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Welcome to this article about 12 things to do and see in Revelstoke, Canada.

Through our own 21-day travel experience in the Canadian Rockies , we tell you what you can do and see in Mount Revelstoke National Park and the surroundings of Revelstoke village.

This was our fifth Rocky Mountain National Park visited, after Yoho National Park , Banff National Park and Glacier National Park and before embarking on our visit to Kootenay National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.

Within the province of British Columbia in Canada we find Mount Revelstoke National Park, one of the 7 national parks that make up the Canadian Rockies and one of the ones that was our biggest pleasant surprise.

The route we recommend for visiting Mount Revelstoke National Park in Canada is to stay in Revelstoke village for about 3-4 days and from this base visit the two westernmost National Parks in the Canadian Rockies: Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park.

The visit to Mount Revelstoke National Park that we would recommend involves dedicating at least one full day to the park itself and another day to exploring Revelstoke Village and its surroundings. It's an area with so much to see and do in Canada.

Tips before visiting Mount Revelstoke National Park and Revelstoke village

Having completed the tasks of obtaining the eTA visa on the official Canadian government website, purchasing the required travel insurance, checking the validity of our passport , buying the necessary plug adapter , purchasing a SIM card for mobile internet in Canada , booking tours and activities , and packing our bags with the essentials, leaving the unnecessary items at home, we can now depart for Canada and its breathtaking landscapes!

About us

How to get to Revelstoke BC Canada

On our trip, we arrived in Canada at Calgary Airport. From Calgary, it's a 3,5-hour drive along the Trans-Canada Highway , which crosses through Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park.

Actually Calgary, if you are going to visit the Canadian Rockies, is the best airport to enter Canada, the closest without a doubt.

Furthermore, the best way to get from Calgary to Revelstoke is by private vehicle, which will give you the flexibility to get around afterwards, as there is no shuttle bus system or public transportation in this less-crowded natural park in the Rockies.

Where to stay in Mount Revelstoke National Park 

The best place to stay near Mount Revelstoke National Park is in one of the 40 accommodations in Revelstoke town or in one of the 66 accommodations in the town of Golden , just 1 hour away from Mount Revelstoke and also Glacier National Park.

Revelstoke campgrounds

Finally, I want to mention that if you're looking to camp in a motorhome or campervan, there's one public campground in Mount Revelstoke National Park that you can reserve if you're traveling through the Canadian Rockies in a motorhome or campervan. There are also many private campgrounds in the town of Revelstoke. Additionally, if you're camping in a tent, there are a couple more options available. On the other hand, if, like us, the public campground is full when you check availability, you'll find a couple of private campgrounds in Revelstoke town.

Revelstoke BC and Mount Revelstoke National Park Tour

To visit Mount Revelstoke National Park, I advise you to set aside 2 days , especially if you are visiting with family and children.

This National Park is ideal for enjoying with the family, not only for its nature and easy trails, but also for its super fun activities and visits . We spent two days there and we didn't have enough time, just so you know.

Based on our experience, here is our suggested route to visit Mount Revelstoke National Park:

Day 1: The heart of Mount Revelstoke National Park and Revelstoke village

In the morning, I recommend driving early to the top of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway and parking at Balsam Lake . From there, enjoy the views and have breakfast at Balsam Lake, where there are picnic tables. Afterward, hike up Route 13 to the Upper Summit (2 km round trip). If your children are very young and it's peak season, you can also take the shuttle bus.

Once you reach the top, visit the old fire lookout tower (Route 14) and then take these three super short but beautiful trails: Trail 15, the Koo Koo Sint Trail, is a 1-kilometer loop with great views of the Columbia River, where you'll learn about the history and discoveries of explorer David Thompson. Trail 16 follows the shore of Heather Lake, a 400-meter loop along the lake's edge. And finally, Trail 17, the First Footsteps Trail, is a short and easy 750-meter loop where you'll walk past information panels and sculptures depicting the stories of the original tribes of this area, the First Nations: the Secwepemc, Ktunaxa, and Syilx/Okanaga.

After the short walks and eating a picnic in the area, we will go down to get the car again and go to Revelstoke village. 

Our first suggestion is to visit the Revelstoke Railway Museum, which closes at 17 pm. If it's hot, the next best thing to do is visit the Revelstoke Aquatic Centre , which closes at 19 pm.

Finally, tonight for dinner we'll go for a walk through the town center, Downtown. From Grizzly Plaza we'll stroll towards its shops and restaurants, also seeing the famous grizzly bear statue in the plaza and, with luck, maybe catching a market or concert.

Day 2: Revelstoke surroundings

Today our day will begin by visiting the Enchanted Forest , a magical forest with an adventure park next door.

Then a swim at Three Valley Lake beach if it's hot, and we'll end the morning at the Three Valley Ghost Town.

After lunch, it's time for some excitement. We'll go down the Pipe Coaster at Revelstoke Mountain Resort , a legendary ski resort in the area.

