Cycling in Castlegar and the surrounding Kootenay Rockies region facilitates close-up and personal experiences with landscape, wildlife, and weather. In Castlegar, which sits at the eastern end of the now defunct Columbia and Western Railway, abandoned rail beds provide cycling trails into the wilderness. For cycling along the highway, traffic tends to be light, and the mountain passes, although challenging, are there to be conquered one pedal rotation at a time.
Columbia and Western Railway Trail
The Columbia and Western Railway (C&W) was built to carry mineral ores from the southern part of the Kootenay Rockies to the coast. In its glory days, the C & W connected with the Kettle Valley Railway into the Okanagan Valley and the coast. The last freight left Castlegar in 1989. Today this abandoned railway route is a great cycling trail. However, some portions of the trail can be difficult. Begin in Castlegar, just west of the pulp mill. Cycle the sometimes rocky, sometimes sandy rail bed as it climbs along the western slope of the valley, with less than a 3% grade. There are trestles, tunnels, and spectacular views all the way to the summit at Farron. The Bulldog Tunnel, at 900m/3000ft in length, is the longest of them all – it even has a curve in the middle, making it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. The bumpy remainder of the approximately 80km/50m journey from Castlegar is a downhill ride to the resort community of Christina Lake.
Slocan Valley Rail Trail
The Slocan Valley Railway was also designed to carry mineral ores from the mines that flourished in the southern part of the Kootenay Rockies. In later years, trains transported occasional loads of lumber from the sawmill in Slocan, until the line was abandoned in 1993. Since then, the rails have been removed to create a cycle trail that starts at South Slocan, 20km/13mi west of Castlegar, and follows the Slocan River for approximately 50km/30mi to Slocan City.
Practical Points
- Encounters with wildlife such as bears, moose and elk are common on both of these trails. Cyclists should carry bear spray and make enough noise to make their presence known.
- Always bring enough clothing to cope with quickly changing weather conditions.
Stop by the Castlegar Visitor Centre for more information on cycling routes in and around town.