This charming mountain city is the sunniest in British Columbia

Cranbrook is the perfect winter escape from the rainy, gloomy coast, as the sunniest city in British Columbia. Known for its toasty summers, mild winters, and breathtaking mountain scenery, the charming spot is a treat to visit any time of year, but we can think of few things more tempting than a sunny winter day in the East Kootenays.

British Columbia’s sunniest city

According to Environment Canada and Tourism Cranbrook, Cranbrook’s semi-arid mountain setting gives it the most sunny days out of anywhere else in the province. So get ready to trade your rain boots for cozy layers and snowshoes here!

While the forecast shows a mix of rain showers and snow flurries this week, Dec. 19 to 21 will have clear, sunny skies, hopefully setting the stage for a white Christmas next week.

Winter activities in Cranbrook

Conveniently located on what Tourism Cranbrook coins as the “Powder Highway,” Cranbrook is situated near over eight world-class ski resorts, including Kimberley just 20 minutes away and Fernie one hour away.

Known for its fantastic cross-country skiing, fat biking, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing opportunities, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the beautiful snowy mountain scenery here.

In fact, Cranbrook has many magical outdoor skating rinks to check out this season:

• Baker Park – two outdoor skating rinks, open until 10 p.m.
• Pop Price Park – open until 10 p.m.
• Wasa Lake – The Pete Vereshagen Memorial Rink
• Idlewild Park – maintained reservoir

Visitors can also glide across a number of frozen lakes this winter (Jim Smith, Elizabeth, Wasa Lakes) once they freeze over. So stay tuned for updates on winter conditions!

Ready to extend your trip with a heli/cat skiing adventure? Nelson happens to be the birthplace of cat skiing, and it’s well worth the visit this winter.

So there you have it, Vancouver. It’s not a short trip there by any means, but sunnier days surely await in Cranbrook.

Cranbrook 

How to get there: Drive 9 hours and 30 minutes from Vancouver to Cranbrook via Crowsnest Highway/BC-3 E.

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