Kootenay paragliding is based in the historic Gold Rush town of Ymir, B.C. Located twenty minutes south of Nelson in a lush scenic valley, Ymir has a population of approximately 350 residents.

At the turn of the century, however, Ymir looked quite a bit different. The town saw explosive growth in the late eighteen hundreds when the railway was built and gold was discovered in the mountains that we now fly.

The town quickly grew with nearby mines cropping up which became some of the largest in the British Empire. At one point the town had over fifteen hundred residents with schools, hotels, banks, and a hospital. 

The town still has two hotels; the historic Ymir Hotel, which doubles as the town pub, and The Ymir Palace Inn.  The Palace is one of the former gold rush brothels, lovingly restored to a welcoming hotel.

As well as paragliding the larger West Kootenay area contains numerous world-class locations for outdoor activities.
From paddling the Salmo River through town, fishing, mountain biking, climbing, hiking, and even an 18-hole Frisbee golf course in nearby Salmo, Ymir offers a wide variety of activities to round out your paragliding experience. The city and region are also extremely family friendly; if you are traveling with your family, please don't hesitate to bring them along!