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Revelstoke - city in British Columbia, Canada

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

Understand

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

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

By plane

By bus

Get around

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

By public transit

By taxi

See

Revelstoke Railway Museum

  • Revelstoke Museum & Archives, 315 First St W, 51.00027°, -118.19793°, +1 250-837-3067. Mon-Sat 10 AM-5 PM, closed Sun. A museum that has exhibits featuring Revelstoke and the surrounding area. 2023-03-24
  • Revelstoke Railway Museum, 719 Track St W (near Victoria Rd & Long Ave), 51.004042°, -118.200436°, +1 250 837 6060, railway@telus.net. May-Sep: 9AM-5PM daily; Oct-Apr: W-Sa noon-5PM. Contains exhibits on the building of the railway, the workers involved and current operations. 2023-03-22
  • The Last Spike, Trans-Canada Highway, Craigellachie (45 km 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. 2019-06-10
  • The Enchanted Forest, 50.971969°, -118.565363°, +1 250-837-9477, info@enchantedforestbc.com. 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. 2019-06-09
  • Three Valley Gap (3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town), +1 250-837-2109, hello@3valley.com. 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. 2019-06-09
  • Revelstoke Dam, 51.04°, -118.2086°, +1 250 814 6697, revelstoke@bchydro.com. 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 will remained closed for the remainder of 2021 due to COVID-19. No tours will be conducted and the building will be closed. Adult $8, child $7 2021-08-10

Do

Revelstoke Mountain Resort

  • 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), 50.95834°, -118.16370°, +1 250-814-0087. 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 2016-02-12
    • 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.
  • Mount Revelstoke National Park, 51.0121°, -118.1921°. 2022-06-09
  • 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

Revelstoke downtown

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Hotels & motels

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.

Revelstoke

revelstoke.ca
Postal code:V0EDate Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/VancouverPopulation:7,547Coordinates:51.00, -118.20

Columbia-Shuswap Regional District

2nd-order administrative division

British Columbia

Primary administrative division

Canada

canada.ca
Population:37.1 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (CAD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50