Join Us On Our Next Field Trip or Event.
Listed below are upcoming and recent field trips and events of the Rocky Mountain Naturalists.
Members welcome.
A guest must complete a waiver form and pay $2.00 per Outing.
Group sizes are limited in order to provide a quality and safe experience for everyone. Carpooling can be organized from the meeting place for those feeling comfortable. If there is space, guests are welcome to join an Outing up to twice a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Early Morning Birding (Daryl)
Wednesday, July 7, 2026 - 8:00 am
This week, at 8:00, meet at the junction of Ha Ha Creek Road and Bulkot Road, on the Cranbrook side of Wardner. Before heading down the long hill towards the Kootenay River, turn right at the end of a straight stretch along Highway 3 / 93. Follow Ha Ha Creek Road for about 1 km and keep right to a wide spot. Expect short walks and a warm, sunny day.
Members welcome.
A guest must complete a waiver form and pay $2.00 per Outing.
Group sizes are limited in order to provide a quality and safe experience for everyone. Carpooling can be organized from the meeting place for those feeling comfortable. If there is space, guests are welcome to join an Outing up to twice a year.
Please let us know if you are interested.
Early Morning Birding (Daryl)
Wednesday, July 7, 2026 - 8:00 am
This week, at 8:00, meet at the junction of Ha Ha Creek Road and Bulkot Road, on the Cranbrook side of Wardner. Before heading down the long hill towards the Kootenay River, turn right at the end of a straight stretch along Highway 3 / 93. Follow Ha Ha Creek Road for about 1 km and keep right to a wide spot. Expect short walks and a warm, sunny day.
40th Anniversary Celebration of Rocky Mountain Naturalists
August 30-31, 2026 at Wasa Lions Hall and Campground
Please join us for the Club 40th Anniversary Celebration as we celebrate the club's history and past and present members' contributions to the community. Activities and further information to be announced.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 7:00 pm
This month's meeting is at Reade Lake. Following are the directions. Meet at the end of Foster Rd for a 7:00 pm start to walk about 10 minutes to the lake. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather conditions. Bring a sitting pad, mosquito repellent, binoculars and camera. This is a lovely private property overlooking Reade Lake, rich in bird life, that the Wallach Family graciously invites us to every July.
To get there
Option 1: Turn onto Airport Access Road, drive about 2.2 km toward the Airport, making a left turn onto Wycliffe Mission Road. Drive about 4 kilometers to make a right turn onto Foster Rd. Drive 300 meters to the end of Foster, use the turn around and park on the west side of the road.
Option 2: Go to Forties Corner which is Highway 3 and Mission Wycliffe/Pighin Road. Turn onto Wycliffe Mission Road heading to the airport. Drive about 2.7 km to make a left turn onto Foster Road. Drive 300 meters to the end of Foster, use the turn around and park on the west side of the road.
Nature's Art at Your Fingertips Outing (Jim)
Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Southstar Parking lot to leave at 10:00 am
Participant size limited to 8 people. Please RSVP to Jim
Those wishing to experiment with their artistic curiosity, may join a casual walk where nature's floral patterns and rhythms shall be photographed and converted in real time to masterful art pieces utilizing the powerful new AI Galaxy Photo editing on your own Samsung smart phones or equivalent devices.
Plants targeted may include lupins, wild rose, dogwood, Mariposa Lily, buttercup, daisy, wild woodland lily and blue bells. Those with iPhones may load equivalent to galaxy software and others with older versions may just be interested in seeing the potential of these latest devices.
Elizabeth Lake Work Bee (Marianne)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 - 8:30 am - 10:30 am
We have several things that need doing at Elizabeth Lake - pulling of cheatgrass and other invasives, cleanup of sediment fabric and wood that is below a duck nesting box at the shoreline, clearing a space for a memorial bench and clearing in front of the cement blind. Please RSVP so that I can organize people for each job, parking area and tools needed. Really appreciate your help. Elizabeth Lake is getting so much use from both locals and visitors. Many stop to chat and express their appreciation of this protected area.
Bluebird/Swallow Trails Outings (Marianne)
I am offering informal Outings on a couple of my Bluebird/Swallow Trails if you would like to come along, enjoy seeing the stages of nesting and steps in monitoring.
St Mary's Slump Route is a park and a walk of about 1+ km, about 1.5 hours.
The Spray Irrigation Route is a drive, park, hop out and drive on. 2 hours.
Elizabeth Lake Route involves 2 car stops and a little walking. 1 hour.
Here are several times that I will be going out. Please email me with the date that suits you and I will follow up with the details. Limit will be 3 people per Outing.
St. Mary's Slump - Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm
Elizabeth Lake - Thursday, June 11, 8:30 am
Spray Irrigation - Saturday, June 13, 8:30 am
Kimberley Nature Park - Education Walk about Leaves Outing (Janice/Jamie)
Sunday, June 14, 2026 - 10:00 am
Sunday June 14 in the Kimberley Nature Park - 10:00 am until about noon.
Meet one block from the Higgins Street trailhead at the parking area just off highway 95A in Kimberley.
No dogs please. Cranbrook members meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 9:30 am departure. Kimberley folk will meet at the Higgins Street entrance to the KNP for a 10:00 am start. Shape sensing and Survival into the unseen world of plant perception. Janice Strong and Jamie Levine are nature enthusiasts and would like to share strategies of leaf strategies.
Kimberley Nature Park - Eimer's Lake Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 7:00 pm
Destination is Kimberley Nature Park Eimer's Lake - focus on forest and riparian plants, shrubs and other interesting sightings. Cranbrook members meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure. Kimberley folk will meet at the Higgins Street entrance to the KNP for a 7:00 pm start. This is rated as an Easy outing, some elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars.
