Road map Castlegar and Kootenays surrounding area (BC, Canada)

Dramatic glacier-draped mountains, rivers that turn back on  themselves, a necklace of elongated lakes linked by free ferries and  circular driving routes, plus a rich history forged by miners and  Russian immigrants, make this quiet, unspoiled section of southeastern  British Columbia a picture-perfect driving holiday. Two-lane  rollercoaster winding roads hug narrow lakes nestled in the mountains,  so take your time and enjoy the view.     

Ainsworth Hot Springs [B7] Relax in waist-deep invigorating  waters that are said to have the highest mineral content of any hot  springs in Canada. Mineralized, odorless water falls from a natural  cave's horse-hoe-shaped roof providing a natural steam bath.     

Castlegar [D5] At the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia  rivers, Castlegar is considered the "Crossroads of the Kootenays." The  town began in 1902 when the CPR built a railway bridge across the  Columbia River. More bridges were built by the Doukhobors, a Russian  pacifist sect. The Doukhobor Heritage Museum offers a fascinating  glimpse into their history, arts and crafts, religion, and culture in a  reconstruction of an early communal village. A walk across the 145 m  wooden suspension bridge to Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park affords such  sights as the Russian Chapel House with its intriguing onion dome.     

Heritage Streetcar No. 23, Nelson Kaslo [A7] Kaslo began as a  lumber mill site in 1888. In the 1890s it survived fire, hurricanes,  floods, and a silver-mining boom and bust. Called the "Switzerland of  the Americas," its magnificent location is the drawing card for tourists  today. The SS Moyie, a beautifully restored and retired CPR  stern-wheeler, is now a national historic site. It is believed to be the  oldest stern-wheeler of its kind in the world.     

Nelson [C6] This former iron- and silver-mining boomtown is  nestled on a forested hillside overlooking the western arm of Kootenay  Lake. The legacy of 1880s and 1890s boomtown days lives on in the  beautifully preserved Victorian-era buildings-more than 350—that have  been designated as heritage sites. The stone courthouse and city hall,  designed by Francis Rattenbury, famed architect of the Parliament  Buildings and Victoria's Empress Hotel, is particularly impressive.  Nelson has been named one of the 100 Best Small Arts Towns in America,  and it is said there are more craftspeople per capita here than in any  other city in Canada!     

Rossland [E5] In 1890 gold was discovered on Red Mountain; 10  years later Rossland was producing 50 percent of the province's gold.  Nowadays you can try your hand at panning for gold at Le Roi Gold Mine  on the grounds of the Rossland Historical Museum, the only hard-rock  gold mine in Canada open to the public. In summer, Gold Fever Follies is  performed at the restored Rossland Miners Union Hall recreating the  town's history. With 200 km of trails, Rossland is fast gaining a  reputation as "The Mountain Bike Capital of Canada."     

Trail [E5] The local Cominco lead-zinc smelter, one of the  largest in the world, illustrates the history of smelting operations at  the Cominco Interpretive Centre through videos and computer displays.  This is also the starting point for a guided tour of the smelter. A  third of Trail's residents are Italian or descended from Italian  immigrants, who pioneered the mines and smelters. North America's only  Italian archives are housed at the Cristoforo Colombo Lodge.     

ATTRACTIONS

AINSWORTH HOT SPRINGS

Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort

CASTLEGAR

Brilliant Suspension Bridge National

Historic Site Castlegar Railway Station Museum

Doukhobor Heritage Museum Hugh Keenleyside Dam Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park

KASLO

Kaslo Mining Museum Langham Cultural Centre

Mirror Lake Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park SS Moyie

NELSON

Chamber of Mines of Eastern British Columbia Nelson Museum

Art Walk Capitol Theatre Streetcar No. 23

ROSSLAND

Nancy Greene Park

Rossland Historical Museum

Le Roi Mine Western Canada Ski Hall of Fame Rossland Miners Union Hall Heritage Walking Tour

TRAIL

Cominco Interpretive Centre Cominco Tours West Trail Cristoforo Colombo Lodge