Kootenay Rockies
West Ale Trail
Forests, mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, hot springs and waterfalls: this is the West Kootenays. Explore the communities of Castlegar, Kaslo, Nelson, Robson, Rossland, Salmo, and Trail.
The folks who call this place home are farmers, mountaineers, ski bums, young families and retirees, or those seeking “off the grid” lifestyles, all of them friendly to a fault. The communities of Castlegar, Kaslo, Nelson, Robson, Rossland, Salmo, and Trail are ready and waiting with history, culture and, of course, beer.
Peppered throughout this paradise of mountains, rivers and lakes is a diverse of array of creative, entrepreneurial craft breweries that celebrate their local communities and welcome visitors with open arms. Expect a friendly greeting and a delicious assortment of beers to sample, often with some tasty food options as well.
Backroads Brewing in Nelson, BC
Syringa Provincial Park in Robson, BC
Erie Creek Brewing Company in Salmo, BC
Fishing near Castlegar, BC
Torchlight Brewing in Nelson, BC
Rossland Beer Co in Rossland, BC
Kaslo, BC
Angry Hen Brewing Co in Kaslo, BC
Lions Head Smoke & Brew Pub in Robson, BC
Syringa Provincial Park in Robson, BC
Angry Hen Brewing in Kaslo, BC
Castlegar Nordic Centre, BC
Tailout Brewing in Trail, BC
Castlegar is home to six of BC's most beautiful waterfalls.
Nelson Brewing Co in Nelson, BC (photo: Nelson Brewing Co)
Columbia River Skywalk in Trail, BC
Rossland Beer Co, Rossland BC
Fishing near Castlegar, BC
Doukhobor Discover Centre, Castlegar, BC
Nelson Brewing Company in Nelson, BC (photo: Nelson Brewing Company)
Salmo, BC
Castlegar Nordic Centre, BC
Nelson, BC
Torchlight Brewing in Nelson, BC
Kaslo, BC
Downtown Nelson, BC
Lions Head Smoke & Brew Pub in Robson, BC
Castlegar Nordic Centre, BC
Angry Hen Brewing Co in Kaslo,BC
Broken Hill Nelson, Nelson, BC
Erie Creek Brewing, Salmo, BC
Backroads Brewing, Nelson, BC
Castle Bowl in Castlegar, BC
Backroads Brewing, Nelson, BC
Lions Head Smoke & Brew Pub in Robson, BC
The Savoy Hotel in Nelson, BC
Kaslo Hotel in Kaslo, BC
Nelson Brewing Company in Nelson, BC (photo: Adrienna Elcome)
Day 1
Rossland, Trail + Salmo
Travel Info
Start your West Kootenay adventure in Rossland, located at the intersection of Hwy 3B and Hwy 22, an approximately 7 hour drive from both Vancouver and Calgary. The closest airport is the West Kootenay Regional airport (YCG), near Castlegar, a 30 minute drive away.
Stop by for locally roasted coffee and fresh-baked-daily muffins, scones, cookies, cinnamon buns, and more. Gluten-free baked goods are made in house too!
Get your adrenaline pumping at the Millennial Trail Expansion at RED Resort - three loops totaling 5.8kms of all-new mountain biking trails focused on flow, fun, and variety.
Possibly one of the last official saloons remaining from the Gold Rush days - The Flying Steamshovel has an unmatchable atmosphere, 14 craft draught lines, an award-winning menu and great independent music on stage every week.
An award-winning brewery providing the historic mining community of Rossland a variety of irresistible craft beers.
Enjoy an easy, wide, hard packed 5 km loop trail gently meandering around Nancy Greene lake. Or if paddling is more your speed, rent a paddleboard or canoe and go for a cruise.
Drive to Trail, approx 10 mins
With a passion for everything outdoors, you’ll find community and amazing craft beer at this brewery that celebrates the region’s love for fly fishing.
Drive to Salmo, approx 30 mins
Enjoy Kootenay crafted beer in this small town brewery. Drop by for a flight, order in some food from a nearby restaurant, and fill a growler to take away with you.
Treat yourself to a soul-enriching evening of French-inspired fine dining and locally-inspired drinks.
Rossland has plenty of accommodation options to choose from - head to the explore more section to find your perfect stay.
Explore More
Rossland is perched high in the Monashee Mountains. The Gold Fever Follies present a live musical theatre show and the Rossland Museum is the site of the LeRoi Gold Mine offering a Geology Centre, display of artifacts and a gold panning attraction.
