Revelstoke

The city is on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River. East of Revelstoke are the Selkirk Mountains and Glacier National Park, penetrated by Rogers Pass used by the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). South of the community down the Columbia River are the Arrow Lakes and the Kootenays. West of the city is Eagle Pass through the Monashee Mountains and the route to Shuswap Lake.
Revelstoke's economy has traditionally been tied to the CPR, and it maintains a strong connection to that industry. However forestry, construction, tourism and retail have increased over the past decades. Today, telecommuters, freelancers, tech workers and entrepreneurs play an increasingly important role in Revelstoke's success.

History

Revelstoke was founded in the 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was built through the area; mining was an important early industry. It was named Farwell, after a local land owner and surveyor. Until then, the spot was called the Second Crossing, to differentiate it from the first crossing of the Columbia River by the CPR at Donald. The city was named by the CPR in appreciation of Lord Revelstoke, head of the UK investment bank that saved the railway from bankruptcy in the summer of 1885 by buying the company's unsold bonds, enabling the railway to reach completion.
The construction of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 further eased access to the region, and since then tourism has been an important feature of the local economy, with skiing having emerged as the most prominent attraction.
Revelstoke BC is in prime black bear and grizzly bear habitat.
Revelstoke holds the Canadian record for snowiest single winter. 2447 cm (80 feet) of snow fell on Mt. Copeland outside town during the winter of 1971-72. The townsite received 779 cm and snow levels were higher than many roofs around town by more than a few metres.

By car

Revelstoke is on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, midway between Calgary and Vancouver. It is most easily accessible by car.

By plane

• Revelstoke AirportSeasonal charter from Vancouver.

By bus

• Rider ExpressBus service along the Trans-Canada Highway from Winnipeg to Vancouver, twice daily. Service from: Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Hope, Abbotsford, and Vancouver (British Columbia); Calgary, Strathmore, Canmore, Lake Louise, and Banff (Alberta); Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, Regina, Whitewood, and Moosomin (Saskatchewan); and Brandon, and Winnipeg (Manitoba).

BC Transit operates several routes around Revelstoke, but the small town size makes walking or biking sufficient for getting around.

• Revelstoke Railway Museum

  phone: +1 250 837 6060
  address: 719 Track St W
  Contains exhibits on the building of the railway, the workers involved and current operations.

• The Last Spike

  address: Trans-Canada Highway, Craigellachie
  A plaque and display commemorate the site where the last spike in the Canadian Pacific (trans-continental) railway was hammered in.

The Enchanted Forest

phone: +1 250-837-9477

Opened to the public in 1960’s, an interactive exhibit of over 350 jolly folk art figurines, BC’s tallest, grandest tree house that rises 50 feet into the forest canopy, a giant cedar stump house, castle, dungeons and dragon. For kids of all ages.

Three Valley Gap

phone: +1 250-837-2109

3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town gives you the opportunity to relive the colourful pioneer days of the late 1800’s. Gold fever brought thousands of fortune seekers to this part of the country in 1862. The gold rush was short lived, leaving behind many abandoned buildings and towns, now known as Ghost Towns.

• Revelstoke Mountain Resort

  phone: +1 250-814-0087
  address: 2950 Camozzi Road
  On the west side of Mt. Mackenzie 6 km from downtown Rossland, boasts the highest vertical run in North America at 1,713 metres (5,620 ft). The resort does relatively less grooming than other resorts but gets 12-18 m of snow yearly and has lots of terrain. The resort offers food and ski/snowboard rental services. The shuttle bus or hitchhiking are two popular alternatives for accessing the resort from town without a car. The resort also offers 3,121 acres of fall line skiing, high alpine bowls, 13 areas of gladed terrain and more groomed terrain.
• Mount Revelstoke National Park is just north of the town.
• Revelstoke is home to four heli-skiing and two cat-skiing operations.
• There are numerous backcountry skiing lodges in the area.
• Revelstoke is also a major snowmobiling destination.
• In the summer, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking are popular activities.

If looking for ladies' clothing, stop at Daspy Fashions in the Alpine Village Shopping Centre. Men can shop at Style Trend Clothiers in the downtown core.

• Universal Footwear

  phone: +1 250 837-3855
  address: Alpine Mall
  True local shopping experience, offering great selection and unparalleled customer service. Brands include Clarks, Ecco, Josef Siebel, El Naturalista, Ms Moo, Scarpa, Dunham, Nike and New Balance.

• OutaboundsOutabounds sports a rustic but relaxed atmosphere, with wood burl tables and cordovan leather couches. A great place for an appres ski.

• Woolsey Creek Restaurant

  address: 604 Second Street West
  Casual fine dinning with cozy atmosphere, Patio and fire places. Duck Confit, Jambalaya, chorizo pasta, Beef tenderloin, and a good selection of BC wines.
• Frontier Restaurant, Trans Canada Hwy #1, +1 250 837-5119. Western themed restaurant off the highway. Not the fastest, but good food, and a nice place to stop for lunch.

