Project work along the Elk River
In 2025-2026 the Elk River access location in Elko under went construction to install many amenities, such as this toilet and sign kiosk.
Construction in 2025 in Elko to improve parking at the river access site
New picnic table and sign kiosk amenities along Elk River at Elko
In 2025, for the 2026 season, a new boat ramp was constructed in Elko along the Elk River.
Ribbon cutting event in June 2025 at the Morrissey Boat Launch along the Elk River after completion of major upgrades. The project was supported by many partners and funders.
New boat launch ramp at Morrissey along the Elk River with key stakeholders. June 2025
New sign kiosk at Hosmer Boat Launch on Elk River
New picnic table and sign kiosk at the Olsen Pit Boat Launch site along the Elk River
Ribbon Cutting Event June 2026 in Elko at river access site after completion of improvements
Project Recognized Provincially
For decades, this pristine river has drawn adventurers and outdoor lovers from across the globe. But until recently, many of its most-used access points were informal, lacking infrastructure, signage, and official recognition.
That’s where Kootenay Rockies Tourism and a coalition of passionate partners stepped in. At the heart of the groundwork was Tourism Fernie. What followed was a multi-year, multi-phase initiative that not only improved access to the Elk River but set a new standard for sustainable tourism development and long-term stewardship.
Project Recognized Provincially
Elk River Regional Infrastructure and Amenity Initiative, started in 2021, is a regional stakeholder-driven approach promoting safe and reliable river access to the Elk River by developing and improving prioritized infrastructure and amenities that support sustainable tourism development and management in the watershed.
This initiative is led by Tourism Fernie in partnership with the Elk River Alliance, and is part of the RDEK Area A Sustainable Tourism Project with funding support from the RDEK Area A, Targeted Regional Tourism Development Initiative and the Destination Development Fund by the Province of BC, Elk Valley Resources (EVR), Pacifican, Outdoor Research Council of BC, Columbia Basin Trust, Tourism Fernie, TECK, CanFor, BC Hydro, TC Energy and Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
The Elk River is a pristine, world-class freestone river and long-standing tourism and recreation asset for the region. Key access points along the river have been in critical need of official permitting and improvements for decades.
The Elk River has a reputation as one of the finest dry-fly fisheries in North America, is renowned for its whitewater and scenic attributes for rafting excursions and has caught the attention of many recreational users such as kayaking, canoeing, standup paddle-boarding, tubing and more.
The Elk River 2013 Go Fish BC impact report estimates angling expenditures alone in the Kootenay region at over $89 million annually. However, watercraft and public access to the river is restricted to primitive and non-formalized boat launches and access points that were unreliable and inconsistent from year to year, greatly limiting river usage by both the tourism industry and local recreational users. Additionally, there is a lack of infrastructure necessary for the growing use along the river corridor e.g. washrooms, parking, picnic sites and signage (directional, educational, safety). These improvements were, and many still are, desperately needed, even more so post COVID-19 trend of even greater increases in river users.
This Elk River Initiative focuses on formalizing priority river access points, developing safe and reliable access, as well as appropriate amenities and signage. The priority locations include Morrissey in partnership with BC Parks, Elko in partnership with BC Hydro, RDEK Area B and the Province of BC, Olson Pit and Hosmer in partnership with Ministry of Transportation, and additional more long-term efforts for locations up river.
For more information please reach out to Tourism Fernie.