Little Big Day (30th Anniversary)
Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
We encourage all RMNats to participate. All skill levels are welcome. Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants. The registration fee will be $5.00 per person. All registration fee money will be donated to a conservation effort in the East Kootenay. The objective of the LBD competition is to identify as many bird species as possible between 6am and 6pm on May 23rd within the Southern half Rocky Mountain Naturalist East Kootenay Bird Checklist (2016). At least two members of each team must correctly identify the species either by sight or vocalizations. The entire team should stay together to identify birds (i.e. we don’t want a team to split up to cover more area). Each species will be checked off on the East Kootenay Bird Checklist that will be provided to each team. This checklist will be handed in at the evening supper. Participants will meet at the Marysville Pub in Marysville (6:15 PM cocktails, start at 6:30pm) to submit their checklists and share their day. Dinner is not provided with the registration fee.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - College of the Rockies (track outside)
Wednesday, May 20, 2025 - 7:00 pm
There will be a short Business meeting from 7:00 - 7:30 pm just inside the track of COTR (College of the Rockies). Park in the back COTR parking lot near the student residences and track. **Please note, if the weather is inclement, we will move the meeting indoors.** Following the meeting, at 7:30 pm Join Randy Harris, for a field talk in the Community Forest behind the COTR. Randy is a Professional Forester, Habitat Biologist and currently a consultant with several organizations including local First Nations and the Trench Society. He will be sharing his knowledge on several topics including vegetative changes, fire regime and in-growth and First Nation land management. Come prepared to be outside for the evening. You may want to bring a cushion or chair for the meeting. If it is raining, we will meet indoors but come prepared to be in the forest for Randy's talk.
Elizabeth Lake Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - 6:45 pm
Destination is Elizabeth Lake - focus on riparian plants, shrubs and other interesting sightings along the shoreline and forest trail. Meet at the Elizabeth Lake parking lot at the corner of 11th St. S. and Innes Ave. below Parkland School for a 6:45 pm start. There is parking on the street if the lot is full. Kimberley folk will carpool from behind the Marysville Arena departing at 6:15 pm. I will let you know who is coming from Kimberley. This is rated as an Easy outing, no elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars. Please RSVP to Marianne.
St. Mary Slump Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 6:30 pm
Destination is St. Mary Slump trail. Cranbrook folk meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure and aiming for an 8:30 pm return. Carpooling is definitely needed for this Outing because there is very limited parking. Kimberley folk will carpool from behind the Marysville Arena departing at 6:40 pm. I will let you know who is coming from Kimberley. This is rated as an Easy outing, no elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars. We will be sharing our knowledge and looking for Peak Saxifrage. Please RSVP to Marianne.
World Migratory Bird Day (2nd Annual)
Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Please come and take in the 2nd Annual World Migratory Bird Day at Elizabeth Lake from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9! This event is open to the public as well as all members.
Eager Hill Outing (Marianne)
Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 6:30 pm
Eager Hill - Meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure and aiming for an 8:30 pm return. Carpooling is definitely needed for this Outing because there is very limited parking. This is rated as an Easy outing, some elevation but at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book and your phone. We will be sharing our knowledge - I am not an expert!
Elizabeth Lake Turtle Day
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
The RMNats, with our partner, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) are again organizing Turtle Day. All events will take place in the area between Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Building and the new Viewing Platform. There is a school program with 3 schools of 2 Elementary classes each, rotating through 3 stations from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The Public Event is from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, taking place in the same area with the same events. Joe Pierre of the aq’am Community will open the public event at 2:30 pm, and then the public will be able to visit the stations.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Lecture Hall, College of the Rockies
Tuesday, March 12, 2026 - 7:00 pm
There will be a special presentation by Gary Davidson. A lifelong Naturalist and Birder from Nakusp, Gary will be presenting a slideshow from his travels to Africa. A brief business meeting will follow the presentation.
RMNATS WINTER SOCIAL
Rocky Mountain Naturalists are hosting our Winter Social Wiener Roast on Saturday, March 7,2026 at 4:30 pm at Wycliffe Regional Park Site Area # 2. Wycliffe Regional Park | RDEK
Just follow the plowed road to the end where you will park. The fire pits, tables and covered shelter are right there. Bring your own wieners/smokies and buns to cook over the fire along with your own drinks, plates and cutlery. You can bring something in the way of dessert or snacks to share with the group if you like. There will be some roasting sticks available or bring your own. Condiments will be provided. There are several picnic tables at this site and you may wish to bring along a foam pad to sit on or a chair. Come early at 3:30 or 4 if you want to do a walk around the area or check out the top notch disc golf course; bring your own disc if you want to explore on your own. Disc players keep the pads shovelled during the winter. Looking forward to seeing you on March 7. Family members and partners are welcome.
Tabletop Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, March 1, 2026 - 1:00 pm
'Tabletop' is the name of a flat-topped bump in the Ramparts area. Last year we snowshoed there in December. This may be a hike or a snowshoe, depending on snow conditions. Gretchen will confirm mode on Saturday, February 28. We will walk from the Ramparts Rest Stop to Tabletop and likely return the same way. The one-way distance is about 1.5 km and involves about a 50 m ascent. If we make a loop, the return trip could be half a kilometer longer. Meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop by 12:55 pm where carpooling can be arranged. We will leave there at 1:00 and drive to Ramparts Rest Stop where we will park and don our snowshoes or grippers. Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Please bring at least one pole because of the hills. Binoculars optional; we may see birds or examine tracks in the snow.
Stone Oven Isadore Trail Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, February 22, 2026 - 1:00 pm
An ice-free single track trail takes us from the start near Spray Road #1 to the Oven. We go up and down gentle hills through the forest to reach the oven in just over 2 km and less than an hour. When we retrace our route, we will have two optional viewpoints. The highest, Steepleview, is a challenging hill, but just 10 minutes off the main trail. Anyone not wanting the steep hill will wait at the junction so we all return together. We should see some birds and beautiful moss.
Total trip is estimated at 4.5 km and takes 2.5 hours including stops at the viewpoints. Dress in layers, bring a drink and a snack. Also a good idea to have grippers, just in case. This is rated as a moderate hike. Meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky to arrange car pooling, and ready to leave at 1:00 pm. RSVP to Gretchen.
