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Revelstoke is a city of 6,700 people (2016) in the Columbia-Rockies section of the Kootenays in British Columbia.

Understand

The city is on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River. East of Revelstoke are the Selkirk Mountains and Glacier National Park, penetrated by Rogers Pass used by the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). South of the community down the Columbia River are the Arrow Lakes and the Kootenays. West of the city is Eagle Pass through the Monashee Mountains and the route to Shuswap Lake.

Revelstoke's economy has traditionally been tied to the CPR, and it maintains a strong connection to that industry. However forestry, construction, tourism and retail have increased over the past decades. Today, telecommuters, freelancers, tech workers and entrepreneurs play an increasingly important role in Revelstoke's success.

History

Revelstoke was founded in the 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was built through the area; mining was an important early industry. It was named Farwell, after a local land owner and surveyor. Until then, the spot was called the Second Crossing, to differentiate it from the first crossing of the Columbia River by the CPR at Donald. The city was named by the CPR in appreciation of Lord Revelstoke, head of the UK investment bank that saved the railway from bankruptcy in the summer of 1885 by buying the company's unsold bonds, enabling the railway to reach completion.

The construction of the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 further eased access to the region, and since then tourism has been an important feature of the local economy, with skiing having emerged as the most prominent attraction.

Revelstoke BC is in prime black bear and grizzly bear habitat.

Revelstoke holds the Canadian record for snowiest single winter. 2447 cm (80 feet) of snow fell on Mt. Copeland outside town during the winter of 1971-72. The townsite received 779 cm and snow levels were higher than many roofs around town by more than a few metres.

Get in

By car

Revelstoke is on the Trans-Canada Highway 1, midway between Calgary and Vancouver. It is most easily accessible by car.

By plane

By bus

Get around

BC Transit operates several routes around Revelstoke, but the small town size makes walking or biking sufficient for getting around.

See

  • 2 The Last Spike, Trans-Canada Highway, Craigellachie (45 km (28 mi) west of Revelstoke on Hwy 1). Gift shop and info center open May-Oct. A plaque and display commemorate the site where the last spike in the Canadian Pacific (trans-continental) railway was hammered in. Last Spike (Q6494663) on Wikidata Last spike (Canadian Pacific Railway) on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2019)
  • 3 The Enchanted Forest (34 km west of Revelstoke on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 250-837-9477, . Opened to the public in 1960s, an interactive exhibit of over 350 jolly folk art figurines, BC’s tallest, grandest tree house that rises 50 feet (15 m) into the forest canopy, a giant cedar stump house, castle, dungeons and dragon. For kids of all ages. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 4 Three Valley Gap (3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town) (21 km west of Revelstoke on Hwy 1), ☏ +1 250-837-2109, . 3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town gives you the opportunity to relive the colourful pioneer days of the late 1800s. Gold fever brought thousands of fortune seekers to this part of the country in 1862. The gold rush was short-lived, leaving behind many abandoned buildings and towns, now known as Ghost Towns. Three Valley Gap (Q7797889) on Wikidata Three Valley Gap on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2019)
  • 5 Revelstoke Dam (travel north for 3 km on Highway 23 North from the lights at the intersection of Highway 1 and 23 N), ☏ +1 250 814 6697, . One of the most powerful hydro dams in BC, standing at 175 m (575 ft) tall. Holding the headwaters to the Columbia River. Adult $8, child $7. Revelstoke Dam on Wikipedia (updated Apr 2020)

