When travel writer Leigh McAdam set off on a scenic road trip from Castlegar to Revelstoke, she was wowed by her starting point. In her detailed account on HikeBikeTravel, Leigh opens with praise for Castlegar’s art scene, river trails, and rich cultural history, describing it as “cool” and “amazing.” For anyone who’s ever spent time in Castlegar, that won’t come as a shock. She writes, “Castlegar has much to offer its visitor especially with its location at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers. Recreational activities abound including, hiking, biking, waterfall chasing, paddling and fishing.”
Leigh kicked off her adventure with a stroll through Castlegar’s downtown core, where she was impressed by the dozen murals found between the 200 and 1000 blocks of Columbia Avenue. She was also taken with the various pieces on display as part of the Castlegar Sculpture Walk, the city’s annual rotating public art exhibit that turns the streets into a living gallery. “The cool thing about this exhibit is that you’re allowed to vote for your favourite piece. The People’s Choice sculpture is then purchased by the city and added to their permanent collection,” she says. “All the sculptures can be leased or bought, which I think is an amazing way to support artists. And the sculptures sure makes the city scape more interesting.”
The story also describes the 56-acre Millennium Park, located five blocks from the city’s downtown core. “With its prime location on the shores of the Columbia River, Millennium Park is the place to come to swim, bike, walk, play tennis, use the fitness stations or simply enjoy time with your family outdoors.,” Leah writes.
Zuckerberg Island was the next stop on her visit and she enjoyed the “pretty walking trails” of this city park located at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers. “Access is via a narrow but not too wobbly suspension bridge,” she writes. “Take a walk through the park, sit on a bench and ponder life, and discover a Russian Orthodox Chapel House built by Alexander Zuckerberg.”
Leigh also referred to the suspension bridges and tunnels of the Columbia and Western Rail Trail, recommending a bike ride along it to enjoy “superb views of Lower Arrow Lake. You can do an out and back or get dropped off by shuttle near the Paulson Summit.”
After she left Castlegar, she travelled north to the Slocan Junction and then visited the Crescent Valley Beach Regional Park, located on the shores of the Slocan River. Leigh shares the history of the site, which was formerly the Patcik Lumber Company sawmill built in 1907. The log boom pilings and footings are all that remain and it’s a popular site for locals and visitors alike for lounging on the sandy shores, wading in the water, and watching rafters and kayakers paddle past. Leigh then shared a piece of trivia that we didn’t even know: “Interestingly, when the mill was sold in 1911, the fortune accumulated from it was used to build Western Canada’s first professional hockey league.”
Leigh’s story continues with descriptions of her adventures travelling up the Slocan Valley and around Revelstoke. To read her article in its entirety, visit HikeBikeTravel.com.