A Heritage Tour Of Castlegar

Castlegar’s history dates back thousands of years to when the region was inhabited by the Lakes Salish First Nations people. The junction where the Kootenay River meets the Columbia, just south of where downtown Castlegar is now located, was an important trading place as well as a fishing spot for…


youth kayaking

Destination Camps

Here in Castlegar  BC we work hard and play hard. That is why when it come to Summer Camps we do it the best. At the beginning of July every year Castlegar hosts three unique and specialized Youth Camps Fiddlers, Golf and Kayak Academy Camp all run from July 8-12. These are back by popular demand…


The Best Rock Climbing Routes at Kinnaird Bluffs

Kinnaird is a unique chunk of rock. Located on the southern perimeter of the city of Castlegar, the white and ruby-coloured cliff band is composed of 110 million year-old gneiss and granite formed during a mountain building episode associated with plate collision on the coast. According to…


Meet Sarah Meunier, Castlegar's Queen of the Trails

The first time I met Sarah Meunier was two years ago and she immediately impressed me with her positivity and enthusiasm. Then she told me a hilarious story about a bikini she made from two problem martens at Chatter Creek Lodge, and I wanted her to be my best friend forever. The first time…


Visit Castlegar – The Little City In The Valley

Castlegar is a special place. Located in the valley where the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers meet, this is fertile ground for all things fun. There is a thriving artistic scene here, which makes sense given that this is the “Sculpture Capital of Canada.” There is a unique cultural heritage thanks to…


The Best Camping Spots In Castlegar

There are few areas in the world where you can tent camp in a remote site beside a lake and enjoy the soothing sounds of nature or park your RV on a cement pad and watch the river flow past. And all of it can be found within 10 minutes of a city’s downtown core. The West Kootenays are world-famous…


Mountain Biking BC Includes Castlegar in its 2019 Peak to Pint Contest

Mountain Biking BC has announced its latest contest will include a stop in Castlegar to ride the incredible trails in the city and to enjoy tasty brews at the Lion’s Head Pub and the soon-to-be-opened Tailout Brewery. The winners of the “Peak to Pint Adventure” contest will enjoy seven days of…


Castlegar White Sturgeon – Proof Dinosaurs Still Swim Among Us

Many anglers are impressed by the size of the fish they pull out of the waters near Castlegar. Take Denis Woodcox for example, who caught the largest Kokanee salmon in the world in Arrow Lakes. But there are even larger monsters lurking in the deep of the Columbia River that make Denis’s 12-pound…


The Best Cross-Country Ski Loops On The Paulson Pass

Castlegar offers a lot of cross-country skiing opportunities and we’ve listed all of them in our article “Where To Nordic Skiing In Castlegar.” In this article, we’ll describe the best ski loops on the Paulson Pass, which can be found at the Castlegar Nordic Ski Club trails. This 45-kilometre-long…


The 6 Most Successful Castlegar Hockey Players

There’s no question Castlegar is a hockey town. With two indoor rinks (Pioneer Arena and the Recreation Centre) and multiple outdoor ones, there are lots of spaces to play Canada’s favourite sport. Plus there’s plenty of opportunities to cheer on your favourite players given that there’s a local…


Where to Nordic Ski in Castlegar

The Castlegar area enjoys snow from November until March and so nordic skiing is one of the most popular winter activities here. Whether you prefer fast skate skiing for fitness, or slower relaxed cross-country through untouched snow to see the sites, there is something for every nordic skier…


Where to Snowmobile in Castlegar

Snowmobiling (also known as sledding) is one of the most popular winter activities in Castlegar and there are two good reasons for it. Firstly, upwards of 12 metres (40 feet) of snow can fall in the mountains surrounding the city meaning at higher elevations the season is very long. People start…