Meet Furniture Designer and Artist Daniel Nelson

Fourteen years ago former professional skateboarder Daniel Nelson moved from White Rock, British Columbia to Pass Creek, near Castlegar, and now runs Driftwood Works where he creates unique, hand-crafted furniture and artistic creations such as skateboards and guitars. Inspired by the natural…


Borscht Cook-Off Returns September 28

Eating traditional Doukhobor borscht is a common Kootenay experience. The hearty soup has an orange hue, unlike the purple-red of other beet soups, and is rich to the point of decadence, with whipping cream, butter, cabbage, celery, tomato, and four different root vegetables. Enjoying a warm bowl…


Stage Dive into Castlegar’s Punk Scene With The Adits

When I first reached out to Kirk about his band The Adits, his reply was the most punk thing ever: “Hey. What did we do now?” Actually, they’ve done quite a lot lately, thank you very much. The three-piece Castlegar-based outfit made up of Kirk on guitar, Dave on bass, and Andy on drums played the…


Castlegar to Host Invasive Species Fishout Derby Sept 7-15, 2024

This fall Castlegar will host the Invasive Species Fishout Derby on the Columbia River. The intent is to catch as many walleye (Regional Guidelines) and northern pike as possible because both species were introduced to the waters here and are detrimental to the native species of trout, Kokanee, and…


The Best Hiking Trails in Castlegar

Castlegar is a hiking mecca! Whether you prefer long strolls beside the river or high alpine treks, this area of the West Kootenays in British Columbia has it all. Part of the reason hiking is so good in Castlegar is because of the hard work done by such local non-profit organizations as the…


Going Trail Running in Castlegar? Here Are The Best Loops

There's no denying trail running is making huge strides in North America. A recent study by the US Sports and Fitness Industry Association reported that participation in the sport jumped from 13.2 million in 2022 to 14.8 million in 2023, a one-year increase of over 12 percent. When questioned about…


Why Castlegar is a RV Dream Destination

In a recent article for the Explorer RV Club, writer Josephine Matyas describes the West Kootenay region as having "a superabundance of unspoiled beauty, scenic driving routes, excellent campgrounds, and more places to soak, fish, swim, hike and just relax than you could ever manage in one visit.…


Castlegar Mountain Bike Trail Voted Best In The World

One of the most popular mountain bike websites in the world has rated a Castlegar trail as the best on the planet. In a story that ran on the last day of December 2023, PinkBike listed the top 10 rated mountain bike trails around the globe, as reviewed by users of Trailforks, the de facto map and…


Two Experts Share The Best ATV Trails In Castlegar

Dirt biking is a popular past-time in Castlegar, not only because of the plethora of backcountry logging roads around but also because there are excellent maintained areas including the KMX Motocross Track and Trail system near the Bombi summit just south-east of Castlegar and the extensive…


Where To See Wildlife In The Fall in Castlegar

Autumn is a special time in Castlegar: the deciduous trees and the Larch turn every shade of yellow, red and orange, the air is pleasantly cool but the sun still shines bright, and it’s the best season to spot all manner of wildlife in and around the city. “The Fall is such a great time for…


The Best Kayaking Spots in Castlegar

Lakes. Rivers. Creeks. Ponds. Standing Waves. Waterfalls. You name it — Castlegar has it. The city and surrounding area is a hot spot for kayakers because whatever your preference, there's something for you here. Located at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia rivers and near the shores of…