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Revelstoke is a city of 6,700 people (2016) in the Columbia-Rockies section of the Kootenays in British Columbia. Tourism is an important feature of the local economy, with skiing having emerged as the most prominent attraction. Revelstoke is in prime black bear and grizzly bear habitat.

Understand

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Illecillewaet River Bridge

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

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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. 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

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By car

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

By plane

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  • 1 Revelstoke Airport (YRV  IATA). Seasonal charters from Vancouver. Revelstoke Airport (Q3912634) on Wikidata Revelstoke Airport on Wikipedia (updated Mar 2023)
  • The nearest airports with scheduled flights are in Kamloops and Kelowna, and both are roughly 2.5 hours drive away by car.

By bus

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  • Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Multiple days per week service along the Trans-Canada Highway from between Calgary and Vancouver with stops in Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Chase, Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Travel time to Revelstoke from Calgary is 5.5 hours, from Banff is 4 hours, from Lake Louise is 3.25 hours, from Golden is 1.5 hours, from Salmon Arm is 1.5 hours, from Kamloops is 3 hours, from Hope is 6 hours, from Abbotsford is 7 hours, and from Vancouver is 8.25 hours. In Salmon Arm, this service provider offers some trips with timed connections with its route between Salmon Arm and Kelowna. In Calgary, this service provider has routes that reach Edmonton. The service provider also has routes that allow travel as far east as Winnipeg. Rider Express (Q126627111) on Wikidata (updated Mar 2022)

Get around

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The small town size makes walking or biking sufficient for getting around much of the town.

By public transit

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By taxi

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See

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Revelstoke Railway Museum
  • 1 Revelstoke Museum & Archives, 315 First St W, ☏ +1 250-837-3067. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, closed Su. A museum that has exhibits featuring Revelstoke and the surrounding area. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 2 Revelstoke Railway Museum, 719 Track St W (near Victoria Rd & Long Ave), ☏ +1 250-837 6060, toll-free: +1-877-837-6060, . May-Sep: daily 9AM-5PM; Oct-Apr: W-Sa noon-5PM. Contains exhibits on the building of the railway, the workers involved and current operations. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 3 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)
  • 4 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)
  • 5 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)
  • 6 Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre (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, . operates mid-May to September: 10AM-4PM. One of the most powerful hydro dams in BC, standing at 175 m (575 ft) tall. Holding the headwaters to the Columbia River. The Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre offers tours. Adult $8, child or senior $7. Revelstoke Dam (Q1433635) on Wikidata Revelstoke Dam on Wikipedia (updated May 2023)

Do

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Revelstoke Mountain Resort
  • 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. $129 winter, $25 summer. Revelstoke Mountain Resort (Q7317881) on Wikidata Revelstoke Mountain Resort on Wikipedia (updated Feb 2016)
    • The resort shuttle or hitchhiking are two popular alternatives for accessing the resort from town without a car. The resort shuttle ($4 per trip, complimentary if staying at some accommodations) travels between the resort, and Columbia Park, downtown, Southside and Arrow Heights.
  • 2 Mount Revelstoke National Park (Just northwest of the town). Mount Revelstoke National Park (Q862265) on Wikidata Mount Revelstoke National Park on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2022)
  • 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

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Revelstoke downtown
  • 1 Alpine Village Shopping Centre, 555 Victoria Rd, ☏ +1 250-837-2609. The largest mall in town. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 2 Universal Footwear, 7-555 Victoria Rd (within Alpine Village Shopping Centre), ☏ +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. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 3 Style Trend Clothiers, 204 First St W, ☏ +1 250-837-5606. For men's and women's fashion. (updated Mar 2023)

Eat

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Drink

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  • 1 Traverse Nightclub (1st Street west), 310 First St W, ☏ +1 250-837-2227. 6PM-2AM. Traverse Nightclub is an EDM nightclub open in the Winter season. Live DJ's featured almost every weekend throughout the Winter. (updated Mar 2023)
  • 2 The Village Idiot Bar & Grill, 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. (updated Mar 2023)

Sleep

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Hotels & motels

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Camping

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Connect

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Revelstoke has a variety of online community and tourist resources.

Cope

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Go next

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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  → Mount Revelstoke National Park → Banff
END ← Mica Creek ←   N  S  → → 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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