The most westerly are the Monashees, followed by the rugged Selkirks, defined on their western flanks by the Arrow reservoir system and Slocan Lake, and on the east by the spectacular waters of Kootenay Lake. These two mountain ranges and accompanying lake systems define this district.

The major north-south water system in this district is formed by the Kootenay River and Kootenay Lake, which at more than 105 km long, is one of the province's largest freshwater lakes. The Kootenay River flows south and enters the United States about 40 km south of Elko on Highway 3. It then loops through part of Montana and Idaho to return to British Columbia some 16 km south of Creston. The southern portion of the river offers good fishing for ling cod, and rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout.

The river then widens to form Kootenay Lake. Sixty-four kilometres to the north, the west arm of Kootenay Lake carries the main flow of the river past Nelson and on to the Columbia River near Castlegar.

A pleasant canoe route in the area is a 2 to 3 day trip along the Kootenay River from Canal Flats, south of Fairmount Hot Springs, to Fort Steele. The Kootenay River trip passes through scenic wilderness unsurpassed anywhere in the province, wildlife is abundant and there are few hazards along the way.