Grand Forks sits at the confluence of the Kettle and Granby rivers in the Boundary Country of southeastern British Columbia. It is a small, quiet town with a distinctive heritage — Doukhobor settlers from Russia arrived in the early 1900s, and their influence is still visible in the community halls at the Hardy Mountain village, the excellent borscht and perogies served at local restaurants, and the surrounding farmland.
The town makes a convenient stop on the back roads between the Okanagan and the Kootenays. The semi-arid climate is surprisingly warm in summer, and the surrounding hills are good for hiking and mountain biking. The Badger Trail along Christina Lake offers panoramic views on an easy 2.3 km walk, while the Granby River Trail follows the east bank of the river through old-growth forest into Granby Provincial Park. The Trans Canada Trail runs along old railway lines east and west of town, and the Granby and Kettle rivers are pleasant for canoeing and kayaking. A handful of small wineries have appeared in the valley in recent years.