Grand Forks

Grand Forks is a city of about 4,000 people (2016) in the West Kootenays, near the Washington, USA border. It is a useful food and fuel stop when travelling the Crowsnest Highway.

Understand

Kettle River Railway Bridge

The city is in the traditional territory of the Sinixt people, who lived here for at least 10,000 years. Bounded by tall mountains, they interacted with nearby First Nations, but settlers did not arrive until the early 19th century. Smallpox epidemics in the late 18th and early 20th centuries killed some 80% of the population. The 49th parallel border imposed by US and Britain divided the Sinixt territory in two. Most people ended up living south of the border, in the Colville Indian Reservation. The completion of the Grand Coulee Dam blocked salmon migrations up the Columbia River, ending centuries of salmon culture and removing a food source. In 1956 the Canadian government declared the "Arrow Lakes Band" as extinct. However, Sinixt descendants continue to leave in Vallican.

Small numbers of settlers visited the region early in the 19th century, but in the 1890s the development of copper mining brought about permanent settlement. The present city of Grand Forks was established in 1897. Between 1900-1910, pacifist Russian settlers known as "Doukhobors" settled in the area. The population reached 1500 by 1911.

The city of Grand Forks has a population of some 4,000 people (2016), and 10,000 or so live in the Grand Forks area.

Visitors Centre

• 1 Grand Forks Visitor Information Centre, 524 Central Avenue (at 5 St), ☏ +1 250-442-5835, fax: +1 250-442-0099, gftourism@g2gf.ca. M–Sa 9AM–5PM. Supplies tourist information. free. (updated Sep 2017)

Get in

Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway, brings you to Grand Forks from the east and the west.

Highway 41, the Danville Highway, approaches from the south, from the Carson port of entry. This crossing is served by Washington Highway 21.

By bus

• Mountain Man Mike's Bus Service, ☏ +1-778-382-7729, info@mountainmanmikes.ca. Twice per week service between Kaslo and Vancouver with stops in Balfour, Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand_Forks, Greenwood, Rock Creek, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Princeton, Manning Provincial Park, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, and New Westminster. Travel time to Grand Forks from Kalso is 3 hours, from Nelson is 2 hours, from Castlegar is 1.25 hours, from Osoyoos is 1.25 hours, from Princeton is 3 hours, from Hope is 4.75 hours, from Abbotsford is 6 hours, and from Vancouver is 7.25 hours. This service provider also offers a weekly route between Kalso and Calgary via Nelson. (updated Mar 2022)
• Silver City Stagelines Limited, support@fritztravels.com. Multiple days per week bus service between Trail and Kelowna with stops in Nelson, Castlegar, Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, and Rock Creek. Travel time to Grand Forks from Trail is 3.25 hours, from Nelson is 2 hours, from Castlegar is 1.5 hours, and from Kelowna is 3 hours. (updated Mar 2022)

By airport

If you own a recreational aircraft, you can fly into 1 Grand Forks Airport.  .

Get around

The core of Grand Forks is walkable and compact. A car will be most convenient.

By public transit

BC Transit (Boundary Transit System), ☏ +1 855 993 3100. Offers on demand (by calling to book) service within Grand Forks during limited daytime hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. (updated Apr 2022)

• On Fridays, offers a return trip between Grand Forks and Greenwood. Reservation required by the day before.
• On Tuesdays offers Health Connections trips between Rock Creek and Grand Forks with stops in Midway and Greenwood. Reservations must be made by the day before. The trips are open to all members of the public, but as "Health Connections" trips, people traveling to medical appointments receive priority for reservations.

See

• 1 Boundary Museum and Interpretive Centre, 6145 Reservoir Road, ☏ +1-250-442-3737, boundarymuse@shaw.ca. winters Tu–F 10AM–4PM. Housed in the "Fructova Heritage Site", which was built as a school by Doukhobors. Has exhibits on Doukhobor life, and on pioneer life in the Boundary in general. Suggested donation $5 per adult, $3 per youth, and $2 per child. (updated Sep 2017)
• 2 Alpine Taxidermy & Wildlife Museum, 460 Starchuk Rd, ☏ +1 250-442-2993. Daily 9AM-9PM. Life-like preserved species of many big and small game found throughout BC. There is no charge to walk through the museum and several items are for sale for the right price. Outside, there is a cedar tree maze for the kids, and many rock & flower gardens to walk through. (updated May 2018)
• 3 Gallery 2, 524 Central Avenue, ☏ +1 250-442-2211. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Permanent collection representing regional, national, and international artists documenting and preserving art history and cultural heritage. Free (donations accepted). (updated Feb 2024)

Learn

• 2 Selkirk College - Grand Forks campus, 486 72nd Avenue, ☏ +1 250-442-2704. Publicly funded college. Limited course offered at this campus. (updated Sep 2023)

Eat

• 1 Tastie Treat, 1629 Central Ave, ☏ +1-250-442-3015. Th–Su 11:30AM–7PM, Su noon–7PM. An old-style burger and ice cream stand, in business since the 1960s. Their milkshakes are just the treat for a hot summer day. (updated Sep 2017)
• 2 The Wooden Spoon Bistro, 221B Market Avenue, ☏ +1 250-442-5005. M-Sa 8AM-3PM, Su 8:30AM-1PM. Breakfasts and lunches, healthy choices and vegan options. (updated May 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Grand Forks Inn, 2729 Central Ave, ☏ +1 250-442-2127. Free continental breakfast and WiFi. Air-conditioned rooms with a view of the mountains, outdoor courtyard pool, pet-friendly hotel. (updated May 2023)
• 2 Western Traveller Motel, 1591 Central Ave, ☏ +1 250-442-5566. Fitness room, coin laundromat, business centre, 34 non-smoking rooms (plus 1 smoking room), wheelchair accessible room, in-room jacuzzi suite available, free Wi-Fi, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator, air conditioning, pet free rooms are available. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Luna Grand Forks Bed and Breakfast, 558 Central Avenue, ☏ +1 250-444-0581, gabrah25@yahoo.com. In downtown Grand Forks, next to the Heritage Courthouse and Kettle River, Luna B&B is an elegant home that dates back to 1913. Tastefully decorated rooms with private bathroom and toiletries, TV/DVD, alarm clock, fan, fireplace and wireless Internet access. (updated May 2018)

Cope

• 3 Boundary District Hospital, 7649 22nd St, ☏ +1 250-443-2100. Has an emergency department that operates 24/7 (updated Apr 2023)

Go next

Routes through Grand Forks

Osoyoos ← Greenwood ←	W  E	→ Christina Lake → Castlegar / Nelson
END ←	N  S	→ → becomes → Republic