Great Backyard Bird Count (Daryl)
Saturday, February 14, 2026 - 8:30 am
Daryl is planning to drive along a significant loop, south of Cranbrook, to the International Border at Newgate and return. The weather forecast is favourable, roads are good and the trip is just under 200 kms. This will be the 5th such trip in the last few years. He has 3 or 4 seats available in his vehicle. We will meet at 8:30 am at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop, drive south along Gold Creek Road, Tepee FSR and Newgate Road. Return via Kikomun Ck, Jaffray and Wardner. Bring multiple warm layers, binocs, camera, and scope. Expect a number of stops along the way, and bring your lunch, water/hot drinks. Return to Cranbrook late afternoon. A pleasant 1 hour walk in the South Country is to be expected.
Brewery Ridge GBBC Outing (Theckla/Betty)
Friday, February 13, 2026 - 1:30 pm
Join Theckla and Betty on Friday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. to hopefully view some Golden and Bald Eagles above Brewery Ridge off Wildhorse Creek FSR. Meet at the Osprey Nest pullout at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 13. This pullout is located just off the Fort Steele- Wardner Road across from the Fort Steele RV Park. We will drive a short distance up the Wildhorse FSR to a lookout over the river and hike up towards Brewery Ridge. This is a moderate outing but it is not necessary to hike the whole distance up to the ridge. We will return to our vehicles by 3 p.m. Bring binoculars, grippers and poles as needed. Please RSVP to Betty.
St Mary River Walk at St, Eugene Mission (Marianne)
Friday, February 13, 2026 - 1:40 pm
Kick off The Great Backyard Bird Count with an easy walk along the St. Mary's River at St Eugene Golf Course and then down to Prairie Bridge for this two hour Outing. Dress for the weather and bring your grippers in case of ice. I have not yet checked out the footing conditions. Bring binoculars. To carpool, Cranbrook folks meet at the parking lot between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza at the Tamarack Mall for a 1:40 pm departure. To carpool, Kimberley folks meet at the back of the Marysville Arena for a 1:35 pm departure. I will let you know who the Kimberley folk are. Everyone to meet at the St. Eugene parking area at 2:00 pm, just off Mission Rd in front of the big white event tent next to the avenue of trees that leads to the front entrance of the old school. RSVP to Marianne.
Walk Along Kootenay River (Marianne)
Saturday, January 31, 2026 - 1:00 pm
Enjoy a walk above the Kootenay River on an uneven trail but quite walkable above the riverbank heading south, to the mouth of Wildhorse Creek. We will return to the vehicles along an access road from our starting point at old Ft. Steele below Selkirk Ave. Checking for animal evidence and birdlife along the way will be a focus. The total distance is 2 km and about 2 hours from where we park at Ft. Steele. This is rated as an Easy Outing. Meet at Tamarack Mall between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza to carpool for a 1:00 pm departure. Dress for the weather and warmly as we will not be walking fast. Bring grippers, perhaps a hiking pole and binoculars. Kimberley folk - I can let you know who is attending so you can arrange carpooling.
Annual General Meeting and Bi-Monthly Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 2026 - 11:00 a.m.
Cranbrook Library, Manual Training Center
The AGM will take place at 11:00 a.m., followed by a brief Bi-monthly Meeting.
Following both meetings will be a potluck and social time. Please bring a dish to share along with your own plates, cutlery and a mug. Tea, coffee and napkins will be provided.
New Year's Day Hike 2026 (Daryl/Marianne)
Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 11:00 am
Join Daryl and Marianne on a 4 hour loop hike through Wilks Woods, including a wiener roast at the midpoint. Meet at the North (upper) end of Wilks Road which is a 1 kilometre spur off King Street, Cranbrook. Drive up Wilks Road, keep right at the 'Y', and take the 2nd right to the concrete barricade. We will hike up through open woods on a boot packed route, utilizing game trails and dodging rough, rocky sections. 4 + kms in length with a 200m elevation gain/loss. Expect hills, a variety of ups and downs and 3 viewpoints. Good, solid boots and poles are needed to navigate the shallow snow depth. You may want to bring your grippers. The primitive trail is not icy. Dress in layers. This is rated as a Moderate Plus Outing. At the first viewpoint, almost at the halfway point, we will start a quick fire for lunch. Bring your own wieners/ smokies/ bun or whatever you want for lunch, water, tea, etc. We will supply condiments, sticks, and mulled wine and apple juice. We will be standing around in this area for lunch so bring extra clothes to keep warm and perhaps a sitting pad. After lunch, we'll continue to Whiskey Jack summit, then north over to the 3rd viewpoint overlooking the Trench, then down Sunflower Hill and across to the vehicles. Naturalists will observe various forest types, animal signs and a few birds. We will listen and look for American 3-toed Woodpeckers and Brown Creepers. Consider bringing your binoculars. RSVP.
Christmas Bird Count Dates:
Jaffray Wardner: Sunday, Dec. 14,
Cranbrook: Sunday, December 28 and
Kimberley: Saturday, January 3
Kimberley Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, January 3, 2026
Announcing the Kimberley CBC on January 3rd, with four geographical areas within the count circle – Town Centre, Meadowbrook, Wasa / Ta Ta and Wycliffe. The map is on our website at
rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. It also has lots of good information from
previous CBC counts. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Details on record keeping and submission will be provided after Dec. 29th deadline. After, there will be a dinner at 5:00 pm at the Marysville Pub. Please RSVP to Carol for both the count, and the dinner.
Cranbrook Christmas Bird Count - Sunday, December 28, 2025
Announcing the Cranbrook CBC, with four geographical areas within the count circle – South Cranbrook, North Cranbrook, Jimsmith/Green Bay, New Lake/Wycliffe. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. The map for the Cranbrook count is on our website at rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. It also has lots of good information from previous CBC counts. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Each team will submit their data as one ebird Trip Report to Dianne, our count compiler. RSVP to Marianne.
Jaffray Wardner Christmas Bird Count - Sunday, December 14, 2025
Announcing the Jaffray Wardner CBC, with four geographical areas within the count circle – Jaffray, Tie Lake, Bull River and Wardner. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. The map for the Jaffray Wardner count is on our website at rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. There is lots of good information from previous CBC counts. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Each team will submit their data as one ebird Trip Report to Dianne, our count compiler. RSVP to Marianne.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC152
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Guest Speaker is Marnie Duthie-Holt - Kootenay Boundary Forest Entomologist with the BC Ministry of Forests. Marnie will talk about the health of our local coniferous forests and the factors involving their health.
