Trails Castlegar Area

Natural Trails of the Castlegar Area

Kootenay River Trails 1, 2, 3

A number of trails in the Kootenay River Valley have been developed recently by the Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails especially Walter Volovsek.
Access is from the parking lot by the Brilliant Substation. To get to the parking lot drive up the road to the Castlegar Golf Course and turn right 1 km before reaching the golf course along the grave road marked Skattebo Reach Trail. The road forks after 2 kIn. Keep to the left and follow the signs for another 2 kIn to the parking lot

Skattebo Reach (SR) 1

A fairly long,12 km one way, sometimes rocky trail that follows the Kootenay River to Glade. Bridges over rushing creeks and the cool forest make this a delight even on a very hot day.
Access is from the Brilliant Substation parking lot or you may like to start in Glade at the south end of Glade by the bridge across Glade Creek.

Brilliant Overlook (BO) 2

A pleasant climb of 350 metres up the back of the bluff, on the east side of the Kootenay River, which overlooks the Brilliant Dam. Handrails and other aids make the climbing easier. The view of the two river valleys from the top is incredible.
Access is from the Brilliant Substation parking lot. Follow the Skattebo Reach Trail for a kilometer then turn right and begin the climb to the top. An alternate to reach the top of this bluff, known as Mount Elsdon, is to follow the directions for the Brilliant Substation parking lot but to keep to the right at the 2 kIn fork and follow the road for another 4 kIn to a parking lot on the left. The trail starts here. Follow the signs (BO) and after 2 kIn you should reach the junction with the Brilliant Overlook Trail. Turn left and it is 10 minutes to the summit. This is an easier approach but lacks the thrills of the other trail. There is no water available on these trails so bring your own.

Doukhobor Waterline 3

A walk through history following the Doukhobor water line which was used to irrigate the orchards in Brilliant. Please protect the remains of the waterline; it is an historic treasure. The return trip is 15 km and the further you go the rougher it gets so wear good shoes or boots.
Access is from the Brilliant Substation parking lot. Follow the Skattebo Reach Trail for 2.5 km to a marked and flagged junction on the right. Follow this trail, keeping to the right at the junction with , the McPhee Canyon Trail. The Doukhobor Waterline Trail travels above Big McPhee Creek before dropping down to the Creek where there are the remains of a concrete dam.

Dove Hill and Elk Cut Off 4

Two fairly short hikes which include some uphill with good views of Castle gar. The Dove Hill Trail is 1.5 km to the view point or 4 km to the Brilliant Substation parking lot. Elk Cut Off is a little shorter at 3 km to the parking lot. Combining hikes on these two trails presents a number of possibilities.
Access is via the Castlegar Golf Course road; turn ~ left onto a dirt road at the Dove Hill Trail sign, 1/2 kilometer before the club house, and park. Hike down the dirt road 1/2 kilometer to the fIrst turnoff on the right. Follow this trail to the top of Dove Hill. To reach the Elk Cut Off Trail go past the Dove Hill turnoff and follow the dirt road for another kilometer to the transmitter towers and turn right onto the Elk Cut Off Trail. There is no water on these hikes so bring your own.

Selkirk College Trails 5

A variety of trails which includes walks along the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers. Distances vary from 5 km to 9 km of easy walking or running.
Access is on the west side of Selkirk College at the north end of the parking lot or from the top of the hill by the Doukhobor Museum.

Waldie Island 6

WALDIE ISLAND HERON RESERVE

Waldie Island, the adjacent waterways and shoreline have been identified as sensitive wildlife areas, which are critical to the preservation of the local population of the Great Blue Heron, as well as other wildlife species. The island itself is of special importance as a winter refuge for the herons and as a summer nesting area. Waldie Island is owned by The Nature Trust of B.C. The island and the adjacent Waldie Wetland are managed by the Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails; the West Kootenay Naturalists Association; and the Ministry of Water, Land, & Air Protection for the preservation of the wildlife values. For this reason, access to Waldie Island is prohibited and users of Waldie Island Trail are requested to stay on the trail and to keep dogs on leash.
The Waldie Island Trail was made possible by the involvement of volunteers, local businesses, local government, and other organizations. Project development and construction by the Castlegar Friends of Parks and Trails: Walter Volovsek, Project Coordinator, who also developed the interpretive panels. Additional information on each theme covered by the panels is available on our website: www.friendsoftrails.org

Self Guided Tour

No. 1 "A Railroad From Nowhere to Nowhere": a summary of early railroad development in this area.

No. 2 "Whispers in the Wind": history of early exploration along the Columbia River.

No. 3 The cement foundation in front of you is one of the few remnants of the Waldie Sawmill. Here was located the repair shop. You can still see the grease pit in the downstream end of the shop floor.

No. 4 "Steamships on the Columbia": the steamboat era is explored.

No. 5 You are looking at the remains of a grader from the Waldie Sawmill. This machine was not self-propelled; instead it was pulled by a tractor or even a team of horses.

No. 6 In the river channel you can see Breakwater Island: its upstream end was reinforced with log cribbing to which booms were secured so that logs were guided through the chute into the Mill Pond.

No. 7 "Growth of Local Industry": this sign examines the development and operation of the Waldie Sawmill.