• OutaboundsOutabounds sports a rustic but relaxed atmosphere, with wood burl tables and cordovan leather couches. A great place for an après-ski.

• The Village Idiot

  address: 306 Mackenzie Ave
  A bar offering good food and drink and retro ski decor, ideal for après or dinner after a day on the mountain. Their homemade pizza is a highlight.

• The Last Drop Pub

  address: 200 3rd St. West
  Authentic British-style pub with 17 beers on tap and excellent food. Cozy up to the couches by the fireplace after day of skiing or stop in at night and check out whichever band is on stage. Live music 4 nights a week.

Hotels & motels

• Best Western Plus

  phone: +1 250-837-2043
  address: 1925 Laforme Boulevard

• Coast Hillcrest Hotel

  phone: +1 250-837-3322
  address: 2100 Oak Drive
  Full-service hotel features two restaurants, outdoor Jacuzzi, game room, health spa, and fitness centre.

• Monashee Lodge

  phone: +1 250-814-2553
  address: 1601 3 Street W

• Ramada

  phone: +1 250-837-4741
  address: 1750 Trans Canada Highway

• Regent Hotel

  phone: +1 250-837-2107
  address: 112 1st Street E
  Historic landmark hotel with boutique style rooms.

• Revelstoke Lodge

  phone: +1 250-837-2181
  address: 601 1st Street W
  King Room or Queen Room with 2 Queen Beds

• Sandman Hotel

  phone: +1 250-837-5271
  address: 1901 Laforme Boulevard

• Super 8

  phone: +1 250-984-7039
  address: 1700 Victoria Street W

• Swiss Chalet Motel

  phone: +1 250-837-4650
  address: 1101 Victoria Road W

• The Cube Hotel

  phone: +1 250-837-4086
  address: 311 Campbell Ave.
  Booking by the room. Offers kitchen, ski lift ticket discounts, complimentary breakfast, ski shuttle pass.

• The Explorers Society Hotel

  phone: +1 250-814-2565
  address: 111 1st Street W
  Rooms are a blend of timeless style and modern design. 1911 brick, elegant woodwork, locally made furniture, artisan headboards, and warm textiles. Private rooftop lounge.

• The Stoke Hotel

  phone: +1 250-837-5221
  address: 1911 Fraser Drive
  Boutique hotel with unique design and humble Canadiana style. Pet friendly.

• Three Valley Lake Chateau

  phone: +1 250-837-2109
  address: Three Valley Gap
  200 spacious rooms and suites each feature a private balcony or patio. 2019 season: Apr 30 - Oct 1.

Hostels

• Poppi's Guest House

  phone: +1 250-837-9192
  address: 313 First St. East
  Features 5 rooms with multiple beds with a home-like feeling. Pay by the room. Includes laundry machine, shuttle bus, boot driers, gear storage shed, kitchen, two common areas, computer, TV, wifi, some parking, and a room & ski lift ticket package deal.

• Samesun Hostel

  address: 400 Second St. West

Camping

• Blanket Creek Provincial Park105 vehicle accessible sites, 7 of these are doubles. There are no pull-through sites or tent pads, but tents can be placed on the campsite gravel pad.

• Boulder Mountain Resort

  phone: +1 250-837-4420
  address: 3069 Trans-Canada Hwy
  Offers full-service RV sites, "glamping", tenting, and modern cabins and suites with free fibre optic WI-FI.

• Canyon Hot Springs

  phone: +1 250-837-2420
  address: Albert Canyon
  200+ RV and tent sites, cabins, chalets, hot springs and pet friendly

• Lamplighter Campground

  phone: +1 250-837-3385
  address: 1760 Nixon Road

• Martha Creek Provincial Park46 vehicle accessible campsites, including 4 doubles.

• Revelstoke Campground

  phone: +1 250-837-2085
  address: 2411 KOA Road
  177 RV and tent sites, cabins, chalets, pool and pet friendly

• Smokey Bear Campground Resort

  phone: +1 250-837-9573
  address: 3287 Weird Woods Road

• Williamson Lake Campground

  phone: +1 250-837-8806
  address: 1817 Williamson's Lake Road
  Full service campground on Williamson Lake; 42 campsites.

Revelstoke has a variety of online community and tourist resources.

• City of Revelstoke, official town website.
• The Stoke List, Revys classifieds.
• The Revelstoke Current, a local news source.
• seerevelstoke.com, a directory.

The Trans Canada Hwy #1 east of Revelstoke continues on to the town of Golden, passing through Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park on its way. The Rogers Pass discovery centre is definitely worth visiting, as are the multitude of small hikes within the parks.