Castlegar
Columbia Valley, Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada

Castlegar, BC is a river community nestled in the Columbia Valley, located in the Kootenay region of the province of British Columbia, Canada. The community is situated at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers, once the main transportation routes used by settlers, miners and trappers.

Today, instead of rivers - Highway 33, Hwy #3a and Hwy #22 act as major transportation routes in the area. The community of Castlegar, being on a major transportation route, enjoys many of the services important to travelers including accommodations, tours, rentals, gas stations, banks, grocery stores, laundromat, coffee houses, restaurants, pubs, gift stores, auto repair shops, internet and more.

The Columbia River and Kootenay River, a man-made reservoir lake named Lower Arrow Lake (which is actually the Columbia River transformed by hydro electric dams) and the nearby hills and mountains provide many opportunities for year round recreation when visiting in Castlegar.

Some of the activities enjoyed in the summer months include hiking, golfing, swimming, wind surfing, boating, sailing, fishing, river kayaking, canoeing, camping, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, mountain biking, cycling, rock climbing, houseboating, atving, dirt biking and horseback riding.

During the winter months, after the snow has fallen, the mountains and backcountry trails lead to winter activities like ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. A short drive away, the recreation ski mountains of Big Red in Rossland and Whitewater in Nelson provide an opportunity to enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding.

The region around Castlegar is full of recreational trails providing views of rivers, dams, rock slides, wildlife, mountains, communities and highways. Some of the high elevation views are available while hiking the Kootenay River Trails. These trails, mostly, follow a river valley looking down onto the Kootenay River and Brilliant Dam. The trail system includes the Skattebo Reach, Dove Hill, Brilliant Overlook and the Elk Cutoff Trails.

There are some park-like, easy-grade walking trails in the community ideal for sightseeing and wildlife viewing. The Waldie Island Trail is a sightseeing adventure following along a dirt and raised boardwalk path exploring a Blue Heron Reserve and wetland. The Millennium Walkway is a paved path following the banks of the Columbia River with interpretive signs, sitting benches and picnic areas.

There are a few heritage sites and museums located in Castlegar celebrating the history of the Doukhobors. The culture, tradition and history of the Doukhobors is on display at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. There is a monumental tomb in Castlegar surrounded by views and gardens. The tomb, called Verigins Tomb, is the burial place of the early leader of the Doukhobors and his descendants.

There are many parks in the area of the West Kootenays. Syringa Creek Provincial Park is the closest park to the community of Castlegar, BC. It is a campground and day use park located on the shores of Lower Arrow Lake. The park is one of the most popular destinations in the summer months for water activities.