Chasing Chains: A Disc Golf Road Trip Around Kootenay Lake

There’s just something about the clink of a disc hitting a basket that sounds good in any season: chain music. Truly, frisbee golf is the ultimate chiller’s pastime, which makes it perfect for the Kootenays. It’s free, tee time is any time, and pretty much anybody can play. Of course there are those who take the sport seriously enough to have a bag full of drivers and putters, but the best thing about hucking plastic is that as long as you can throw, you can join. That makes it a standout social activity for long, lazy days, crisp fall afternoons and even milder winter outings when course conditions allow.

But it’s also a great premise for a road trip. Nelson and Kootenay Lake are lucky to have five distinct courses planted in different fetches of our mountainous, lakeside wilderness—together they connect some of the quaintest corners of our region. Each season brings a different backdrop, from lush summer fairways and colourful fall forests to snow-dusted landscapes. Whether going for birdie is your post-festival wind-down, your preferred way to relax, or an add-on to more rigorous activities like hiking, biking, skiing or snowshoeing, here’s where you can find the fairest fairways in our region.

Clover Bear (Ymir Whirl), Ymir

If you’ve never been to the 245-person hamlet of Ymir (pronounced Why-Meer) just 30 minutes south of Nelson, there are a few good reasons to visit. One is the historic frontier charm, the other is the Tiny Lights Music Festival, and then there’s the Clover Bear disc-golf course.

It’s an 18-hole, par 54 with 3,950 feet of playing. Also a mix of technical and wide-open holes, it doesn’t have as much overall length as the Highwater course, taking about an hour to complete. But there is a nine-hole add-on called the Cyanide Nine that consists of short sideloops at a quicker, looser pace.

The Salmo River borders the forested course on one side, and Mount Dundee on the other. It’s mostly shaded with creeks and the river to cool off in through summer, while fall brings cooler playing temperatures and changing colours to the forest. Plus, it has mowed fairways, elevated tees, hand-painted signage and tchotchkes that perfectly match the eccentric local vibe.

Highwater, Blewett

Just 15 minutes from Nelson, the Highwater course is maintained by the Nelson Disc Golf Society (NDGS). It’s an 18-hole par 56 with 6,149 feet of playing. It’s billed as the region’s most challenging course with a mix of technical and long holes. It’s also low in elevation and melts out early in the spring. The course follows the Kootenay River, under the soft shoulders of the Bonnington Mountain Range. It’s south-facing, so it’s warmer in the spring and fall, and can remain playable into milder stretches of winter when conditions cooperate.

That means it pairs well with a visit to Taghum Beach, but you can also hike or mountain bike the local trails, which will get you right to ridgetop. In winter, a round can be part of a day that also includes skiing or snowshoeing nearby. The links-style course plays both uphill and downhill, with wide-open fairways and some nominally guarded holes. It’s both cart-friendly and dog-friendly and takes about 1.5 hours for a full round. This is the region’s competitive course; watch for tournaments like the Nelson Fall Classic, held in early October. Keep an eye on the NDGS’s Facebook page for more events and current course conditions.

Art Gibbon Park, Nelson

If you’ve never thrown a disc before, Art Gibbon Park is an easy place to start. Perched at the top of Nelson’s Rosemont neighbourhood, the nine-hole course wanders between big, mature cedars and striking rock formations. This wooded Par 27 course is rated as moderate, with 1,826 feet of playing. It favours precision over distance, which means you don’t need a great “drive.” There’s water and toilets onsite, and the average round takes just over 30 minutes to complete. You can also dip into the skate park and dirt jumps.

The shaded locale makes a great entry point for newcomers and is equally well received by the seasoned. A round or two here couples well with some of the more casual daytime activities available in the Queen City of the Kootenays: like farmers' markets, or a self-guided mural tour or heritage walking tour—there are over 50 murals and 350 heritage sites downtown. In the cooler months, warm up in one of Nelson’s cafés, galleries or museums after your round. Lakeside Park is also an easy place to add more chill to the day.

Balfour Disc Golf Course, Balfour

The newest kid on the block, the Balfour Disc Golf Course slots in as an outstanding addition to the circuit. The sparkling new course is planted on the midriff of Kootenay Lake, only steps from the beach, where you can catch the world’s longest free scenic ferry across to Crawford Bay and the East Shore. It’s a wooded par 28 with nine holes and 1,979 feet of playing that’s short and technical, taking about 42 minutes to play around. The course has a moderate rating, but does trace a hilly area; dogs are allowed, but carts and strollers won’t work here.

With concrete and wooden tees, great signage and shiny targets it’s well developed and only a short walk away from the ferry berth. There is a restroom and drinking water onsite, and it pairs well with a trip to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park or Ainsworth Hot Springs, an especially satisfying stop after a cool fall or winter round. There are also plenty of amenities in Balfour to stock up on supplies, if you want to stay a while.

All Yew Need, Kaslo

All Yew Need is the longest course in the Kootenay Lake region, taking about two hours to complete. It’s 18 holes and par 57, with 4,019 feet of playing, and it’s nestled deep in a magical forest that traces the Kaslo River. You have to hike past giant cedars and—yes—yew trees, to get to the first tee. The course is in the Kootenay Outdoor and Recreation Trail system, which is heavily wooded as part of the rare inland temperate rainforest. In fall, the cool air and changing undergrowth bring a different atmosphere to the forest, while the surrounding trail system opens up other possibilities once the snow arrives.

The holes are technical and tight, though the course is still rated as moderate. It hosted the Buzzaw Open Kaslo in May of 2026, so keep an eye out for future tournaments. The adjacent hiking trail hosts seven hidden “Koots”—sculptures made by the Koots Artists Collective as a forest installation. Kaslo likewise usually hosts a summer jazz festival, and sits on a serene bay on Kootenay Lake that makes the quaint Victorian town mesmerizing in every season.

Where to Gear Up and Stay

You can get discs at Valhalla Pure Outfitters and Mallard’s Source For Sports in Nelson, and Kaslo E-Kruise rents them. Camp, RV, or stay in a range of accommodations all along Kootenay Lake. You can also pair your disc-golf roadtrip with a wellness retreat, a fall getaway or a winter ski trip. Just book ahead during peak season—June through August—as even the campsites reserve out early, and check seasonal operating dates when planning a fall or winter visit.

Disc golf can continue beyond summer, but course access and playing conditions vary with rain, snow and seasonal maintenance. Check current course updates before setting out, dress for the weather and consider brightly coloured discs when there’s snow on the ground.

Know Before You Go

Our disc golf courses are built into the wilderness that makes our region so special and sought after. When playing in these areas, a little more care is called for. Watch the videos and take the interactive quiz through our Kootenay Lake 101 portal to see how to tread lightly and visit like you’re a local.

Getting Here

Always check DriveBC for the latest road conditions, especially when travelling during fall and winter. You can fly to Spokane, Castlegar or Kelowna for the closest airports where you can rent a vehicle. Or start in Calgary or Vancouver for a longer road trip. Before hitting the road, download the Kootenay Lake Road Trip App and experience our self-guided audio driving tour to learn about the history, sights, fun facts, and more, about the Nelson Kootenay Lake region.