85 acres bordered by Crown land on 3 sides. 7,500+ m3 of merchantable timber, 60±% cedar. 2 water licences & no zoning. A 16 x 20 ft two-storey off-grid cabin with breathtaking views of Kootenay Lake, while open meadows tucked into the timber tell the story of the property's rich silver mining history.
+40 photos
Some properties are just land. This one has a story. A homestead bench looking straight down Kootenay Lake, big cedar, and open meadows where silver prospectors once made their home, backing onto endless Crown land. Seasonal access.
The homestead sits in the southeast corner with a view you won't get tired of. A 16 x 20 ft two-storey off-grid cabin and a few small outbuildings make a simple, private base.
The land carries a strong stand of big timber, with over 7,500 m3 of merchantable volume, approximately 60% cedar, and the balance in roughly equal parts fir, larch, hemlock, balsam and spruce. Internal roads are already built, so the stand is ready for selective harvest or long-term management.
The property holds two water licences. The Krao Creek licence allows 500 gallons per day for domestic use and 2,000 gallons per day for fish culture, and the Mosquito Creek licence allows 500 gallons per day for domestic use and 1,500 gallons per day for stock watering, both good year-round.
Centred on the parcel, approximately 4.5 acres of open meadow hold a hand-built miner's cabin and an old goat barn, relics of the silver rush that swept this area from 1894 to around 1930. Prospecting pits can still be found on the land. East of the meadow lies an approximately 1.5-acre groundwater-fed fen that never freezes, like a peat bog without the smell. A 12 ft test dig hit nothing but rich black soil with no bottom, a deep reserve of premium garden soil.
Timber, water, history and a lake view, with no zoning to hold you back.
Driveway entrance is 3.49 km from Highway 31 up Sub-Station Route Road T (FSR). Seasonal access, four-wheel drive recommended.
The property is located on the west side of Kootenay Lake, just south of Ainsworth Hot Springs. Kaslo is approximately 25 minutes north and offers groceries, fuel, a hardware store, restaurants, a health centre and a marina. Nelson, the region's main service centre, is approximately 45 minutes south via Balfour and provides full shopping including major retailers, a hospital, professional services and Selkirk College. Balfour, along the way, is home to the Kootenay Lake ferry to the east shore.
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes away. Spokane International Airport is approximately 3.5 hours south for more flight options.
A mature mixed forest covers most of the property, with over 7,500 m3 of merchantable timber, approximately 60% western red cedar, and the balance in roughly equal parts Douglas fir, western larch, hemlock, balsam and spruce. Approximately 4.5 acres of open meadow and an approximately 1.5-acre fen open up the centre of the parcel, and an established garden area surrounds the homestead.
The property itself is a recreational paradise, bordered by Crown land on three sides. Big game hunting for elk, deer and black bear starts right out the cabin door, and the internal road network and surrounding forestry roads open up miles of quadding, dirt biking and snowmobiling.
Kootenay Lake is one of the largest lakes in BC, with boating, paddling and some of the best freshwater fishing in the province, including trophy Gerrard rainbow trout and kokanee. Kokanee Creek Provincial Park has sandy beaches and campgrounds, and Kaslo Bay and Pilot Bay are popular spots to spend a summer day on the water. Ainsworth Hot Springs is just down the road for a soak after a long day, and Cody Caves and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Parks offer hiking, caving and alpine lakes close by. Golfers have courses in Balfour and Nelson.
In winter, Whitewater Ski Resort near Nelson is known for its deep powder and backcountry terrain, and Red Mountain in Rossland is within reach for a day trip. Nelson itself has a lively heritage downtown with restaurants, craft breweries, live music and a thriving arts scene, while Kaslo hosts the Kaslo Jazz Etc. Summer Music Festival on the bay each August.
Ainsworth Hot Springs is the oldest surviving community on Kootenay Lake, founded in 1883 when George Ainsworth pre-empted 166 acres at what was then Hot Springs Camp. The camp grew on the strength of silver, lead and zinc discoveries, and the Krao, Keyline and Highlander were among the foremost mining properties. The Krao shares its name with Krao Creek, which feeds one of this property's water licences.
The boom brought six hotels and roughly 3,000 residents by the early 1890s, with sternwheelers carrying miners and ore up and down the lake. As the mines declined in the 1920s, the hot springs were developed into the resort that remains a regional destination today.
Crown land on the north, west and south, with private land adjoining to the east.
49°42'20.60"N and 116°55'36.32"W
None.
$982.46 (2026)
No zoning
DISTRICT LOT 12547 KOOTENAY DISTRICT
PID 011-787-848
+8 maps
Our property descriptions and geographical information are taken from the BC Assessment Authority, Land Titles Office, government maps and other sources. While LandQuest® does not guarantee the information, we believe it to be accurate, but should not be relied upon without verification. This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement.
Crawford Bay
11℃
4℃