend driving up to Lockhart Creek Provincial Park as there’s a great day-use beach area here with incredible views!
There’s also Mackie Beach Park just a little closer to Creston which is also beautiful.
11. Take a Guided Canoe Tour
Explore the sights and sounds of a beautiful wetland by joining a naturalist for a guided canoe tour!
The Kootenay Columbia Discovery Centre runs canoe tours throughout the summer and you’ll be guided through the wetlands to search for wildlife around the Wildlife Management Area and learn more about the unique nature of wetlands.
It’s one of the more unique things to do in Cresont BC.
12. Go on a Hike near Creston
Since Creston is in the Kootenays there are so many places to go hiking near Creston and there are hikes for all abilities.
Some of the most stunning trails include Billy Goat Bluffs, Haystack Mountain Trail, and the Arrow Mountain Trail.
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
13. Get Cheese from Kootenay Alpine Cheese Co.
If you love real cheese you’ll love Kootenay Alpine Cheese Co in Creston Canada.
You can visit the site where they make their European-style cheeses and even see the cows.
Try their cheese, buy some for later, meet the cheesemaker, and learn more about how our cheese is made.
How to get to Creston BC
Creston BC is in the Kootenay region of BC and is a small, up-and-coming town set in the beautiful Creston Valley.
It’s in a fairly remote area, so the best way to visit Creston is as part of a road trip in the Kootenays. Below are some driving times from other towns so you can get your bearings.
- Vancouver to Creston BC: Creston from Vancouver is around an 8.5-hour drive.
- Calgary to Creston BC: The drive from Calgary to Creston is around 5.5 hours and takes you through Fernie. Alternatively, you can go through Kootenay National Park and Invermere which takes around 5 hours 45.
- Revelstoke to Creston: Creston from Revelstoke is around a 5-hour drive.
- Nelson to Creston: Driving from Nelson to Creston takes 1.5 hours through Salmo. Alternatively, you can go up the eastern side of Kootenay Lake and then down to Nelson which adds an hour to the drive.
Where to Stay in Creston British Columbia
If you want to explore more of these Creston BC things to do, booking a place to stay in town is a good idea.
Though the town is small, there are quite a few hotels in Creston BC, and the Creston Valley. Below are some options for different budgets.
- $ – Bavarian Orchard Motel: If you stay here in the summer you may even be able to pick fresh cherries and fruits from the orchard during your stay!
- $$ – Ramada by Wyndham Creston: The Ramada hotel in Creston includes a free breakfast and quite spacious rooms.
FAQs on the best things to do in Creston, British Columbia
What is Creston BC known for?
How far is Creston from Vancouver?
How far from Fernie to Creston BC?
Where is Creston BC?
Final thoughts on what to do in Creston BC
If you’re taking a road trip through the Kootenay region of British Columbia then stopping in Creston is definitely worthwhile.
This list of Creston things to do has included a diverse range of food and farmers markets as well as hikes and outdoor activities.
Whether you’re exploring some of the lakes (which I think are some of the best things to do near Creston BC Canada), or wandering through the town, these Creston activities and Creston attractions like the museum make it a fun stop-off.
For more things to do in BC mountain towns like this, be sure to check out this guide on what to do in Kalso, the best things to do in Nelson, these fun Kimberley activities, and the best things to do in Fernie.
Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