No. 8 The pilings in the water are remnants of the "jack-ladder". This was a chain ramp by which logs were hauled from the Mill Pond into the sawmill.

No. 9 "Nature Takes Over": this sign examines the web of life that evolves on the site after mill operations ceased in 1961.

No. 10 At this point, the lowest trail runs through the "cottonwood jungle", a rather impenetrable forest whose dominant trees are cottonwoods. In the past, numerous trees were felled by beavers. Severe windstorms have also brought down several trees; especially vulnerable are those trees that are poorly anchored in the saturated soil. The remains of these trees form a trellis over which shrubs and vines have established themselves (red osier, dogwood, blackberry, wild rose, wild hop and nightshade). Other more robust shrubs (hawthorn and willow) project through this matted vegetation.

No. 11 A boardwalk has been constructed here along the lowest portions of this trail. A bridge spans the 200 metre long channel which beavers have constructed to link the main channel of the river with their lodge near the railway embankment. No. 12 The boardwalk emerges onto a grassy meadow, which is well sheltered by clumps of brush. Deer and elk favour this area as it provides choice food as well as shelter.

No. 13 The trail now crosses the 30 metre long footbridge, which was designed to accommodate varying water levels. After crossing the bridge, you can turn left to complete a loop walk or turn right and follow the trail towards Brilliant. From this stop you can study the diverse bird life in the vicinity of Waldie Island. A prominent feature at the right time of the year is a flock of Great Blue Herons, which can be seen fishing along the shores of Waldie and Breakwater Islands.

No. 14 A short distance below the trail marker you can see the remains of a narrow trail that has been overgrown. This may be a section of the old pack-train route from the Sproat’s Landing steamer dock to the Silver King Mine, used in the late 1880’s.

No. 15 "Pioneers": a comparison of the food gathering practices of the two main First Nations that frequented the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.

No. 16 To be developed

No. 17 "Sproat's Landing": a summary of historical sites in the area between the CPR bridge and the Kootenay River.

No. 18 Along the return loop trail you can admire the complexities of the seasonal marsh, which is formed here by a backwater channel of the main river. Amphibians (frogs and salamanders), reptiles (turtles and snakes), and birds are highly dependent on this habitat. You can also observe evidence of beaver activity (cut shrubs, entrances to dens).

No. 19 Here you can see the old lodge at the end of the beaver channel. Since the Keenlyside Dam began operating, the extreme fluctuations in water level have taught the beavers to burrow directly into the riverbanks, rather than to construct such elaborate lodges. A more recent lodge is located in the swampy area below the trail.

Millenium Walkway and Zuckerberg Island 7

The Millenium Walkway is a 1.8 kIn paved, handicapped accessible, riverside walk. There are benches, interpretive signs on the history of the area and the Columbia River, lights, and a foot bridge. Add another five minutes to your walk on a dirt path and you will arrive at Zuckerberg's Island which has a great selection of trails.
Access to the Millenium Walkway is east from downtown Castlegar on 3rd street and 5th street. Access to Zuckerberg Island is east on 8th street.

Merry Creek Trail 8

A pleasant 5 kilometer walk through a dense forest followed by a climb to a fine view of Castlegar and the Columbia Valley.
Access is from Highway-3 west from Castlegar. Turn right 1/2 kilometer past the Timberlane Motel and drive 2 km on a gravel road to the parking lot on your right.

Syringa Park Trails 9

Ward's Ferry 10

An 8 kilometer riverside trail following the Kootenay River from Glade north to Rover Creek Road across the river from South Slocan. Some challenging sections so wear good shoes.
Access is from the north side of Glade. Glade is on the east side of the Kootenay River and is serviced by a ferry. From the ferry landing take the first road, Glade Road, to the left. Drive 2 km to where the road turns into Denisoff Road. Continue straight ahead onto a rough dirt road for another kilometer keeping to the left. Access from South Slocan is by the bridge across the Kootenay River and up Rover Creek Road 1.7 km.

Columbia Trail 11

A trail connecting Castlegar to Trail on the east side of the Columbia River. From the end of Waterloo Road in Ootischenia, near Castlegar, to the water tower in Sunningdale in Trail is 25 kIn one way. From the gate across the road before the Champion Creek Village site to the water tower is 20 kIn. The gate is to keep out motorized vehicles.
Access from Trail starts at the Sunningdale water tower. Hike north down a rough dirt road keeping to the right at and staying on the most travelled road. The road develops into a trail and continues to Castlegar following the river quite closely. Once you reach the gate north of the Champion Creek Village site you may end your journey there or continue on to the Waterloo Road area via a trail on the left at a gravel pit at the beginning of the pavement on Columbia Road.
Access from Castlegar starts at the end of the pavement on Waterloo Road in lower Ootischenia and continues along a sandy road beside the river before turning left up a hill to meet the Columbia Road at the end of the pavement. Bicyclists might prefer to start on the Columbia Road which runs past the dump and which merges with the trail from Waterloo Road before going down the hill to the gate mentioned above. At the fork 2 km past the gate take the trail to your left.

Mel Deanna 12

A level shaded walk to the Champion Ponds and then around them and back again. Five kilometers takes you through a variety of vegetation and terrain.
Access is from the viewpoint 5 kIn east of Castlegar on Highway 3, to the top on the knoll and then through a gate in the fence.