Submitted by Cathy Cha
Recent restrictions on gatherings, changes in work/life balance, working from home or remotely, and increases in rates of dog and pet ownership… All mean that if you have a dog, you need to know where to go when running, playing, frolicking, and toileting is needed, and respectfully doing it all and fits the local area’s expectations. It was in the middle of a lecture from an American visitor to the Columbia Valley that I discovered one of the least advertised blessings of the valley – Wonderful off-leash dog areas! My small dog’s ‘off-leash status’ had made the other dog owner so nervous that he had casually forgotten to pick up his own dog’s waste, and I had literally stepped in it. But this forced me to find dog parks and off-leash areas that stretch most of the valley.
Invermere’s Ray Brydon Park, which truly fits the description as a park, is a beautiful location with views of the mountains, river, a trail that keeps walkers interested, and abundant birds and other wildlife. You can be as active or slow as you wish with many dogs frequenting this park. The Columbia valley sure makes a big difference if you’re visiting while on vacation and my dog especially enjoys the terrain differences between rocky riverbanks, gravelly trails, and treed areas/brushwood. But some natural hazards can be concerning. I do not particularly appreciate that the area’s entrance is close to the road up the mountains.
Traffic on the road isn’t heavy, and visitors are lucky to have such a scenic area for off-leash jaunts, but take care and leash your pet well before exiting if your dog gets excited or is sometimes reluctant to return to the leash!
Bears are also a concern and have been sighted in the area in the past. I carry a ski bell and bong it every so often when I’m at this park. I’ve never seen a bear here, but a little caution goes a long way! The fast river is also a hazard, larger breeds who don’t know the area might be too bold, or the river might be a risk to some smaller dogs. It is best to get familiar with the surroundings and keep an eye on your pet. Some dogs swim well and can manage rivers and creeks, but check out Dorothy Lake north of Kinsmen Park in Invermere if splish splashing is your aim. The river that runs through the park is mostly shallow, but we’ve tried to cross it on foot, and it’s so swift that we haven’t ever been able to cross it completely. Luckily, our dog enjoys watching us from the banks!
Radium Hot Springs is another favourite destination and has a surprisingly gorgeous off-leash area, even though it’s in a bit of an odd location behind a log storage lot. The Sinclair Creek Trail System or ‘greenway’ is just a stunning community driven project that would be the envy of a lot of larger communities. My dog’s in love with the very low creek banks, shallow, fast running stream, hills, and mixed treed area!
Squirrels are the biggest threat to my dog’s peace of mind at Sinclair Creek, and we’ve seen evidence of larger animal rubbings, but no bears. I still carry my ski bell though. You’ll meet a lot of the locals who aren’t only dog owners, you’ll find bikers, hikers and walkers too. I was kind of dazed looking around at the vistas, trying to take in the whole experience even though it was just a dog walk! It’s one of the reasons going home after a short trip to the Columbia Valley is so hard. A quality of life within nature that is the ‘resort’!
