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, August 5, 2026 - 8:00 am
This week, at 8: AM, meet at Ramparts Rest Area, a couple of kms SE of Fort Steele Interchange along Highway 3 / 93. We'll look for birds within the Rest Area. Shortly after, we'll carpool and head further south, then turn east into the irrigation project and drive a gravel road heading north. Several ponds and varying fields and pastures will be good places to examine. Eventually, we'll walk a short distance into one or both sizable reservoirs. Shorebirds and others may be migrating.
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, August 5, 2026 - 8:00 am
This week, at 8: AM, meet at Ramparts Rest Area, a couple of kms SE of Fort Steele Interchange along Highway 3 / 93. We'll look for birds within the Rest Area. Shortly after, we'll carpool and head further south, then turn east into the irrigation project and drive a gravel road heading north. Several ponds and varying fields and pastures will be good places to examine. Eventually, we'll walk a short distance into one or both sizable reservoirs. Shorebirds and others may be migrating.
40th Anniversary Celebration of Rocky Mountain Naturalists
August 30-31, 2026 at Wasa Lions Hall and Campground
Please join us for the Club's 40th Anniversary Celebration as we celebrate the club's history and past and present members' contributions to the community.
This event is open to Club Members only, along with some special guests. Opening Remarks and Club History – Linda Digby, Helga Knote – 4:00 p.m. Barbecue and Potluck Dinner The Club will provide hamburgers and hot dogs and vegetarian options, along with dessert. Appies and salads will be done by potluck. RMNATs Trivia Bingo will take place after dinner. PRIZES! FREE camping is available at the Wasa Lions Site. Six sites are available on August 30th for overnight camping. In addition, camping is available on adjacent Crown Land starting from the afternoon August 29th. Washrooms and outhouses are available. Paid camping is available at Wasa Provincial Park.
Additional Activities: Sunday morning – walking, biking or paddling (on your own) is available. Monday - Early Morning Birding 7:30 a.m. - close to campsite. Following, there will be an option available for a birding outing out to the Wolf Creek area. Carpooling will be encouraged.
Butterfly Outing (Helga)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - 11:00 am
We will meet at the Elizabeth Lake Tourist Office for an 11:00 am start, on Wednesday, July 29th, and carpool to Helga's property on McDonald Road, in the Jimsmith Lake area.
Join local RMN member Dean Nicholson for an exploration of our local butterflies. Did you know that more butterflies than birds make the East Kootenay their year-round home? Are you curious how to tell a butterfly from a moth? We will spend two hours catching, observing and identifying local species. We'll learn about their life cycles, their habitats and why the East Kootenay has one of the highest diversity of butterfly species in Canada.
This will be an easy outing. Bring a butterfly identification book or checklist if you have one. The forecast is calling for sunshine and temperatures in the low 30’s. Bring plenty of water, sturdy footwear and dress for the hot weather.
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 kilometer 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.
August 30-31, 2026 at Wasa Lions Hall and Campground
Please join us for the Club's 40th Anniversary Celebration as we celebrate the club's history and past and present members' contributions to the community.
This event is open to Club Members only, along with some special guests. Opening Remarks and Club History – Linda Digby, Helga Knote – 4:00 p.m. Barbecue and Potluck Dinner The Club will provide hamburgers and hot dogs and vegetarian options, along with dessert. Appies and salads will be done by potluck. RMNATs Trivia Bingo will take place after dinner. PRIZES! FREE camping is available at the Wasa Lions Site. Six sites are available on August 30th for overnight camping. In addition, camping is available on adjacent Crown Land starting from the afternoon August 29th. Washrooms and outhouses are available. Paid camping is available at Wasa Provincial Park.
Additional Activities: Sunday morning – walking, biking or paddling (on your own) is available. Monday - Early Morning Birding 7:30 a.m. - close to campsite. Following, there will be an option available for a birding outing out to the Wolf Creek area. Carpooling will be encouraged.
Butterfly Outing (Helga)
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 - 11:00 am
We will meet at the Elizabeth Lake Tourist Office for an 11:00 am start, on Wednesday, July 29th, and carpool to Helga's property on McDonald Road, in the Jimsmith Lake area.
Join local RMN member Dean Nicholson for an exploration of our local butterflies. Did you know that more butterflies than birds make the East Kootenay their year-round home? Are you curious how to tell a butterfly from a moth? We will spend two hours catching, observing and identifying local species. We'll learn about their life cycles, their habitats and why the East Kootenay has one of the highest diversity of butterfly species in Canada.
This will be an easy outing. Bring a butterfly identification book or checklist if you have one. The forecast is calling for sunshine and temperatures in the low 30’s. Bring plenty of water, sturdy footwear and dress for the hot weather.
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 kilometer 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.
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The fossil box at Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre at Mount Fernie Alpine Resort.
Photo - Greg
