All roads lead to Castlegar, which means a variety of daytrips with endless possibilities await those who stay to play.
Explore arts, culture and recreation while driving breathtakingly scenic routes throughout the West Kootenays. Golf a different course or ski a different hill each day. Whether you follow one of these suggested routes or plan your own excursion, you can be sure that no matter your destination... it starts here!
Boundary Country – The 96 km drive on Hwy 3 west to Grand Forks takes you to an elevation of 1535m through the Monashee Mountains. Once you've crossed the bright blue Paulson Bridge, a one quarter kilometer span hanging 84 meters above McRae Creek, you are only a short distance to Christina Lake, Canada's warmest tree lined lake with summer temperatures averaging 72 degrees Fahrenheit. A picnic lunch along the 19km shores of sparkling blue water, followed by a stop at one of the many ice cream parlors that offer tasty cool treats, is the perfect way to spend the morning portion of this Boundary Country day trip. Now only 23 km from Grand Forks, where the Kettle and Granby Rivers become one, plenty of time remains in the day to explore this historic city, tube the pristine rivers, enjoying sandy beaches and a great choice of swimming holes along the way, or embark on a Rock Candy Mountain Tour, collecting green and purple fluorite, sparkling quartz and (if you're lucky) barite crystal. Enjoy an authentic Russian meal, complete with traditional Borscht, at one of the many local eateries before making the short return trip to Castlegar.
Silvery Slocan – Just 15 minutes east of Castlegar, on Hwy 3A, the junction to Hwy 6 will lead you northbound on a historical journey filled with artisans, galleries, antiques, collectables, museums and interpretive centres. Traveling the 80 km road through this sleepy valley, one can't help but wonder at the deep blue water of Slocan Lake reflecting the lush forests that blanket the mountains of Valhalla Provincial Park. A stop at the viewpoint above Silverton offers a spectacular vantage point of nature's finest. A quick drive into New Denver will bring you to the Nikkei Internment Centre, the site of a World War II internment camp where original buildings, interpretive displays and traditional gardens tell the story of over 20,000 Japanese Canadians uprooted from their coastal homes. From there, Highway 31a leads you through "the Valley of the Ghosts", a windy route dotted with several abandoned gold mining towns including Sandon, where you can relive the fascinating history of the famed gold rush days at the Sandon Museum, the Historic Silversmith Generating Station and the CPR Steam Train Exhibit. Kaslo appears a mere 40 km later, where you can tour the SS Moyie, the world's oldest intact sternwheeler that provided passenger and freight services to lakeside communities for almost 60 years, rests on Kootenay Lake. From Kaslo, Hwy 31 leads south, taking you to Cody Caves Provincial Park where guided tours treat visitors to an amazing array of calcite formations including stalacites, soda straws, waterfalls, flow-stone, stalagmites and draperies which have grown over centuries. A final stop at Ainsworth Hot Springs, which feeds through an old mine tunnel cave and into the 35C/95F temperature pool facility overlooking Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountain Range, brings full relaxation and time to reflect on a busy day of history and culture. A leisurely drive, just under 100 km, returns you to Castlegar via Nelson on Hwy 3A.
East Meets West – Water and wildlife will inspire motorists on this tour as they travel 119 km east on Hwy 3 through Salmo and onward to Creston in the East Kootenay region via the Kootenay Pass. Impressive views and mountain vistas leave plenty of scenic photo opportunities as you climb to 1774 m through the Selkirk Mountains. Be sure to keep your eyes open along the way for deer, elk, moose and mountain goats! A stop at Stagleap Provincial Park, at the summit of the highest all weather highway pass in BC (and one of the highest paved highways in all of Canada) where you can enjoy a short walk around the beautiful Bridal Lake or enjoy an amazing view of the subalpine forest which plays a key role in protecting habitat for the internationally endangered mountain caribou and the vulnerable Southern Selkirk population of grizzly bear. Soon after this stop, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, a diverse wildlife resource, offers many recreational and educational opportunities including hiking, cycling, canoeing, fishing and wildlife viewing. From various large mammals to over 285 different bird species, visitors are sure to spot something they have never seen before. While in Creston, those who thirst for a tour of a different nature can visit the Columbia Brewery where they are treated to an inside look at the brewing process of Kokanee Glacier Beer. Traveling north along the east shore of Kootenay Lake, travelers will find numerous artisans, galleries and gift shops in the small communities they come across along the Hwy 3A route before arriving at the landing of the Kootenay Lake Ferry, the longest free ferry ride in the world. After the 40 minute sailing to Balfour, a short 20 minute drive will find you in the heart of Nelson where you can casually stroll historic Baker Street, browsing a lively selection of boutiques before deciding which mouthwatering menu will entice you for an evening meal and a steaming cup of locally roasted coffee before the 40 km drive back to Castlegar.
Columbia River Valley – A short, 27 km southbound drive on Hwy 22 leads to our closest neighbor, Trail; a vibrant city that is known for its significant Italian community, rich sports heritage and turn of the century industrial pioneering. Delight in the terraced homes, rock walls and bright gardens tucked away along the winding, narrow streets of "Little Italy" before visiting the Sports Hall of Memories which preserves and exhibits memorabilia defining and honouring the individuals who have contributed to the city's sporting roots. Spend some time at the Teck Cominco Interpretive Centre with hands-on exhibits and displays before embarking on a guided site tour of the Teck Cominco Plant, one of the world's larges zinc-lead smelting complexes. An afternoon visit to the tasting bar at Columbia Gardens Vineyard & Winery, a small production, family owned winery producing VQA quality wines, the first in the Kootenay region, will impress even the most discriminating palette with their selection of award winning wines.
Before leaving for your day-trip destination, be sure to visit the Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centre for information about tours, schedules, road report and weather information as many attractions and businesses throughout the region operate on a seasonal basis or require advance bookings and/or special equipment. The Visitor Centre can also provide maps and guide books to assist visitors and enhance their touring experience as they travel throughout the Kootenay Rockies region.