10 Reasons To Visit Castlegar Before and After Shambhala

Chances are you’ve heard of Shambhala. The 25-year-old West Kootenay event has been awarded “Best Music Festival” in North America by DJ Mag. Every year it boasts huge international acts such as Moby and Kaskade and over 10,000 revellers converge on the private farm located near Salmo, a half-hour…


The Best Rock Climbing Routes at Kinnaird Bluffs

Kinnaird is a unique chunk of rock. Located on the southern perimeter of the city of Castlegar, the white and ruby-coloured cliff band is composed of 110 million year-old gneiss and granite formed during a mountain building episode associated with plate collision on the coast. According to…


Meet Sarah Meunier, Castlegar's Queen of the Trails

The first time I met Sarah Meunier was two years ago and she immediately impressed me with her…


Visit Castlegar – The Little City In The Valley

Castlegar is a special place. Located in the valley where the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers meet, this is fertile ground for all things fun. There is a thriving artistic scene here, which makes sense given that this is the “Sculpture Capital of Canada.” There is a unique cultural heritage thanks to…


The Best Camping Spots In Castlegar

There are few areas in the world where you can tent camp in a remote site beside a lake and enjoy the soothing sounds of nature or park your RV on a cement pad and watch the river flow past. And all of it can be found within 10 minutes of a city’s downtown core. The West Kootenays are world-famous…


Mountain Biking BC Includes Castlegar in its 2019 Peak to Pint Contest

Mountain Biking BC has announced its latest contest will include a stop in Castlegar to ride the incredible trails in the city and to enjoy tasty brews at the Lion’s Head Pub and the soon-to-be-opened Tailout Brewery. The winners of the “Peak to Pint Adventure” contest will enjoy seven days of…


The Best Cross-Country Ski Loops On The Paulson Pass

Castlegar offers a lot of cross-country skiing opportunities and we’ve listed all of them in our article “Where To Nordic Skiing In Castlegar.” In this article, we’ll describe the best ski loops on the Paulson Pass, which can be found at the Castlegar Nordic Ski Club trails. This 45-kilometre-long…


Where to Nordic Ski in Castlegar

The Castlegar area enjoys snow from November until March and so nordic skiing is one of the most popular winter activities here. Whether you prefer fast skate skiing for fitness, or slower relaxed cross-country through untouched snow to see the sites, there is something for every nordic skier…


Where to Snowmobile in Castlegar

Snowmobiling (also known as sledding) is one of the most popular winter activities in Castlegar and there are two good reasons for it. Firstly, upwards of 12 metres (40 feet) of snow can fall in the mountains surrounding the city meaning at higher elevations the season is very long. People start…


Kootenay Climbing Festival Returns To Castlegar

The Kootenay Rock Climbing Festival returns to Castlegar September 22-23, 2018, and will feature Olympic climber Jen Olson and Canadian mountaineering legend Don Vockeroth. This is the seventh year the Festival has been held at the Lion's Head Pub, the only restaurant and bar in North America with…


Area's 1st Outdoor Bouldering Competition Coming To Castlegar

The first ever outdoor bouldering competition in the Kootenays is happening in Castlegar on September 22, 2018. Called the "Battle of the Beach," the event is being hosted by the Association of West Kootenay Rock Climbers and is part of the weekend-long Kootenay Climbing Festival, which has taken…


Castlegar, at the centre of it all

A year has past and we now have a beautiful video that showcases Castlegar at the centre of it all. A place where families come for a visit and move in for the community. A spot that adventure seekers discover and stay for the lifestyle. A destination that professional find opportunity. Castlegar,…