Do

  • 1 Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR), 2950 Camozzi Road (heading south of downtown on Airport Way, left on Nichol Rd to the end, right on Camazoni Rd), ☏ +1 250-814-0087, toll-free: +1-866-373-4754. Winter season: 8:30AM-4PM. As of 2019, summer and winter operations. Summer: Western Canada's first "Pipe Mountain Coaster", lift assisted mountain biking and hiking. Winter: RMR boasts the most lift accessed vertical in North America at 1,713 m (5,620 ft). RMR gets 12-18 m of snow yearly on 3,121 acres of fall line skiing, high alpine bowls, 13 areas of gladed terrain and more groomed terrain. There is a daylodge off of the first gondola stop that serves food and drinks, as well as a small restaurant at the top of the gondola also serving food and drinks. At the base of the ski hill are 2 restaurants, and lift ticket, gear sales and ski and snowboard rental services. The resort shuttle or hitchhiking are two popular alternatives for accessing the resort from town without a car. $129 winter, $25 summer. (updated Feb 2016)
  • Mount Revelstoke National Park is just north of the town.
  • Revelstoke is home to four heli-skiing and two cat-skiing operations.
  • There are numerous backcountry skiing lodges in the area.
  • Revelstoke is also a major snowmobiling destination.
  • In the summer, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking are popular activities.

Buy

For ladies' clothing, stop at Daspy Fashions in the Alpine Village Shopping Centre. Men can shop at Style Trend Clothiers in the downtown core.

  • Universal Footwear, Alpine Mall, ☏ +1 250 837-3855. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 11AM-4PM. True local shopping experience, offering great selection and unparalleled customer service. Brands include Clarks, Ecco, Josef Siebel, El Naturalista, Ms Moo, Scarpa, Dunham, Nike and New Balance. 
  • Outabounds (1st Street west). Outabounds sports a rustic but relaxed atmosphere, with wood burl tables and cordovan leather couches. A great place for an après-ski. 

Eat

  • Woolsey Creek Restaurant, 604 Second Street West (corner of Garden Street), ☏ +1 250 837-5500. 5-10PM. Casual fine dinning with cozy atmosphere, Patio and fire places. Duck Confit, Jambalaya, chorizo pasta, Beef tenderloin, and a good selection of BC wines. $20. 
  • Frontier Restaurant, Trans Canada Hwy #1, ☏ +1 250 837-5119. Western-themed restaurant off the highway. Not the fastest, but good food, and a nice place to stop for lunch.

Drink

  • Traverse Nightclub (1st Street west), 310 First Street West, Revelstoke, BC. 6PM-2AM. Traverse Nightclub is an EDM nightclub open in the Winter season. Live DJ's featured almost every weekend throughout the Winter. (updated Apr 2020)
  • The Village Idiot, 306 Mackenzie Ave, ☏ +1 250 837-6240. A bar offering good food and drink and retro ski decor, ideal for après or dinner after a day on the mountain. Their homemade pizza is a highlight. 
  • [dead link] The Last Drop Pub, 200 3rd St. West, ☏ +1 250 837-2121. 11AM-2AM. Authentic British-style pub with 17 beers on tap and excellent food. Cozy up to the couches by the fireplace after day of skiing or stop in at night and check out whichever band is on stage. Live music 4 nights a week. 

Sleep

Hotels & motels

Hostels

  • 14 Poppi's Guest House, 313 First St. East (South-east end of downtown), ☏ +1 250-837-9192. Features 5 rooms with multiple beds with a home-like feeling. Pay by the room. Includes laundry machine, shuttle bus, boot driers, gear storage shed, kitchen, two common areas, computer, TV, Wi-Fi, some parking, and a room & ski lift ticket package deal. $60-110 double occupancy, season dependent. (updated Feb 2016)
  • 15 Samesun Hostel, 400 Second St. West, toll-free: +1-877-972-6378. $32 per dorm. (updated Feb 2016)

Camping

Connect

Revelstoke has a variety of online community and tourist resources.

Go next

The Trans Canada Hwy #1 east of Revelstoke continues on to the town of Golden, passing through Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park on its way. The Rogers Pass discovery centre is definitely worth visiting, as are the multitude of small hikes within the parks.

Routes through Revelstoke
Kamloops ← Sicamous ←  W  E  → Glacier NP → Banff
END ← Mica Creek ←  N  S  → ferry → Nakusp → Nelson via


This city travel guide to Revelstoke is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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