 Fort Steele Heritage Town At the scientific end, Revelstoke Dam -one of North America's largest and most modern hydroelectric developments- was built to harness the power of nature. Science nurtures nature at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery, which produces 2.5 million trout fingerlings each year. Nature is the powerful force in the Kootenay Rockies, where four magnificent national parks -Glacier, Kootenay, Yoho, and Mount Revelstoke- are a majestic ode to nature. At the Burgess Shale Fossil site in Yoho National Park, you can discover what life was like on Earth 505 million years ago! Finally, you can visit the remains of early regional settlements, from gold rush boomtowns to restored frontier towns. See why the legends of early pioneers and prospectors still haunt the ghost towns of the Kootenay Rockies today.
Revelstoke DamBuilt to harness the power of nature, Revelstoke Dam is one of North America's largest and most modern hydroelectric developments. The reservoir stretches 135 km (84 mi) and is some 2,000 m (6,562 ft) wide. It is one of four BC dams built to regulate the flow of the Columbia River. Visitors can take an elevator to the dam crest lookout to get an inside look at the dam operation from the Visitor Centre atop the powerhouse. You'll enjoy views of the main powerhouse gallery, circuit breaker gallery, tailrace area and control room. Visit the large exhibition area to see how the Revelstoke project was built and watch video presentations in the theatre. The free, self-guided tour features a "talking wand" audio guide. Guided tours are also available. The Revelstoke Dam is located a few minutes north of the city of Revelstoke. A word or two on your visit: - No admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 1-2 hours
> Revelstoke Dam website
Ghost towns Discover the dramatic history of pioneers and prospectors whose legends still haunt the ghost towns of the Kootenay Rockies. You can explore many settlements - from gold rush boomtowns to bustling frontier towns that finally ran out of luck. Baynes Lake
Once a thriving town thanks to the Great Northern Railroad, homes were boarded up when the mill ceased operations in 1925. Only a small community store now remains. Baynes Lake is located 30 minutes south of Fernie. Brooklyn
Once a flourishing community, Brooklyn is now gateway to the Renata Natural Bridge, one of Canada's largest natural rock bridges. The erosion sculpture is 20 m (66 ft) high and 43 m (141 ft) long. Brooklyn is located 16 km (9.9 mi) upriver from the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. It is accessible only by boat. Ask local marinas for directions. Fort Steele
This 1860s pioneer boomtown has over 60 heritage shops and display buildings that have been beautifully restored or reconstructed. Step back in time and enjoy the sights and sounds of this Victorian frontier town. Cody
During the 1890s Cody was the "end of the line" for the Kaslo & Slocan Railway. Today a concentrator mill and the old K&S Railway stationhouse mark the legacy of this once-thriving community. Cody is located next to Sandon. Lumberton
A.E. Watts was the founder, lumber-mill owner and life-blood of this small town. When the hills became barren of timber, Lumberton closed down. Today the cement-wall mill rising above the ruins of period homes reminds visitors of the town's rich history. Lumberton is found 10 minutes south of Cranbrook. Retallack
A series of abandoned buildings marks the former townsite of Retallack, once a vibrant 1890s mining and sawmill town. Retallack is located on Highway 31A, midway between New Denver and Kaslo. Sandon
Follow the trail of period prospectors to Sandon, a city that once thrived as the centre of the world's largest silver-mining boom. When the silver ran out, so did the town's luck; Sandon was abandoned. Today the Sandon Museum -found in the historic Slocan Mercantile General Store- helps visitors learn about this town's fascinating history. Sandon is located 10 minutes east of New Denver. Wardner
Once an active lumber town, visitors can now wander through the remains of two stores, a post office as well as a church. Wardner is located 25 minutes southeast of Cranbrook.
