Top Reasons to Visit
Why Revelstoke?
Small town solitude meets big mountain adventure.
The only interior coastal rainforest in the world
Revelstoke is home to the only inland temperate rainforest in the world: a rich ecosystem of cedar, hemlock, and spruce that hosts a great variety of flora and fauna. This unique forest is created by moist Westerly air flows from the Pacific Ocean rising over the Columbia Mountains. As this moist air climbs, it cools and produces incredible amounts of rain and snow. Sizeable Spring snowmelt followed by plentiful growing-season rainfall makes this area the perfect lush forest environment. This is the only place in the world where a temperate rainforest exists so far from an ocean coastline.
Rainforest, meet continental climate
While this phenomenon creates beautiful, lush, and grounding forests, it also lends itself to world-class adventure. The combination of cold continental winter temperatures with humid air flows sweeping Revelstoke from the BC coast brings an abundance of dry, fluffy powder. The good stuff, consistently.
Fluffy powder, meet world-class peak
So nature has set the stage for awe-inspiring powder, but what is it falling on? The Monashee and Selkirk mountains, that’s what. Wild and magnificent, these ranges offer lifetimes of exploration, year-round fun, tremendous terrain, astonishing alpine, and absorbing aesthetics.
These peaks are the cornerstone that make Revelstoke a sightseeing, mountain biking, hiking, ski, snowboard, sled, and snowshoe mecca.
Proud peak, meet river valley
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. It’s 2,000 kilometre journey flows from BC’s rocky mountains down to the sea at Astoria, Oregon. The drainage basin is about the size of France, spanning across BC and seven U.S. states! This grand river has provided major transportation and food sources for thousands of years. The Illecillewaet River makes up one portion, flowing approximately 62 kilometres to the southwest into the North end of Upper Arrow Lake. This meandering river valley makes for stunning birds-eye views from Revelstoke Mountain Resort and many trails in town. Stand-up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are activities enjoyed along the various portions. Highway North, stretching 150km from Revelstoke to the Mica Dam, allows for recreation along the Lake Revelstoke portion of the Columbia River.
River valley, meet sunshine
Revelstoke’s close proximity to the Okanagan and just-wide-enough-valley allows for regular sunshine, mountain views, sun tans, and garden-fresh food, too.
National Park Gateway
Revelstoke is a gateway to Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park, where you’ll find a stunning expanse of beauty and recreation opportunities galore.
Rich History
The history of the Revelstoke region began long before this town was named. Archaeologists have found evidence of human foraging in the upper Columbia River dating back more than 6,000 years. Spruce Tip Lodge gratefully operates on the traditional lands of the Sinixt, the Ktunaxa, the Secwepemc, and the Syilx.
Today, Revelstoke is a charming ski town commonly used as a film set for holiday movies. It has forest and railway roots, once known as a railway epicenter that connected steamboat traffic from the south with the Canadian Pacific Railway. Revelstoke, historically referred to as “the capital of the Canadian Alps”, has long been a destination for mountaineers, hikers, and explorers. Scandinavian immigrants introduced ski jumping in 1915, establishing the first ski-jump in North America (find it at Revelstoke National Park). Revelstoke Ski Club is the oldest ski club in BC, and the first ski hill appeared on Mt. Mackenzie in the 1960’s! Retaining many heritage homes and business buildings, the downtown area is an eclectic mix of young families, new businesses, and enduring history.
Location, location, location
Revelstoke is just a two hour drive from Kelowna International Airport, with daily service with Air Canada to YVR and YYZ.
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