Hike up Kootenay Columbia Trail for aerial views of Rossland and the Columbia River.
Winter: With 300″/7.6m of annual snowfall, wide-open groomers, epic vertical (2,919ft/890m!), in-bounds cat-skiing ($10/run!), 360-degree descents, a rich tradition, and – phew! — the BEST tree runs in BC, it’s no wonder The New York Times voted RED and Rossland “#8 Best Place in the World to Visit in 2013.”
Plan your stay in Rossland using the resources below:
Hotels & Motels
Condos & Apartments
B&B’s & Vacation Rentals
Campgrounds & Hostels
Day 2
Castlegar
Drive to Castlegar, approximately 35 minutes
An artisan bakery and coffee house right in the heart of downtown Castlegar serving up a delicious array of house-baked pastries and breads. Organic, dairy-free and wheat-free options.
Enjoy a leisurely walk through the downtown of Castlegar while marveling at a rotating exhibition of sculptures by artists from around the world. Don’t forget to vote for your favourites! P.s. Humble Bean is a great stop on the Sculpturewalk for a delicious cold drink in the summer!
Castle Bowl is a 5-generation bowling centre, fully licensed and now serving local craft beer. Check out their cosmic nights!
*Be sure to check their website for occasional seasonal closures.
Get a glimpse of the hustle and bustle of the early 1900’s at this 100+ year old Canadian Pacific Railway Station. Browse archives of newspapers and view the historical artifacts.
Immerse yourself in Castlegars rich history through exploring historical buildings, artifacts, audio/visual galleries, and interactive displays of the culture and heritage of the Doukhobors
This sunny Par 3 Golf Course is family-oriented and suitable for all ages. You can also enjoy an afternoon of golf at Castlegar Golf Club and RV Park.
This historic pub is a hub of outdoor recreation. Across the street from a boat launch popular by fisherman and paddlers. Behind the pub is a famous climbing wall and often you will see bikers end their ride at the pub. Home of BC Craft Beer, with names like Spinnakers, Cannery, Nelson, Mt. Begbie, Crannog, and Fernie beers rotating through 12 taps.
Uptown Liquor Store prides itself on our welcoming atmosphere and great selection.
Castlegar has plenty of accommodation options to choose from - book your perfect stay at the link above.
Explore More
Looking for outdoor adventure? Check out multitudes of easy afternoon hikes to scenic viewpoints or stunning waterfalls. Be sure to take advantage of the amazing rock climbing, paddling sports and scenic hikes in Castlegar!
Castlegar boasts many open areas in which to nordic ski for free, such as Millenium Park, located near the city’s downtown core, and the C&W Railway Trail, which you can access at the terminus of Arrow Lakes Drive. The beauty about nordic (aka cross-country) skiing in the Castlegar area is you can do it whether there’s a lot of snow or not. The West Kootenay region is world-renowned for quality and quantity of snow but there are times when fresh powder is scarce. This doesn’t matter when participating in the sports of classic or skate skiing: the smallest amount of snow is all you need to glide through the woods or on a track.
Produced In Collaboration With
The Birthplace of Adventure
In the southeast corner of British Columbia, the jagged peaks of the Rockies rise in parallel with those of the Purcell, Selkirk and Monashee ranges. In between are valleys, rivers and lakes that have enabled human existence for thousands of years. With incomparable scenic beauty around every turn, this is British Columbia’s Mountain Playground.
Rossland is located in the beautiful Kootenay Rockies Region of British Columbia and is home of Red Mountain Resort and Big Red Cats, the world’s largest cat skiing operation. With the addition of Grey Mountain at RED Mountain, we now have one of the biggest ski resorts in western Canada. Located on the Powder Highway, in the Kootenay Rockies, Rossland offers both summer and winter charm. An unpretentious community that still offers a unique and authentic experience to all of our visitors.
Your Trip, Your Way.
No matter your interests, there’s a Castlegar for you.
From breathtaking adventure to cultural exploration and family fun, we’ll help you plan your visit.
Located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, along the magical shores of Kootenay Lake, this region is an inspirational mecca for foodies, art-goers, music lovers, history buffs and adventure seekers.
Discover the East Shore from Wynndel to Kootenay Bay, cross the glacial-fed Kootenay Lake over to Balfour, on a free ferry, and journey along the shoreline to Ainsworth Hot Springs, Kaslo, North Kootenay Lake and Nelson BC.
Flights To This Area:
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