Kootenay Trout HatcheryStocking up to 150 lakes in the east and west Kootenay regions, this large hatchery produces 2.5 million trout fingerlings each year. Species raised here include Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout, Brook Char and the endangered Kootenay River White Sturgeon, BC's largest freshwater fish. Walk through an extensive interpretative area featuring aquariums, educational models and displays. You can also see turtles, fish and water insects in the outdoor turtle pond and stroll through the beautifully groomed hatchery grounds. Visitors can view (and possibly feed) some trophy-sized trout in the moat outside. The hatchery is located on Highway 3, 25 minutes southeast of Cranbrook. A word or two on your visit: - No admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 1-1.5 hours
> Kootenay Trout Hatchery website
National parksA spectacle of colour, nature and wildlife unwinds along the Trans Canada Highway in the Kootenay Rockies, where you'll encounter four distinct national parks: Kootenay, Yoho, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke. More than 400 glaciers are sculpted from Glacier National Park's rugged peaks and sheer cliffs. The park's steep slopes and high annual snowfall make it one of the world's most active avalanche zones. The rugged beauty and challenge of the 135,000-ha (333,590-ac) park attracts backcountry skiers, backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Within the park, the famous Rogers Pass is the site of the largest controlled avalanche area in North America. This National Historic Site commemorates the history of this national transportation corridor. Glacier National Park is located on the Trans Canada Highway in the Kootenay Rockies. Kootenay National Park is a vast, 140,600-ha (347,428-ac) land of startling contrasts. Here, towering summits and hanging glaciers meet narrow chasms, and forested valleys border rich mineral pools. You'll find alpine tundra in the upper reaches of the park and stands of Douglas-fir as well as prickly pear cactus at lower, southern altitudes. You may spot Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Elk, Mule and White-tailed Deer on your drive. More than 200 km (124 mi) of hiking trails originate from the parkway. A self-guided nature trail leads across the Vermilion River to the cold mineral springs known as Paint Pots (after the vivid orange colour of the region's clay). Kootenay National Park is located near Golden via Highway 95. Mount Revelstoke National Park is known for its spectacular wildflower meadows and rugged peaks. The 26,000-ha (64,247-ac) park offers magnificent vistas; summers, you can reach Mount Revelstoke's peak by driving along the 26-km (16-mi) Meadows-In-The-Sky Parkway through a dense rainforest of cedar and pine, sub-alpine forest and meadows. You'll enjoy astonishing views of the ice-topped Monashee Range and, on the eastern horizon, the Selkirk Mountains. Most summer visitors drive the parkway to Balsam Lake. From here the mountain can be explored from a number of hiking trails. Backpacking, ski touring and snowshoeing are popular in the winter months. Revelstoke National Park is located on the Trans Canada Highway, just outside of Revelstoke. Yoho National Park is a stunning 131,300-ha (324,448-ac) park comprised of 28 mountain peaks reaching over 3,000 m (9,843 ft). The park offers hiking, camping and remarkable wildlife viewing amidst a gloriously natural setting that includes rockfalls and waterfalls. Yoho is also the entrance way to the Burgess Shale, one of the world's most important fossil finds. Yoho National Park is located on the Trans Canada Highway, a 40 minute drive east from Golden. A word or two on your visit: - User fees in effect for national parks
Burgess Shale FossilsGet a glimpse of what life was like on Earth 505 million years ago. Discovered in 1909 by Charles D. Walcott, the Burgess Shale site is widely believed to contain the world's finest Cambrian-aged fossils of soft-bodied marine organisms. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Burgess Shale represents a complete ecosystem of diverse and sometimes bizarre animals preserved in the shales, such as the five-eyed Opabinia, which sported an elephant-like trunk with a fierce claw at its end. The ecosystem existed for only a very short time after the first explosion of multi-cellular life on earth. Visitors can only view the fossils with a guide. Tours go out once a day with a limited number of hikers. The hike to the Mount Stephen Fossil Beds is a short but steep 6-km (3.6 mi), six-hour return trip. The hike to Walcott's Quarry is a moderately challenging 20-km (12.4-mi), 10-hour return trip with an elevation gain of 760 m (2,888 ft). The Burgess Shale is located in Yoho National Park on the Trans Canada Highway, a 40 minute drive east from Golden. A word or two on your visit: - Admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 6-10 hours
> Burgess Shale website
|