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Get involved with the Creston Community Forest! Join our Board, Volunteer, Come on a Field Trip, Check out our trails, and keep up to date on current events. You can also subscribe to our newsletter, for the most recent happenings! Contact Us STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

We are a not-for-profit forest company who log to mitigate fires and contribute funds back into the community of Creston. Forest Operations We are deeply rooted in the values of our community. Silviculture, Harvesting and Fire Mitigation are sustainable treatment methods we practice to match with the community’s values. Read More Forest Education At the Creston Community Forest Corporation, we foster hands-on learning within our community. Learn more, about our exciting educational opportunities for secondary and post-secondary student. Read More Forest Recreation We are proud to build a network of scenic hiking trails in the Creston Valley area. We encourage people to enjoy each trail as part of their well-being and enjoyment. Read more for a full list of our six trails. Read More Billy Goat Bluffs Trail silviculture and summer students Birch Creek road Creston Community Forest_edited Billy Goat Bluffs Trail 1/14

We take pride in managing and maintaining a network of scenic trails in the picturesque Creston area. Explore the great outdoors! BACK Forest Recreation Explore the scenic trails of the Creston Community Forest and immerse yourself in nature’s beauty! We proudly manage and maintain a variety of trails in the Creston area, including Lady Slipper, Thompson Rim Trail, Thompson Rotary Trail, Thompson Pack Trail, Big Bear Viewpoint, Billy Goat Bluffs, Gliders’ Point and the West Ridge Trail. As trail stewards, we ensure our trails are well-maintained, clearly marked with signage, and accessible during the snow-free months. These trails are open to the public for non-motorized use, such as hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Trails Lady Slipper Trail Thompson Rotary Trail West Ridge Trail Thompson Rim Trail Thompson Pack Trail Billy Goat Bluffs Big Bear Viewpoint Gliders’ Point STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Thompson Pack Trail in the Creston Community Forest, BC THOMPSON PACK TRAIL The Thompson Pack Trail is a 4.5 km (one-way) trail that parallels and meanders along Sullivan Creek. This trail takes you through beautiful cedar-hemlock forests that boast an abundant and diverse population of fungi. This mainly shaded trail provides users relief from the hot sun, making it a wonderful summer destination. This trail was originally built in the 1930’s to transport supply up to the Thompson Forestry Lookout Tower; the tower was used seasonally as a fire lookout. The close proximity to town of this single track trail provides a great opportunity for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Pack Trail was upgraded in 2019 including a new 16 m foot bridge across Sullivan Creek. Other work included repairs to a washout at km 1, a new split log foot bridge over a washout at about km 3.3 and the construction of a short (60 m) spur trail to the base of the Sullivan Creek Cascades at km 3.1. Access Point 1: From the Creston Valley Visitor Centre, take Highway 3 toward Cranbrook for approximately 5.8 km and turn right on to Canyon-Lister Road. Continue approximately 1.5 km to 51st Street and turn left. 51st Street turns onto Vance Road. Continue to the end of Vance Road and park. Make sure to park so that others can. This location is the official trailhead and there is also a kiosk with a visitor log. Please Note: The start of the Pack Trail off of Vance Road is bordered on both sides of the trail by private land. Please respect the rights of private land owners by staying on the trail. Access Point 2: From the Creston Valley Visitor Center, take Highway 3 toward Cranbrook for approximately 5.8 km and turn right on to Canyon-Lister Road. Continue 1.1 km and turn left onto Whimster Road, following the road to its end. The Mount Thompson FSR begins at that point. The road is rough and a four wheel drive is recommended. Continue up this service road until arriving at the Sullivan Creek Trailhead kiosk and park. Make sure to park so others can. From this location there are loops that can be hiked that involve the Pack Trail, the Sullivan Creek Trail, the West Ridge Trail and overlooks like Gliders Point. Trailhead access from town: 20-30 minutes Hiking Time (Return): 3-4 hours Distance (Return): ~9 km from the Vance Road trailhead; ~6 km from the Sullivan Creek trailhead Elevation Gain: ~710 m (from Vance Road trailhead) Neighbouring Trails: Sullivan Creek Trail (10.7 km one way)—This trail continues to the top of Mt. Thompson from the Sullivan Creek trailhead kiosk. Moderate hike. West Ridge Trail (4.5 km one way)—This trail also continues up to the top of Mt. Thompson from several marked junctions on the Sullivan Creek trail