A business meeting will follow the guest speaker. There will be a toonie raffle of a few items and a silent auction for a beautiful turned plate with inlaid wood features (great Christmas gift). All proceeds to the Scholarship fund.
Devil's Hole Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, November 2, 2025 - 1:00 pm
Usher in November and the time change with a hike near Fort Steele at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop ready to depart at 1:00 pm. Kimberley members - I will contact you as to who is coming from there so you can carpool. The drive is mostly on paved roads with 4 kms on flat, bumpy gravel just off Holmes Rd. The entire trip from town and back will be about four + hours.
A one-hour moderate hike on a rocky, uneven quad track with some steepness for a distance of 2.5 km will bring us to the bluff overlooking the Devil’s Hole tarn. This is rated as a Moderate hike. On the drive out we could stop at Lakit Lake for a walkabout. Dress warmly in layers and wear sturdy footwear. Bring water, a snack, binoculars and phone.
This trip will be limited to 10 or 11 people.
Duck Box Outings (Katrin/Greg)
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists “Cavity Nesting Group” will be conducting 5 duck box cleanup dates through the month of October. We would like to welcome up to 2 interested Rocky Mountain Naturalists to each session, as an educational opportunity. We find an interesting array of nest box usages and it’s quite fun to decipher what species has used the box. The first 2 people that RSVP for each outing will be given preference. If there are openings available, then you can come to more than one outing. Once you are signed up, we will let you know the meeting spot. We hope to see some interest as this is a really fun opportunity!
Wednesday Oct 1 @ 11am - McGinty Lake (2 boxes)
Likely 2-3 hours with some birding and picnic lunch, minimum walking is approx 1km easy. Around the lake would be approx 3km.
Sunday Oct 5th @ 11am - Elizabeth Lake East Side Forest Trail (8 boxes)
Likely 4-5 hours with picnic lunch and some birding at Brown blind after the first 2 boxes. Approx 3km walking required on flat ground.
Wednesday Oct 15th @ 1pm - Westport (aka Ft Steele) (3 boxes) and Community Forest (1 box)
Likely 2-3 hours. Approx 1km walking required.
Sunday October 19th @ 3pm Elizabeth Lake West Side (near Info Centre) (4 boxes)
Likely 2 hours. Approx 1km walking required.
Thursday Oct 23 @ 1pm Irrigation Fields/ Rampart (5 boxes)
Likely 3 hours.
BC Rivers Day Paddle Monroe Lake (Marianne/Daryl)
Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 10:00 am
In celebration of the 45th BC Rivers Day, please join us for a 7 km Monroe Lake paddle on Sunday, September 28. https://www.orcbc.ca/bc-rivers-day
Meet at Monroe Lake Recreation Site public access for a 10:00 am launch. It takes time to unload boats and park along the road so arrive with time to get ready. We will be picking up bits of litter from the shoreline so bring a small plastic bag. After paddling the perimeter of the lake and doing a quick litter pick up around the put-in area (gloves would be helpful) you are welcome to join us for a wiener roast lunch. Bring your own food. We will bring condiments. Firewood provided. Bring - kayak or canoe, paddles, lifejackets, bailer, a tow rope. Lunch if staying. Monroe Lake is accessed off the Highway 3 turn-off to Moyie Lake Provincial Park. Monroe Lake Rd is the only road to the right before the Moyie Park entrance. Keep right. RSVP by Friday, September 26 with your emergency contact information.
Bi-Monthly Meeting for September 17, 2025
Since so many members are away this month enjoying the lovely early autumn weather, it has been decided to take a break from our regular September bi-monthly meeting. We did have a presentation on grasslands planned, and this will now take place in May next year. Our next bi-monthly meeting will be in November.
Ram Creek Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 7:30 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club are going to visit Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve on Sunday, August 24. The Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club are wardens for this Ecological Reserve. https://bcparks.ca/conservation/ecological-reserves/
We will carpool, leaving Cranbrook at 7:30 am from the Tamarack Mall parking area between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza. Kimberley folk will leave Kimberley at 7:30 am, from behind the Catholic Church. Both groups will meet at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:00 am. From there it is a 30 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rough Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all wheel drive vehicle will be fine. After parking, it is less than a 2 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on an established trail with limited elevation gain.
We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed and thistles, collecting litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner dragonfly. Bring gloves for pulling weeds.
Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, insect repellent, camera, binoculars, gloves.
RMNats Summer Social
Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 3:45 pm
Our Summer Social is on Sunday, August 17th at Elizabeth Lake Lodge Mini Golf. All members and partners are welcome.
Mini Golf 3:45 - 5:00 pm. $5.00 per person. Please arrive by 3:45 so that teams can be made by pulling names from a hat. A round takes about an hour. For those not golfing, please take a walk around Elizabeth Lake or just arrive around 5:00 to visit before dinner.
Potluck dinner at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish of your choice, your own beverage, dishes and cutlery.
Everyone, please park in the Confederation Park parking lot just off Wattsville Road behind the EL Lodge. Please RSVP by Friday, August 15th so we have an idea of numbers for golf, tables and chairs.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Centre
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Please note: The business meeting will be brief. Bring a lawn chair or seating pad. Our guest presenter Brittany Eliadis - Education + Outreach Manager for East Kootenay Invasive Species Council - will lead us all on a "Weedy Walk".
Bat Monitoring Outing (Scott)
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 10:00 am
Join Scott Bodaly to learn about bat monitoring and guano collection at the Wycliffe site. Scott will lead a walk to view the modified trees for bats at Wycliffe overlooking the "crack" above the St. Mary's River. This is an easy to moderate walk approximately 4 km. and 2 hours return. The parking lot is 1 km. south of Porteous Road, beside the Rails to Trails by the highway. Carpooling is encouraged since parking there is limited. Cranbrook folks meet at 9:40 am at Tamarack Mall between the Husky Stn. and Boston Pizza. Kimberley folks meet behind the Marysville arena at 9:45 am.
