My first rock climbing experience in Castlegar was also my most novel. I’d climbed for decades around the world but nowhere in all those travels had I ever climbed in the backyard of a brew pub before. The Lion’s Head Smoke and Brew Pub is the only bar in North America with a natural rock climbing wall in its backyard: you can hop on the 12 routes in the morning and then walk the 10 metres to the patio where you can enjoy lunch and an aprés pint.
The uniqueness of rock climbing at the Lion’s Head got me thinking about what other novel experiences there are in Castlegar throughout the year. Here is my list of 15 quirky things to do in the city. If I’ve left anything out, please let us know via the contact page.
1. Jam out at the Jamaican Festival
Held each summer, the Can-Jam Link Up Festival is a reggae-fueled celebration that brings island vibes to the mountains with live music, food, and an inclusive community spirit. Expect rhythmic dancing, authentic jerk chicken, and a whole lot of irie energy.
2. Watch Art Go Up in Flames at the Night of Fire
In late fall the Castlegar Sculpturewalk crew have Kootenay artists construct a massive sculpture to be set ablaze in a dramatic public burn. It’s part performance art, part fire ritual, and entirely mesmerizing.
3. Meditate Through the Stone Labyrinth on Zuckerberg Island
Located on the historic Zuckerberg Island in the Columbia River, a man-made stone labyrinth invites quiet reflection as you walk the winding spiral made of colourful stonework. It’s a unique fusion of art, history, and spiritual calm. And while on the island, be sure to check out the 90-year-old Zuckerberg Chapel House, a unique structure built by artist and engineer Alexander Zuckerberg in the style of Russian Orthodox country architecture.
4. Vote For Your Favourite At The Castlegar Sculpturewalk
Every year, downtown Castlegar transforms into an open-air gallery with 30 sculptures by artists from across the Kootenays and around the world. Pick up a Sculpturewalk ballot card and vote for your favourite: the winning sculpture gets a permanent spot in the city’s growing collection.
5. Dress to Impress at the Rotary Club Diamond Dinner
Organized by the Castlegar Rotary Club, the annual Diamond Dinner is a glitzy fundraiser that features gourmet food, live entertainment, and a chance to win real diamonds. It’s Castlegar’s fanciest night of the year and the perfect excuse to sparkle.
6. Taste the Kootenay’s Best at the Annual Borscht Cook-Off
Local chefs go head-to-head in a friendly competition to see who makes the best borscht, a beet-based soup that, in the hands of the local Doukhobor people, turns into creamy, heavenly goodness. Bring your appetite, and maybe stretchy pants, for this delicious community tradition.
7. Savour Flavours at Korean Food Day
Hosted each summer by the Korean Language School in Castlegar, the Korean Food Day features authentic dishes like bulgogi, japchae, and crispy mandu. It’s a mouthwatering cultural exchange set against a scenic mountain backdrop.
8. Hire Chillbilly and Meet His Goat
Local fishing guide Graham Cloutier of Chillbilly Sportfishing Charters offers fishing trips on the Columbia River alongside his pet Nigerian dwarf goat named Green Eggs and Ham. Between the big fish and the mini goat, it’s a uniquely Castlegar experience.
9. Hike to the Natural Arch
Just outside Castlegar’s city limits, on the West side of Lower Arrow Lake, you’ll find a stunning geological formation where erosion carved a perfect stone archway into the hillside. The Natural Arch can be challenging to get but it’s worth checking out this unique piece of landscape. Most people access it by paddling across the lake from the small community of Deer Park. to the shoreline trailhead, which is then followed by a 2.2-km-long steep hiking trail.
10. Paddle Through the Labarthe Tunnel
Also on the west side of Lower Arrow Lake is the 100-metre-long Labarthe Tunnel, a relic of the C&W Railway that was flooded when the Keenleyside Dam was built. The water levels have to be just right in order to paddle through it (most of the year it’s well above the water) but when they are, it’s a unforgettable experience floating through it.
11. Visit the Tomb of Peter Verigin, Canada’s First Terrorism Victim
On the western slope of Sentinel Mountain sits the tomb of Doukhobor leader Peter “Lordly” Verigin, who was killed in a still-unsolved train bombing in 1924. The heritage site offers both quiet reflection and stunning views over the Kootenay River.
12. Ride Through the Bulldog Tunnel on the C&W Rail Trail
There are multiple tunnels on the C&W Rail Trail, including the one below, but the 912-metre-long Bulldog Tunnel is especially memorable. Once the longest railway tunnel constructed in the West Kootenay region, the Bulldog is now a bucket-list stop for cyclists, dirt bikers, and ATVers exploring the trail that extends from Castlegar to Christina Lake.
13. Swing into Summer at Shore Acres Beach
A hidden gem at the confluence of the Slocan and Kootenay Rivers, Shore Acres beach features a legendary rope swing. It’s a perfect spot to cool down and unleash your inner kid.
14. Spot Sturgeon in the Shallows of the Columbia River
In late spring, white sturgeon can be seen in the shallows of the Columbia River. These ancient prehistoric giants can live for over 100 years and grow to over three metres long. Endless Adventure offers sturgeon spotting tours every May and June.
15. Stay Somewhere Unexpectedly Quirky
Want to bunk near your own private mini-golf course? Or beside a secret, secluded swimming hole? Or above one of the most popular brewpubs in BC? Castlegar’s offbeat accommodations are anything but ordinary. These creative stays are as much a part of the adventure as the destination. Learn more about the accommodations here.