and leads to the Thompson Rim Trail. Moderate to hard hike with some scrambling. Trails Lady Slipper Trail Thompson Rotary Trail West Ridge Trail Thompson Rim Trail Thompson Pack Trail Billy Goat Bluffs Big Bear Viewpoint Gliders’ Point STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Billy Goat Bluffs Trail in the Creston Community Forest, BC BILLY GOAT BLUFFS The Billy Goat Bluffs trail was developed in June 2018 by the generous and hard-working volunteers through the Creston Community Forest as well as the Trails for Creston Valley Society. This 2.7 km (one-way) trail takes you up to a rocky outcrop overlooking the Creston Valley. This trail provides hikers with easy-access hiking right outside of town. On the way up the trail passes through an old apple orchard, a fuel mitigation area completed by the Town of Creston in 2012, several rocky viewpoints and several large, old Ponderosa pine trees, some with bear claw marks. At the top of the bluffs, hikers can enjoy the scenery by sitting at the beautiful picnic table crafted by woodshop students from Prince Charles Secondary School. A short trail to the north from the picnic tables leads to a bench with a great view of Duck Lake and the lower end of Kootenay Lake. Access: From the Creston Valley Visitor Center, head north on Highway 3 towards Wynndel. After 2.6 km, turn right onto Helen Street (at the Tim Hortons). Continue on Helen Street for roughly 350 meters – the trail head will be located on the left, next to an information board about the trail. A small parking area may be found on the right hand side of the road. Trailhead Access from town: 5-10 minutes Hiking time (return): ~3 hours Elevation gain: 369 meters Distance: 5.4 km (return) Trails Lady Slipper Trail Thompson Rotary Trail West Ridge Trail Thompson Rim Trail Thompson Pack Trail Billy Goat Bluffs Big Bear Viewpoint Gliders’ Point STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Lady Slipper Trail in the Creston Community Forest, BC LADY SLIPPER TRAIL The trailhead leaves the Goat Mountain Forest Service Road uphill through mixed forest with tall understory. Ascending through mature stands and past old veteran trees (now serving as wildlife condos), the understory opens to reveal coralroots, fungi and wildflowers. This area is home to the Ladyslipper, the trail’s namesake, in the mid-to-late spring. Here, the ground begins to level, hinting flirtatiously of Selkirk views on one side and revealing erratic boulders deposited by glaciers on the other. Passing through a floral meadow you climb to some of the greatest westward views available a short distance from downtown Creston. Cresting the summit will take you down a short trail to an Eastern viewpoint and excellent picnic location. Access: From the Creston Valley Visitor Center, head north along Highway 3. Reset your trip odometer at the Highway 3/3A junction (beisde the Tim Hortons). Continue heading north on highway 3A for 4km. Turn right onto Lakeview-Arrow Creek Road. At 5.3 km, keep right at the intersection. At 6.2 km, turn right onto Foster Road. The pavement ends at the base of Goat Mountain Forestry road (6.9 km). Reset your trip odometer here. Keep right at the first three junctions you meet along the forestry road. In 6 km, you will arrive at the trailhead with a pullout for parking on the right. Trailhead Access from town: 30-40 minutes Hiking Time (Return): 1 ½–2 ½ hours Elevation Gain: 400 meters Distance (Return): 4.8 km Download Map Turn your phone into a GPS tracker and follow your trail with the AllTrails App. Find photos, directions, record your pace, distance, elevation, comments from other hikers and share your adventures with friends and family. Link here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/arrow-mountain-via-ladyslipper-trail Trails Lady Slipper Trail Thompson Rotary Trail West Ridge Trail Thompson Rim Trail Thompson Pack Trail Billy Goat Bluffs Big Bear Viewpoint Gliders’ Point STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

We focus on creating resilient forests that can thrive in changing conditions driven by climate change. Our silviculture practices prioritize ecosystem-based management, ensuring that future stands are well-suited to their growing conditions and highly resilient. FOREST OPERATIONS Silviculture We focus on creating resilient forests that can thrive in changing conditions driven by climate change. Our silviculture practices prioritize ecosystem-based management, ensuring that future stands are well-suited to their growing conditions and highly resilient. To enhance the forest's resilience, we incorporate a diverse range of tree species that are naturally adapted to each site's specific conditions. This includes both commercially viable and non-commercially viable species, resulting in a higher species diversity and a forest that goes beyond pure production goals. We also consider the site's natural disturbance regime when developing silvicultural prescriptions. By mimicking natural disturbances like an occasional windfall, we apply selective harvesting systems that the forest is best adapted to. This approach promotes the growth of diverse tree species and age classes, ensuring the long-term health of our timber resources for future generations. Through our silviculture practices, we not only care for the timber resources in our operational area but also create forests that are resilient and well-prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

