Rossland - city in British Columbia, Canada

Rossland is a small mountain city in Southern British Columbia, Canada. Rossland was built in the 1890s as a gold mining town, and has become a lovely city of 3,700 people (2016). Rossland sits inside the crater of a dormant volcano in the Kootenay Range. It has become well-known for its excellent ski and mountain bike trails.

Understand

Rossland was named by a miner, Ross Thompson, who staked a claim in 1890. He had tried to call the city Thompson, but he was advised that there was already a town with that name.

Get in

By plane

Rossland does not have its own airport, however there are a few regional airports nearby that offer relatively easy access to Rossland either by road or by shuttle.

• West Kootenay Regional Airport is owned and operated by the city of Castlegar. Castlegar Municipal Airport is 36 km from Rossland and offers regular service from Vancouver and Calgary.
• Kelowna International Airport is the largest Canadian airport that has access to shuttle service to Rossland.
• Spokane International Airport is the closest and only airport in the USA which has access to shuttle service to Rossland.
• Trail Regional Airport is just south of Trail and is the closest airport to Rossland. Allowing easy access to local public transit Trail Regional Airport is one of the best options for travellers looking to reach Rossland on a budget. The airport offers direct service from Vancouver.

Airport shuttle

• Red Mountain Express Shuttle. In the winter, on behalf of Red Mountain Resorts, Adrenaline Adventures operates a shuttle from all four of the above airports, however they operate on a reservation-only basis.

Get around

Rossland is a small enough place that everything can easily be reached by foot, however be prepared to deal with some steep hills. Alternatively, traffic is light enough that driving throughout the town is quite painless. Keep an eye open, however, as the locals jaywalk quite frequently. Watch out for rogue mountain bikes as well.

By public transit

BC Transit (West Kootenay Transit System). Offers bus routes in the region, including Monday to Saturday service connecting Balfour, Castlegar, Fruitvale, Nelson, Rossland, Slocan City, and Trail. Route 46 travels between Rossland and Trail (24-27 minutes). 2022-03-27

By taxi

• Cedar Taxi, +1 250-521-0511. 2022-07-28

See

Rossland Mining Museum & Gold Mine Tour artifacts and photos from historic Rossland and an underground tour of the old Le Roi Gold Mine that last operated in 1929. A British Columbia Information Centre is also here. Mine tours run from May to August. The museum has winter hours. There is also a "Ski Wing" at the museum. See their website for details.

There are a number of fine old historic buildings in Rossland including the Old Firehall, the old Bank of Montreal building, the Rossland Post Office, the Miners' Hall and the Court House. The Court House was designated a Canadian National Historic Site in 1980. Have a look at these buildings during your walk around town. A Walking Tour brochure is available from the Visitor Centre. Back in 1897, there were 4 banks, 42 saloons, a couple of newspapers and a population of 7000, during the height of the mining activity in the area.

Do

If it's not skiing season, then it's biking season in Rossland.

• Mountain biking - The usual bikers' endearments apply here - sweet, gnarly, rad.... There are lots of trails suitable for biking, far too many to mention here. All-day bike shuttles are available for a modest cost from Adrenalin Adventures. To learn about the opportunities for biking, get a trail map at Revolution Cycle 2044 Columbia Ave (+1 250-362-5688) (talk to Tyler). The Seven Summits Trail is an IMBA "epic trail". More information is available from Kootenay Columbia Trails Society
• Cross Country Skiing. At Nancy Green Lake (Nancy Green Provincial Park) and the neighbouring Blueberry-Paulson summit area, about 25 km from Rossland near the junction of Hwy 3 and 3b.
• Downhill skiing, 49.1023°, -117.8194°. At Red Mountain Resort. On a powder day, the runs on Red and Granite Mountains will be busy but 4 big lifts plus a T-bar and a Magic Carpet for the kids will keep things moving.

Festivals

• Rossland Mountain Film Festival. A four-day film-festival that focuses on local talent. In mid- November. 2018-06-26
• Rossland Winter Carnival. Advertised as Canada's Oldest Winter Carnival. It's held at the end of January and features (among other activities) bobsled races down the steepest residential streets in town. Some locals start building their sleds in late fall, all in an effort to celebrate life in the crater of an ancient volcano.
• Rossland Old Fire Hall Jazz Festival. At the end of September. The first annual festival was held in 2009.