August 30-31, 2026 at Wasa Lions Hall and Campground
Please join us for the Club 40th Anniversary Celebration as we celebrate the club's history and past and present members' contributions to the community. Activities and further information to be announced.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Reade Lake
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 - 7:00 pm
This month's meeting is at Reade Lake. Following are the directions. Meet at the end of Foster Rd for a 7:00 pm start to walk about 10 minutes to the lake. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for the weather conditions. Bring a sitting pad, mosquito repellent, binoculars and camera. This is a lovely private property overlooking Reade Lake, rich in bird life, that the Wallach Family graciously invites us to every July.
To get there
Option 1: Turn onto Airport Access Road, drive about 2.2 km toward the Airport, making a left turn onto Wycliffe Mission Road. Drive about 4 kilometers to make a right turn onto Foster Rd. Drive 300 meters to the end of Foster, use the turn around and park on the west side of the road.
Option 2: Go to Forties Corner which is Highway 3 and Mission Wycliffe/Pighin Road. Turn onto Wycliffe Mission Road heading to the airport. Drive about 2.7 km to make a left turn onto Foster Road. Drive 300 meters to the end of Foster, use the turn around and park on the west side of the road.
Nature's Art at Your Fingertips Outing (Jim)
Thursday, July 2, 2026 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Southstar Parking lot to leave at 10:00 am
Participant size limited to 8 people. Please RSVP to Jim
Those wishing to experiment with their artistic curiosity, may join a casual walk where nature's floral patterns and rhythms shall be photographed and converted in real time to masterful art pieces utilizing the powerful new AI Galaxy Photo editing on your own Samsung smart phones or equivalent devices.
Plants targeted may include lupins, wild rose, dogwood, Mariposa Lily, buttercup, daisy, wild woodland lily and blue bells. Those with iPhones may load equivalent to galaxy software and others with older versions may just be interested in seeing the potential of these latest devices.
Elizabeth Lake Work Bee (Marianne)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 - 8:30 am - 10:30 am
We have several things that need doing at Elizabeth Lake - pulling of cheatgrass and other invasives, cleanup of sediment fabric and wood that is below a duck nesting box at the shoreline, clearing a space for a memorial bench and clearing in front of the cement blind. Please RSVP so that I can organize people for each job, parking area and tools needed. Really appreciate your help. Elizabeth Lake is getting so much use from both locals and visitors. Many stop to chat and express their appreciation of this protected area.
Bluebird/Swallow Trails Outings (Marianne)
I am offering informal Outings on a couple of my Bluebird/Swallow Trails if you would like to come along, enjoy seeing the stages of nesting and steps in monitoring.
St Mary's Slump Route is a park and a walk of about 1+ km, about 1.5 hours.
The Spray Irrigation Route is a drive, park, hop out and drive on. 2 hours.
Elizabeth Lake Route involves 2 car stops and a little walking. 1 hour.
Here are several times that I will be going out. Please email me with the date that suits you and I will follow up with the details. Limit will be 3 people per Outing.
St. Mary's Slump - Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 pm
Elizabeth Lake - Thursday, June 11, 8:30 am
Spray Irrigation - Saturday, June 13, 8:30 am
Kimberley Nature Park - Education Walk about Leaves Outing (Janice/Jamie)
Sunday, June 14, 2026 - 10:00 am
Sunday June 14 in the Kimberley Nature Park - 10:00 am until about noon.
Meet one block from the Higgins Street trailhead at the parking area just off highway 95A in Kimberley.
No dogs please. Cranbrook members meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 9:30 am departure. Kimberley folk will meet at the Higgins Street entrance to the KNP for a 10:00 am start. Shape sensing and Survival into the unseen world of plant perception. Janice Strong and Jamie Levine are nature enthusiasts and would like to share strategies of leaf strategies.
Kimberley Nature Park - Eimer's Lake Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 - 7:00 pm
Destination is Kimberley Nature Park Eimer's Lake - focus on forest and riparian plants, shrubs and other interesting sightings. Cranbrook members meet at the Tamarack Mall parking area between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure. Kimberley folk will meet at the Higgins Street entrance to the KNP for a 7:00 pm start. This is rated as an Easy outing, some elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars.
Little Big Day (30th Anniversary)
Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 6:00 am to 6:00 pm
We encourage all RMNats to participate. All skill levels are welcome. Each team will consist of 3 to 5 participants. The registration fee will be $5.00 per person. All registration fee money will be donated to a conservation effort in the East Kootenay. The objective of the LBD competition is to identify as many bird species as possible between 6am and 6pm on May 23rd within the Southern half Rocky Mountain Naturalist East Kootenay Bird Checklist (2016). At least two members of each team must correctly identify the species either by sight or vocalizations. The entire team should stay together to identify birds (i.e. we don’t want a team to split up to cover more area). Each species will be checked off on the East Kootenay Bird Checklist that will be provided to each team. This checklist will be handed in at the evening supper. Participants will meet at the Marysville Pub in Marysville (6:15 PM cocktails, start at 6:30pm) to submit their checklists and share their day. Dinner is not provided with the registration fee.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - College of the Rockies (track outside)
Wednesday, May 20, 2025 - 7:00 pm
There will be a short Business meeting from 7:00 - 7:30 pm just inside the track of COTR (College of the Rockies). Park in the back COTR parking lot near the student residences and track. **Please note, if the weather is inclement, we will move the meeting indoors.** Following the meeting, at 7:30 pm Join Randy Harris, for a field talk in the Community Forest behind the COTR. Randy is a Professional Forester, Habitat Biologist and currently a consultant with several organizations including local First Nations and the Trench Society. He will be sharing his knowledge on several topics including vegetative changes, fire regime and in-growth and First Nation land management. Come prepared to be outside for the evening. You may want to bring a cushion or chair for the meeting. If it is raining, we will meet indoors but come prepared to be in the forest for Randy's talk.