We are deeply rooted in the values of our community. See us in action and learn how we connect sustainable practices with the community’s values. BACK Forest Operations We prioritize the values of our community in all our operations. Our goal is to manage our community forest now for future generations. By supporting local contractors and reinvesting revenue in the local economy, we create employment opportunities and contribute to regional growth. With an ecosystem-based approach, we ensure the long-term health of our forests. We implement site-specific practices to protect water quality, wildlife habitats, visual aesthetics, and recreational areas. Our focus on sustainability extends to selling over 90% of our logs locally or regionally, with high-value logs offered to local manufacturers first. Experience the positive impact of our operations in Creston and join us in promoting sustainable forest management. Explore our work and discover how we balance economic prosperity with environmental stewardship. Harvesting Harvesting Silviculture Silviculture Fuel Mitigation Fuel Mitigation STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Creston Community Forest envisions healthy forests with social, ecological, and economic benefits. We prioritize non-timber resources and local community input in our harvesting plans to make this vision a reality. Our community forest allows the Creston Valley to guide land-use decisions, respecting local interest and ecological integrity. Projects Projects - 2025 Click Images for Details Goat Mountain Details Wildfire Risk Reduction cutting and piling completed. Harvesting Completed Debris Pile Burning Notice: * Goat Mountain to commence mid-December * Mt. Thompson to commence mid-December * Russell Creek to commence mid-December Russell Creek Details Active Harvesting Starting Fall 2025- Winter 2026 Lower Birch Prescribed Burn Wildfire Risk Reduction – Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 Havesting Completed Spring - Summer 2025 Peterson Creek and Found Creek Active Harvesting Starting August – Fall O'Kell Creek Details Active Harvesting Starting August – Fall 2024 Harvesting Details General Project Phases Phase 1: Planning Collating and analyzing relevant data to help develop plans that balance values and are aligned with our guiding principles. Phase 2: Collaboration Open collaborative discussions with the Creston Valley community, including area residents, First Nations and the Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee . Key points will be highlighted in our newsletter, on social media, and at open houses. Phase 3: Prioritization Identification of proposed and prioritized projects in the community forest will be developed over time. Phase 4: Implementation Completing the plans from field development through to reforestation and long term monitoring. Resources / Links Guiding Principles Management Plan 2024 -2029 Forest Stewardship Plan Forest Stewardship Plan Policy Manual STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Thompson Rim Trail in the Creston Community Forest, BC THOMPSON RIM TRAIL Leaving directly south from the Mt Thompson campsite, the Thompson Rim Trail undulates along the Skimmerhorn ridgeline. Gnarly Balsam Fir and Whitebark Pine dot sub-alpine meadows home to Mariposa Lily, Mountain Harebell, Spike-like Goldenrod, Sub-alpine Daisy and Bear Grass. Eastward Views over Russell Creek are visible from a natural rocky gateway and continue to the first short climb through a bit of scree and dense Balsam. Reaching height of land, expect to see down over Thompsons alpine rockfall and over the city of Creston. The ridgeline descends and then climbs, following cairns over a short scree section before reaching the trails end at a repeater station. Panoramic views abound, from here you can see West over the Selkirks, North into the Purcells, East to Yahk and Moyie and South into Northern Idaho. The elevation of the south peak is 2176 m or 40 m higher than the north peak with all of the communication towers. The campsite or the new trail head for the Rim Trail is at 2116 m. Access: From the Creston Valley Visitor Center, head southeast on Highway 3 towards Cranbrook. At roughly 5.8 km, turn right at Canyon-Lister Road. Continue on this road, and turn left onto Whimster Road after about 1 km. Follow Whimster Road until it’s end—keep left to continue onto Mount Thompson FSR. Stay on this well maintained gravel road for 10.5 km. Right before the last pitch to the top of Mount Thompson, take the short spur to the right for 150 m to the Mt Thompson Campsite and park at the trail head adjacent to the camping area. Trailhead Access from town: 45 minutes–1 hour Hiking Time (Return): 3½–5 hours Elevation gain: 350 meters Distance (Return): 7.4 km Download Map Trails Lady Slipper Trail Thompson Rotary Trail West Ridge Trail Thompson Rim Trail Thompson Pack Trail Billy Goat Bluffs Big Bear Viewpoint Gliders’ Point STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