Buy

Rossland has one of the best local grocery stores around in Ferraro Foods, a book store, some clothing stores, ski stores... with most of the basics the visitor could need.

Eat

• {{buy | name=Idgie's Fine Foods and Misty Mountain Pizza | alt= | url=http://www.idgiesfinefood.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=1999 Second Ave | lat= | long= | directions=near downtown | phone= | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | content=Good food and lots of it - between $20 and $30 for mains. Whole pizzas or by the slice. Misty Mtn is located behind Idgie's. }}
• Village Restaurant, 2032 Columbia (downtown), +1 250 362-3390. Serves Chinese and Western foods.
• Gabriella's Apres Ski Restaurant, a small Italian-style restaurant at Red Mountain Resort (Mountain View Rd).
• The Gypsy at Red also at Red Mountain Resort.
• Grind- Urban Heritage Coffeehouse, +1 250-362-2280. 7:30AM-3PM. Come here for a breakfast or lunch that excels in quality and quantity. Almost no one can finish a meal to themselves- take home half for dinner. A variety of baked goods available. Relaxed atmosphere, great magazine collection.
• Rafters - built of reclaimed timbers from a local mine. A great place for the apres ski crowd. Located on level 3 of the main ski lodge at Red Mountain Resort.
• The Flying Steamshovel, 2003 2 Avenue, +1 250-362-7323. One of Rossland's original landmarks, The Flying Steamshovel is built on the site of the very first helicopter flight in North America. Underneath the bar there is also a cold beer and wine store.
• The Rock Cut is between Rossland and Red Mtn Resort on Hwy 3B. Has a reputation for great wings along with your drinks and can often be open when other establishments are closed.

Drink

• Rossland Beer Company, 1990F Columbia Ave, 49.07733°, -117.80053°, +1-250-362-2122. A local brewery. 2023-03-12

Sleep

• The Lions Campground on Hwy 3b south towards Patterson just out of town. Has 15 to 20 sites in a nice location.
• Angela's B&B, 1520 Spokane St, +1 250-362-7790.
• {{sleep | name=Creekside at Red | alt=88 Creekside | url=http://www.creeksideatred.com (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=Creekside Terrace | lat= | long= | directions=base of Granite Mountain | phone = +1 509-844-2212 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price=$350+ | checkin= | checkout= | content=The Mountain homes at "Creekside at Red" offer Red Mountain/Rossland's finest choice for the adventure-minded visitor. }}
• The Flying Steamshovel, 2003 2 Ave, +1 250-362-7323. $90-110
• Mountain Shadow Hostel, 2125 Columbia Ave (south side of Columbia St towards the east end of downtown), 49.07661°, -117.79785°, +1 250-362-7160, info@mshostel.com. 8AM to 11PM. Located on the main street in downtown Rossland upstairs. Has both private rooms and dorms for a 40 person occupancy. Has kitchen, patio, pay laundary machines, good WiFi, and 5 common areas with TV (satelite & Netflix), pool table, and darts. Dorm $30, single/double room $70 2021-03-05
• Casa Alpina Hotel, Junction of Hwy 22 & 3B (at southwest entrance to Rossland), 49.0774°, -117.8143°. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Quiet hotel rooms in a beautiful surrounding a few kilometres from Red Mountain Resort and downtown Rossland. All rooms, kitchenettes, and suites have cable television, refrigerator and wireless Internet access. Some are equipped with in-room coffee and A/C. Price includes complimentary continental breakfast. $80 avg
• {{sleep | name=Red Mountain Condo | url=http://www.redmountaincondo.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address= | lat= | long= | directions= | phone= | tollfree=+1-888-875-4733 | fax= | hours= | price= | checkin= | checkout= | content=An 1100 sq ft room at the base in Red Resort. It is fully furnished and equipped with beautiful furniture. Sleeps 4 adults and 2 children. }}

Connect

The Rossland Library has Internet access.

Free WiFi is available at Clanceys Coffee Shop (with great baking to go with your surfing).

Go next

• Kootenay Boundary Transit (dead link: January 2023) a regional division of BC Transit runs direct public bus trips from Rossland to Trail. From Trail, Kootenay Boundary Transit offers connections to Castlegar, Genelle, and Sunningdale. A standard adult fare is $2 for all routes except when travelling to Castlegar. To travel to Castlegar the fare is $2.50. Kootenay Boundary Transit Map (dead link: January 2023)