Elizabeth Lake Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - 6:45 pm
Destination is Elizabeth Lake - focus on riparian plants, shrubs and other interesting sightings along the shoreline and forest trail. Meet at the Elizabeth Lake parking lot at the corner of 11th St. S. and Innes Ave. below Parkland School for a 6:45 pm start. There is parking on the street if the lot is full. Kimberley folk will carpool from behind the Marysville Arena departing at 6:15 pm. I will let you know who is coming from Kimberley. This is rated as an Easy outing, no elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars. Please RSVP to Marianne.
St. Mary Slump Outing (Marianne)
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 6:30 pm
Destination is St. Mary Slump trail. Cranbrook folk meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure and aiming for an 8:30 pm return. Carpooling is definitely needed for this Outing because there is very limited parking. Kimberley folk will carpool from behind the Marysville Arena departing at 6:40 pm. I will let you know who is coming from Kimberley. This is rated as an Easy outing, no elevation, at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book, your phone and binoculars. We will be sharing our knowledge and looking for Peak Saxifrage. Please RSVP to Marianne.
World Migratory Bird Day (2nd Annual)
Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Please come and take in the 2nd Annual World Migratory Bird Day at Elizabeth Lake from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9! This event is open to the public as well as all members.
Eager Hill Outing (Marianne)
Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 6:30 pm
Eager Hill - Meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop for a 6:30 pm departure and aiming for an 8:30 pm return. Carpooling is definitely needed for this Outing because there is very limited parking. This is rated as an Easy outing, some elevation but at a slow pace. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, bring water, maybe a plant book and your phone. We will be sharing our knowledge - I am not an expert!
Elizabeth Lake Turtle Day
Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
The RMNats, with our partner, Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) are again organizing Turtle Day. All events will take place in the area between Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Building and the new Viewing Platform. There is a school program with 3 schools of 2 Elementary classes each, rotating through 3 stations from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. The Public Event is from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, taking place in the same area with the same events. Joe Pierre of the aq’am Community will open the public event at 2:30 pm, and then the public will be able to visit the stations.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Lecture Hall, College of the Rockies
Tuesday, March 12, 2026 - 7:00 pm
There will be a special presentation by Gary Davidson. A lifelong Naturalist and Birder from Nakusp, Gary will be presenting a slideshow from his travels to Africa. A brief business meeting will follow the presentation.
RMNATS WINTER SOCIAL
Rocky Mountain Naturalists are hosting our Winter Social Wiener Roast on Saturday, March 7,2026 at 4:30 pm at Wycliffe Regional Park Site Area # 2. Wycliffe Regional Park | RDEK
Just follow the plowed road to the end where you will park. The fire pits, tables and covered shelter are right there. Bring your own wieners/smokies and buns to cook over the fire along with your own drinks, plates and cutlery. You can bring something in the way of dessert or snacks to share with the group if you like. There will be some roasting sticks available or bring your own. Condiments will be provided. There are several picnic tables at this site and you may wish to bring along a foam pad to sit on or a chair. Come early at 3:30 or 4 if you want to do a walk around the area or check out the top notch disc golf course; bring your own disc if you want to explore on your own. Disc players keep the pads shovelled during the winter. Looking forward to seeing you on March 7. Family members and partners are welcome.
Tabletop Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, March 1, 2026 - 1:00 pm
'Tabletop' is the name of a flat-topped bump in the Ramparts area. Last year we snowshoed there in December. This may be a hike or a snowshoe, depending on snow conditions. Gretchen will confirm mode on Saturday, February 28. We will walk from the Ramparts Rest Stop to Tabletop and likely return the same way. The one-way distance is about 1.5 km and involves about a 50 m ascent. If we make a loop, the return trip could be half a kilometer longer. Meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop by 12:55 pm where carpooling can be arranged. We will leave there at 1:00 and drive to Ramparts Rest Stop where we will park and don our snowshoes or grippers. Dress in layers for the weather and bring water. Please bring at least one pole because of the hills. Binoculars optional; we may see birds or examine tracks in the snow.
Stone Oven Isadore Trail Outing (Gretchen)
Sunday, February 22, 2026 - 1:00 pm
An ice-free single track trail takes us from the start near Spray Road #1 to the Oven. We go up and down gentle hills through the forest to reach the oven in just over 2 km and less than an hour. When we retrace our route, we will have two optional viewpoints. The highest, Steepleview, is a challenging hill, but just 10 minutes off the main trail. Anyone not wanting the steep hill will wait at the junction so we all return together. We should see some birds and beautiful moss.
Total trip is estimated at 4.5 km and takes 2.5 hours including stops at the viewpoints. Dress in layers, bring a drink and a snack. Also a good idea to have grippers, just in case. This is rated as a moderate hike. Meet at Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky to arrange car pooling, and ready to leave at 1:00 pm. RSVP to Gretchen.
Great Backyard Bird Count (Daryl)
Saturday, February 14, 2026 - 8:30 am
Daryl is planning to drive along a significant loop, south of Cranbrook, to the International Border at Newgate and return. The weather forecast is favourable, roads are good and the trip is just under 200 kms. This will be the 5th such trip in the last few years. He has 3 or 4 seats available in his vehicle. We will meet at 8:30 am at the Tamarack Mall between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop, drive south along Gold Creek Road, Tepee FSR and Newgate Road. Return via Kikomun Ck, Jaffray and Wardner. Bring multiple warm layers, binocs, camera, and scope. Expect a number of stops along the way, and bring your lunch, water/hot drinks. Return to Cranbrook late afternoon. A pleasant 1 hour walk in the South Country is to be expected.
Brewery Ridge GBBC Outing (Theckla/Betty)
Friday, February 13, 2026 - 1:30 pm
Join Theckla and Betty on Friday, February 13 at 1:30 p.m. to hopefully view some Golden and Bald Eagles above Brewery Ridge off Wildhorse Creek FSR. Meet at the Osprey Nest pullout at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 13. This pullout is located just off the Fort Steele- Wardner Road across from the Fort Steele RV Park. We will drive a short distance up the Wildhorse FSR to a lookout over the river and hike up towards Brewery Ridge. This is a moderate outing but it is not necessary to hike the whole distance up to the ridge. We will return to our vehicles by 3 p.m. Bring binoculars, grippers and poles as needed. Please RSVP to Betty.
