Nestled at the foot of the mountains, Revelstoke (BC) has an excellent location for exploring Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park, skiing, hiking, river rafting, climbing, wildlife viewing, and camping. The area is picturesque, with great opportunities to immerse yourself in the scenic beauty of the rainforest-covered mountainsides and crystal-clear lakes in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the mountain trails in the winter.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Explore Revelstoke and its panoramic views on a British Columbia road trip between Vancouver and Calgary.

On a road trip from Vancouver, Kamloops or Kelowna to Lake Louise, Banff or Calgary, Revelstoke (BC) is a favoured stop along the way. The small mountain-vibe town is popular as the gateway to skiing in winter and is known for its local music festival in summer.

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Revelstoke has its unique landmark in the form of fun bear statues and bear portals set up at the entrance to the town.

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Today, Revelstoke (BC) is a small, charming mountain town on the banks of the Columbia River (and the lakes it flows into around Revelstoke) and at the foot of Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park in British Columbia. It is a convenient stop between Vancouver and Calgary – the perfect little mountain town to soak up the atmosphere for a day or two before continuing your road trip.

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Before a town on the riverbank, the land was originally the homelands of the Sinixt, Secwepemc, Syilx, and Ktunaxa indigenous peoples. Later, it became a logging and mining location during the Gold Rush along the Columbia River (in the 1860s).

Nevertheless, Revelstoke has a fascinating history as it saw the light of day as quite another type of town than it appears today. A few decades after the Gold Rush, a small wild-west town with saloons, brothels, and a general store was established – just as taken out of a western. Today, original buildings, such as the old post office building dating from 1886, still exist!

Revelstoke Museum & Archives (BC), former Revelstoke Post Office & Customs | Photo: Travel In Culture

Revelstoke was founded in the 1880s with the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. However, in the beginning, it was named Farwell after the landowner and surveyor A.S. Farwell.

However, soon thereafter, there was a name change to Revelstoke to honour Lord Revelstoke, who was the head of the English investment bank, Baring Brothers & Co., who, together with Glyn, Mills & Co., saved the Canadian Pacific Railway’s economy by providing the necessary funds.

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Another significant construction work and attraction of Revelstoke is Revelstoke Dam, completed in 1984 on the Columbia River.

Railway industry history combined with tourism can be said to have shaped Revelstoke into the unique destination it has developed into over the years. The first promotion of Revelstoke as a tourist destination was as early as 1912 when it was featured as the ‘Capital of Canada’s Alps’.

Faux-alpine ski lift | Photo: Travel In Culture

In the 1960s and 1970s, attempts were made to re-promote the mountain town with an alpine theme, including faux-alpine symbols.

Orchestra bandshell, Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

Again, in the 1980s, another visitor boost was attempted, this time a heritage approach. The revitalisation project was carried out with the aid of Revelstoke Museum and Archives, who provided historical photographs and descriptions. Original buildings were successfully restored, and Grizzly Plaza was designed as a public gathering space. The decorations included a bandshell, an unprecedented success. Since its opening in 1987, there have been countless performances and events every summer, including recurring music and arts performances.

Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

The heritage buildings around Grizzly Plaza tell each their story of the town, railway, native background, wildlife-rich surroundings, nature, and alpine terrain. In all, close to 60 buildings date back to the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s.

Heritage buildings | Photo: Travel In Culture

The local museum, Revelstoke Museum & Archives, offers Heritage Walking Tours, where visitors can learn about Revelstoke’s cultural past. In 1926, the museum building emerged as Revelstoke Post Office and Customs.

Revelstoke Courthouse | Photo: Travel In Culture

Revelstoke has a population of 8,000, and despite its limited size, the mountain town features a popular summer festival.

Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

Every night during July and August, there are free live music concerts at Grizzly Plaza.

Festival in Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

While socialising and enjoying the good vibes in the plaza, you can listen to a wide repertoire of rock, country, blues, folk music and more. It all takes place around the bandshell, which has become an iconic landmark of Revelstoke.

Food truck at Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

Boutiques, cafés, art galleries of indigenous art and local craft line the surrounding streets, backdropped by the scenic mountains. Food trucks provide a bite to eat whether you are up to Canadian fast food or exotic ethnic dishes.

Grizzly Plaza | Photo: Travel In Culture

At the entrance, Grizzly Plaza has a couple of vigilant bears!

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Grizzly Plaza is guarded by two iconic bronze bear statues created by Bill Cameron and Fran Jenkins. The statues are two out of several, which can be found across Revelstoke.

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The area is fantastic for wildlife viewing. Grizzly bears and black bears inhabit the backcountry mountains, and at times, black bears have been spotted inside Revelstoke searching for food.

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Grizzly bears have become an icon for Revelstoke. The town being inside a bear habitat means that depiction of Grizzly bears is found everywhere – on souvenirs, as welcome statues, in names and logos. Of course, Grizzly Plaza is no exception – the name itself is a draw – and so are the two bear statues at the square entrance.

Canadian Pacific Railway | Photo: Travel In Culture

Since the 1880s, when the Canadian Pacific Railway paved the way for Revelstoke, the railway has always played a significant role here. In the beginning, Revelstoke was important as a focal point for rail traffic since it linked steamboat goods transport to land-based rail transport. Therefore, Revelstoke soon acquired many more facilities than would generally be expected in a town of this size. It even included an Opera House and large department stores.

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Decades later, the Trans-Canada Highway brought further tourism to the area, with skiing and nature experiences being the visitors’ top priorities. The Railway Museum is one of Revelstoke’s major attractions and a must-see for many visitors who come for the music festivals and to discover the cultural heritage of the Canadian mountain town. It is a chance to explore the railway history of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the part Revelstoke had in the railway adventure. The museum is small but makes history come alive.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Besides alpine-meadow hiking past gorgeous lookouts, fishing, mountain biking, paddling, and other summer activities, the small mountain town is also an excellent winter destination with alpine and Nordic skiing, ski jumps, winter farmers market, winter carnival and more, within easy reach from the town centre. Revelstoke Ski Club thrives and is the oldest in British Columbia.

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Revelstoke’s skiing history is comprehensive. In 1915, Revelstoke boasted the first ski jump in North America. This meant that many Norwegian immigrants settled here to practice ski-jumping. Jumping activities, including international competitions, continued until the 1970s – and the historic ski jumping facilities near the town still exist (Nels Nelsen Historic Ski Jump).

Already in the 1960s, a small ski resort opened on Mount MacKenzie. In 2007/2008, it developed into a complete mountain resort with absolutely competitive terrain compared to the other top locations in North America. Today, the location is known as a heli-skiing destination with epic heli-dumps at the most perfect locations.

For more inspiration for what to do in Canada, you may want to read Why is the Gastown Steam Clock so Unique (Vancouver)? and Exploring Calgary

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