Given that this is where the main beach is located, we're guessing that Kinsmen Park is also the oldest park in town. Being on Lake Windermere with two hot springs nearby, Invermere is nothing if not a tourist town, seeing a huge influx, mostly of Albertans from over the mountains, both in the summer for fun in the sun and in the winter for skiing, snowboarding and even skating on the
World's Longest Ice Skating Trail, right here in the park. Actually, the skating trail is on Lake Windermere, but accessed from the park.
There is one other activity available in the park which most people seem to be unaware of -
Train Spotting. The western edge of the park is bordered by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) tracks. Though not as active as the CPR mainline which passes through Golden and Revelstoke, to the north, this line sees a fair amount of traffic. Originally built to haul coal from the mines further south, the line runs from the Crowsnest line north up the Columbia Valley to meet the main line at Golden. Here, beside the park, is a siding where trains wait for others headed in the opposite direction to pass. This seems to happen a lot. It offers an opportunity for one to get a really up close view of some of the CPR's big mountain engines.
When the trains aren't passing or waiting one may partake of the park and all it has to offer.
Kinsmen Park & Beach
Kinsmen Park is a beautiful green space on the shores of Lake Windermere in Invermere. The park is not only the centerpiece of a great deal of what summer is all about for residents, but also a popular attraction for visitors to the area. Regardless of where you vacation in the Columbia Valley, you will, at some point, most likely find yourself heading to Kinsmen Park. Many community events take place there each year too – like the Snowflake Festival, Canada Day Celebrations and the Invermere Music Festival, to name a few.
With tall trees to provide plenty of shade on a hot summer’s day and its breathtaking views of both the Canadian Rockies and the Purcell range, Kinsmen Park offers an abundance of reasons why you will want to put it on your places-to-visit list for the family vacation. Here are just a few:
| sandy beach
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beach volleyball
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| kids’ play area
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splash and spray park in the lake
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| concession
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Pynelogs Cultural Centre
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| clean, accessible washrooms
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botanical gardens
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| showers and change rooms
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Botanical Gardens Trail
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| plenty of parking
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Trail around Dorothy Lake
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| picnic tables
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Lake Windermere Whiteway
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The Lake
With tall trees to provide plenty of shade on a hot summer’s day and its breathtaking views of both the Canadian Rockies and the Purcell range, Kinsmen Park offers an abundance of reasons why you will want to put it on your places-to-visit list for the family vacation.
From the Town of Invermere