St Mary River Walk at St, Eugene Mission (Marianne)
Friday, February 13, 2026 - 1:40 pm
Kick off The Great Backyard Bird Count with an easy walk along the St. Mary's River at St Eugene Golf Course and then down to Prairie Bridge for this two hour Outing. Dress for the weather and bring your grippers in case of ice. I have not yet checked out the footing conditions. Bring binoculars. To carpool, Cranbrook folks meet at the parking lot between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza at the Tamarack Mall for a 1:40 pm departure. To carpool, Kimberley folks meet at the back of the Marysville Arena for a 1:35 pm departure. I will let you know who the Kimberley folk are. Everyone to meet at the St. Eugene parking area at 2:00 pm, just off Mission Rd in front of the big white event tent next to the avenue of trees that leads to the front entrance of the old school. RSVP to Marianne.
Walk Along Kootenay River (Marianne)
Saturday, January 31, 2026 - 1:00 pm
Enjoy a walk above the Kootenay River on an uneven trail but quite walkable above the riverbank heading south, to the mouth of Wildhorse Creek. We will return to the vehicles along an access road from our starting point at old Ft. Steele below Selkirk Ave. Checking for animal evidence and birdlife along the way will be a focus. The total distance is 2 km and about 2 hours from where we park at Ft. Steele. This is rated as an Easy Outing. Meet at Tamarack Mall between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza to carpool for a 1:00 pm departure. Dress for the weather and warmly as we will not be walking fast. Bring grippers, perhaps a hiking pole and binoculars. Kimberley folk - I can let you know who is attending so you can arrange carpooling.
Annual General Meeting and Bi-Monthly Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 2026 - 11:00 a.m.
Cranbrook Library, Manual Training Center
The AGM will take place at 11:00 a.m., followed by a brief Bi-monthly Meeting.
Following both meetings will be a potluck and social time. Please bring a dish to share along with your own plates, cutlery and a mug. Tea, coffee and napkins will be provided.
New Year's Day Hike 2026 (Daryl/Marianne)
Thursday, January 1, 2026 - 11:00 am
Join Daryl and Marianne on a 4 hour loop hike through Wilks Woods, including a wiener roast at the midpoint. Meet at the North (upper) end of Wilks Road which is a 1 kilometre spur off King Street, Cranbrook. Drive up Wilks Road, keep right at the 'Y', and take the 2nd right to the concrete barricade. We will hike up through open woods on a boot packed route, utilizing game trails and dodging rough, rocky sections. 4 + kms in length with a 200m elevation gain/loss. Expect hills, a variety of ups and downs and 3 viewpoints. Good, solid boots and poles are needed to navigate the shallow snow depth. You may want to bring your grippers. The primitive trail is not icy. Dress in layers. This is rated as a Moderate Plus Outing. At the first viewpoint, almost at the halfway point, we will start a quick fire for lunch. Bring your own wieners/ smokies/ bun or whatever you want for lunch, water, tea, etc. We will supply condiments, sticks, and mulled wine and apple juice. We will be standing around in this area for lunch so bring extra clothes to keep warm and perhaps a sitting pad. After lunch, we'll continue to Whiskey Jack summit, then north over to the 3rd viewpoint overlooking the Trench, then down Sunflower Hill and across to the vehicles. Naturalists will observe various forest types, animal signs and a few birds. We will listen and look for American 3-toed Woodpeckers and Brown Creepers. Consider bringing your binoculars. RSVP.
Christmas Bird Count Dates:
Jaffray Wardner: Sunday, Dec. 14,
Cranbrook: Sunday, December 28 and
Kimberley: Saturday, January 3
Kimberley Christmas Bird Count - Saturday, January 3, 2026
Announcing the Kimberley CBC on January 3rd, with four geographical areas within the count circle – Town Centre, Meadowbrook, Wasa / Ta Ta and Wycliffe. The map is on our website at
rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. It also has lots of good information from
previous CBC counts. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Details on record keeping and submission will be provided after Dec. 29th deadline. After, there will be a dinner at 5:00 pm at the Marysville Pub. Please RSVP to Carol for both the count, and the dinner.
Cranbrook Christmas Bird Count - Sunday, December 28, 2025
Announcing the Cranbrook CBC, with four geographical areas within the count circle – South Cranbrook, North Cranbrook, Jimsmith/Green Bay, New Lake/Wycliffe. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. The map for the Cranbrook count is on our website at rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. It also has lots of good information from previous CBC counts. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Each team will submit their data as one ebird Trip Report to Dianne, our count compiler. RSVP to Marianne.
Jaffray Wardner Christmas Bird Count - Sunday, December 14, 2025
Announcing the Jaffray Wardner CBC, with four geographical areas within the count circle – Jaffray, Tie Lake, Bull River and Wardner. Once we have a list of participants, teams will be formed with a team leader for each area. The map for the Jaffray Wardner count is on our website at rockymountainnaturalists.org under Christmas Bird Counts. There is lots of good information from previous CBC counts. You do not need to be an experienced birder to join the challenge and have fun. Birders are always learning, with teams having a variety of birding levels and expertise. Once teams are formed, their leader will decide when and where to meet. Most of the daylight hours on count day will be needed. Each team will submit their data as one ebird Trip Report to Dianne, our count compiler. RSVP to Marianne.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - COTR Rm #KC152
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Guest Speaker is Marnie Duthie-Holt - Kootenay Boundary Forest Entomologist with the BC Ministry of Forests. Marnie will talk about the health of our local coniferous forests and the factors involving their health.
A business meeting will follow the guest speaker. There will be a toonie raffle of a few items and a silent auction for a beautiful turned plate with inlaid wood features (great Christmas gift). All proceeds to the Scholarship fund.
Devil's Hole Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, November 2, 2025 - 1:00 pm
Usher in November and the time change with a hike near Fort Steele at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Meet at the Tamarack Mall parking lot between Boston Pizza and Husky Truck Stop ready to depart at 1:00 pm. Kimberley members - I will contact you as to who is coming from there so you can carpool. The drive is mostly on paved roads with 4 kms on flat, bumpy gravel just off Holmes Rd. The entire trip from town and back will be about four + hours.