Forest Education: At the Creston Community Forest, we foster hands-on learning within our community. Learn more, about our exciting educational opportunities! Forest Recreation: We take pride in managing and maintaining a network of scenic trails in the picturesque Creston area. Explore the great outdoors! Forest Operations: We are deeply rooted in the values of our community. See us in action and learn how we connect sustainable practices with the community’s values. What We Do We are a not-for-profit forest company who log to mitigate fires and contribute funds back into the community of Creston. Forest Operations We are deeply rooted in the values of our community. Silviculture, Harvesting and Fire Mitigation are sustainable treatment methods we practice to match with the community’s values. Read More Forest Education At the Creston Community Forest Corporation, we foster hands-on learning within our community. Learn more, about our exciting educational opportunities for secondary and post-secondary student. Read More Forest Recreation We are proud to build a network of scenic hiking trails in the Creston Valley area. We encourage people to enjoy each trail as part of their well-being and enjoyment. Read more for a full list of our six trails. Read More Billy Goat Bluffs Trail silviculture and summer students Birch Creek road Creston Community Forest_edited Billy Goat Bluffs Trail 1/14

Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee Photo: SIFCO Hope is not a plan - together we can take action. Local FireSmart Resiliency Committees strengthen collaboration between local partners to coordinate, plan and share information on how to successfully implement a joint strategy for their community based on the seven FireSmart disciplines. In 2022 in the Creston Valley, the Lower Kootenay Indian Band, municipal and provincial governments, and partnering forestry licensees established an approach to wildfire risk reduction that is both inclusive and innovative. 1. Ask: "how do we reduce the risk of wildfire spreading through our Community and Forest?" Answer: Attend our open house to ask questions, sign-up for a FireSmart Assessment, and to understand how you can play a role in it! 2. Create a Plan At the beginning of each wildfire season, the Creston Community Forest and partners host an Open House for the community. The Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee will attend the Open House hosted by the Creston Community Forest and the Creston Valley Farmers Market. The goal of the Open House is to bring together wildfire and wildlife practitioners and educators, government representatives, local forestry licensees and community members to discuss, learn, share and explore what work is happening in the Creston Valley and how you can play a part in making your home, community, and forest more resilient to wildfire. Open House - 2024 Open House - 2024 Open House - 2024 Open House - 2024 Be Prepared. Northwest Territories Wildfire 2023 - Highway 1 3. Connect with us Wildfire Risk Reduction in our Forests and Community - Committee Partners Wildfires are a growing concern in British Columbia, with major impacts felt by Indigenous and rural communities located in fire-prone ecosystems. Learning to live with fire by creating fire resilient communities is essential for our wellbeing. In the Creston Valley, Managed Forests are often located at the interface between wilderness and settlements known as the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and play a vital role in mitigating severe wildfires. The goal of wildfire risk reduction projects on the forestry scale is to reduce the forest fuel load to prevent a severe crown fire from entering the community, which helps to safeguard homes and properties. The Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee is actively involved in wildfire planning and preparedness, demonstrating leadership in both the proactive planning and highlighting its commitment to community safety. Check out the video below to learn where the partner areas are located in the Creston Valley and the work that is underway. The Creston Valley FireSmart Resiliency Committee 4. Save the number to call To report a wildfire call the Southeast Fire Centre with *5555 4. Save: Click here to add the *5555 to your mobile phone and save as "WILDFIRE - Creston Valley" One click to make it easy for you. STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter