Trail has a long and diverse mining history, which began with the late-19th-century Rossland gold rush, and continued with the construction of a smelter in 1895. (Mining in Trail has come a long way since these beginnings, and is currently moving toward more environmentally stable practices.) Visitors can experience this history today at the Teck Interpretive Centre, on guided tours, or by venturing out to the Le Roi Mine.
Teck Interpretive Centre
The Trail smelter operates today under the Teck Corporation, using leading technologies to produce zinc and lead. In 2001, the plant produced 120,000 tons of lead and 290,000 tonnes of zinc -- more than any other single smelting operation in the world. The Teck Interpretive Centre, featuring hands-on exhibits, videos and an interactive computer game, appeals to both adults and kids. Learn about the smelting and refining processes that are used to produce a wide range of metals, and discover how many everyday products use these raw materials. This mini science centre is located in the Trail Visitor Centre, on Bay Ave., across from the Cominco Arena.
Guided Tours
For a more in-depth experience, take a tour of the smelter facilities in the company of a retired Trail Operations employee. The two to two and a half hour itinerary includes a long walk through the site, navigating more than a few stairs along the way. For safety reasons, people with pacemakers and children under 12 are not permitted to take the on-site tour. There is also a dress code too – no bare legs or arms.
Le Roi Mine
The road between Trail and Rossland winds up a 10km/6mi hill to the world-famous Le Roi Mine. While there are many mines in the area, Le Roi Mine was once the epicenter of Rossland’s late-19th-century gold rush. Throughout the summer, the mine is open for underground guided tours that provide a unique insight into the life of a hard rock miner. Tours begin at the Rossland Museum, on Highway 22 just west of its intersection with Highway 3B. Learn more about mining in Trail, the Teck Interpretive Centre, and Le Roi Mine at the Visitor Centre.