A one-hour moderate hike on a rocky, uneven quad track with some steepness for a distance of 2.5 km will bring us to the bluff overlooking the Devil’s Hole tarn. This is rated as a Moderate hike. On the drive out we could stop at Lakit Lake for a walkabout. Dress warmly in layers and wear sturdy footwear. Bring water, a snack, binoculars and phone.
This trip will be limited to 10 or 11 people.
Duck Box Outings (Katrin/Greg)
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists “Cavity Nesting Group” will be conducting 5 duck box cleanup dates through the month of October. We would like to welcome up to 2 interested Rocky Mountain Naturalists to each session, as an educational opportunity. We find an interesting array of nest box usages and it’s quite fun to decipher what species has used the box. The first 2 people that RSVP for each outing will be given preference. If there are openings available, then you can come to more than one outing. Once you are signed up, we will let you know the meeting spot. We hope to see some interest as this is a really fun opportunity!
Wednesday Oct 1 @ 11am - McGinty Lake (2 boxes)
Likely 2-3 hours with some birding and picnic lunch, minimum walking is approx 1km easy. Around the lake would be approx 3km.
Sunday Oct 5th @ 11am - Elizabeth Lake East Side Forest Trail (8 boxes)
Likely 4-5 hours with picnic lunch and some birding at Brown blind after the first 2 boxes. Approx 3km walking required on flat ground.
Wednesday Oct 15th @ 1pm - Westport (aka Ft Steele) (3 boxes) and Community Forest (1 box)
Likely 2-3 hours. Approx 1km walking required.
Sunday October 19th @ 3pm Elizabeth Lake West Side (near Info Centre) (4 boxes)
Likely 2 hours. Approx 1km walking required.
Thursday Oct 23 @ 1pm Irrigation Fields/ Rampart (5 boxes)
Likely 3 hours.
BC Rivers Day Paddle Monroe Lake (Marianne/Daryl)
Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 10:00 am
In celebration of the 45th BC Rivers Day, please join us for a 7 km Monroe Lake paddle on Sunday, September 28. https://www.orcbc.ca/bc-rivers-day
Meet at Monroe Lake Recreation Site public access for a 10:00 am launch. It takes time to unload boats and park along the road so arrive with time to get ready. We will be picking up bits of litter from the shoreline so bring a small plastic bag. After paddling the perimeter of the lake and doing a quick litter pick up around the put-in area (gloves would be helpful) you are welcome to join us for a wiener roast lunch. Bring your own food. We will bring condiments. Firewood provided. Bring - kayak or canoe, paddles, lifejackets, bailer, a tow rope. Lunch if staying. Monroe Lake is accessed off the Highway 3 turn-off to Moyie Lake Provincial Park. Monroe Lake Rd is the only road to the right before the Moyie Park entrance. Keep right. RSVP by Friday, September 26 with your emergency contact information.
Bi-Monthly Meeting for September 17, 2025
Since so many members are away this month enjoying the lovely early autumn weather, it has been decided to take a break from our regular September bi-monthly meeting. We did have a presentation on grasslands planned, and this will now take place in May next year. Our next bi-monthly meeting will be in November.
Ram Creek Outing (Marianne)
Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 7:30 am
The Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club are going to visit Ram Creek Warm Springs Ecological Reserve on Sunday, August 24. The Rocky Mountain Naturalists Club are wardens for this Ecological Reserve. https://bcparks.ca/conservation/ecological-reserves/
We will carpool, leaving Cranbrook at 7:30 am from the Tamarack Mall parking area between Husky Truck Stop and Boston Pizza. Kimberley folk will leave Kimberley at 7:30 am, from behind the Catholic Church. Both groups will meet at the Wasa Rest Area at 8:00 am. From there it is a 30 minute drive on pavement and then 30 minutes (9 km) on a rough Forest Service Rd. A high clearance 2 or all wheel drive vehicle will be fine. After parking, it is less than a 2 km hike to the springs and then 0.7 km to check on the east entrance before returning to the parking lot. We should be back on the pavement by mid-afternoon. This is rated as a moderate outing on an established trail with limited elevation gain.
We will be pulling some invasive plants such as knapweed and thistles, collecting litter, identifying plants and birds, and looking for the Blue Darner dragonfly. Bring gloves for pulling weeds.
Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring lunch, water, bear spray, insect repellent, camera, binoculars, gloves.
RMNats Summer Social
Sunday, August 17, 2025 - 3:45 pm
Our Summer Social is on Sunday, August 17th at Elizabeth Lake Lodge Mini Golf. All members and partners are welcome.
Mini Golf 3:45 - 5:00 pm. $5.00 per person. Please arrive by 3:45 so that teams can be made by pulling names from a hat. A round takes about an hour. For those not golfing, please take a walk around Elizabeth Lake or just arrive around 5:00 to visit before dinner.
Potluck dinner at 5:30 pm. Please bring a dish of your choice, your own beverage, dishes and cutlery.
Everyone, please park in the Confederation Park parking lot just off Wattsville Road behind the EL Lodge. Please RSVP by Friday, August 15th so we have an idea of numbers for golf, tables and chairs.
Bi-Monthly Meeting - Elizabeth Lake Tourist Information Centre
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Please note: The business meeting will be brief. Bring a lawn chair or seating pad. Our guest presenter Brittany Eliadis - Education + Outreach Manager for East Kootenay Invasive Species Council - will lead us all on a "Weedy Walk".
Bat Monitoring Outing (Scott)
Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 10:00 am
Join Scott Bodaly to learn about bat monitoring and guano collection at the Wycliffe site. Scott will lead a walk to view the modified trees for bats at Wycliffe overlooking the "crack" above the St. Mary's River. This is an easy to moderate walk approximately 4 km. and 2 hours return. The parking lot is 1 km. south of Porteous Road, beside the Rails to Trails by the highway. Carpooling is encouraged since parking there is limited. Cranbrook folks meet at 9:40 am at Tamarack Mall between the Husky Stn. and Boston Pizza. Kimberley folks meet behind the Marysville arena at 9:45 am.
Fill in the form below for more field trip info. [We do not share your contact info)
The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