To end the day, we'll relax at the Canyon Hot Springs Resort , where we can have dinner and even stay overnight. Before that, along the way, we'll enjoy two short 1-km trails on wooden boardwalks: the Skunk Cabbage Trail , where we'll see skunk cabbage, and the Giant Cedars Trail , winding through towering cedar trees.

So far, an ideal route through this beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park in Canada. Below I will give you more details on all the plans.

What to do and see in Revelstoke and Mount Revelstoke National Park

Below, through our own experience over two days in this national park and its surroundings, we are going to show you those places that we believe are worth a visit on your trip to Mount Revelstoke National Park and Revelstoke village.

To try and help you as much as possible, I'm going to list the places to see in Mount Revelstoke National Park in order of visit , just as we would plan our route through Revelstoke today after our experience.

In addition, we'll provide you with parking coordinates and other locations to make your route easier, as well as Wikiloc tracks for the hiking trails.

We hope to help you, then in the comments we await your opinion, remember.

Giant Cedars Border Walk Trail

Near Trans-Canada Highway 1, which crosses this National Park, we found a stopover parking lot where there is a walk of less than 1 km through a magical forest of giant cedars and wooden walkways.

The walk is not easy to get lost, it is a circular path marked on wooden walkways for the most part.

An absolutely necessary stop at the entrance to Revelstoke National Park leaving Glacier National Park of Canada.

Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk

A riverside area with a 1,2 km trail where you can observe all the flora and fauna of this part of the river. Parking for this trail is located on the same road as the previous one and is ample.

The translation of this trail is " skunk cabbage walk," or it's also called "stinky cabbage" in Spanish, undoubtedly due to its smell. Skunk cabbage is a plant that grows in wetlands and is native to Canada and the United States.

In Europe it is declared an invasive species and is a danger, as it exterminates our vegetation. A plant used medicinally for respiratory diseases, rheumatism and nervous disorders, which crosses, is toxic (its root) and burns the mouth (leaves), so it must be dried and then used in soups and stews.

It is a marked, circular, easy and short trail alongside a beautiful stream, surrounded by the Illecillewaet River .

In addition, here you will find an area with picnic tables and public toilets.

Revelstoke Village Downtown

The main town of Mount Revelstoke National Park is Revelstoke Village. It boasts a vibrant historic center, full of life, art galleries, shops, and services . Revelstoke is well worth exploring, with its colorful wooden houses.

To visit, head into the center of Revelstoke from its famous Grizzly Plaza , with its grizzly bear statue and large, shady trees. During the summer, you can also catch one of the free concerts held almost daily at 19 pm in the plaza, or browse one of the markets.

Revelstoke Village Railway Museum

Located next to the center of Revelstoke town, with its own parking lot , we find this museum. The Revelstoke Railway Museum, now 30 years old , preserves the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the mountains of western Canada, a great feat of global engineering that transformed Canada into a connected nation.

The museum features everything from old trains and tracks to educational exhibits about railroad construction, as well as virtual tours and a simulator (for a fee).

Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 17 p.m. and admission is $14 for adults and $4 for children.

Revelstoke Aquatic Centre

If it's a really hot day during your visit and you want to cool off, Revelstoke has a fantastic water park , perfect if you're traveling with children. Besides swimming pools, it has a climbing wall, a water slide, a water play area, and a lazy river—enough to keep any child happy!

Many accommodations in Revelstoke include pool passes , so check with your accommodation to get free pool entry; in our case, our campsite included it.

It's usually open until 19 pm. Location here.

Meadows in the Sky Parkway to Balsam Lake, within Mount Revelstoke National Park

This 26-kilometer scenic road is one of the main attractions of this Canadian national park. It climbs to the summit of Mount Revelstoke and offers several viewpoints with panoramic views of the mountain and the surrounding mountains teeming with wildlife.

An impressive road that you can drive up near Revelstoke town and which will take you to the top with a large parking area near Balsam Lake.

When you go up, apart from the incredible views, you will find Balsam Lake, a beautiful viewpoint and many different trails.

Balsam Lake has a circular trail around it that's only 500 meters round trip . Nearby is also the Eagle Knoll Trail to another lake a little further from Balsam, but also a very easy 1 km round trip.

Climb Mount Revelstoke Upper Summit, visit Fire Lookout and other mountain trails in Mount Revelstoke National Park

At the very top of the Sky Parkway, which we mentioned earlier, you'll find Trail 13 , the Upper Summit Trail, near the parking area. This 2 km (round trip) trail takes you to the upper slopes of the mountain, to the summit of Mount Revelstoke, where most of the long-distance trails and several short interpretive trails begin. These are all some of the most beautiful trails in Revelstoke National Park. In general, be aware of bears. It's an area with a large bear population.

Previously, you could take a shuttle bus up to Upper Summit from the Balsam Lake parking lot, but now only the bus stop remains, and they only allow properly identified disabled people to go up the road.

Once at Upper Summit, the Fire Lookout Trail , Trail 14, begins. This 500-meter (round trip) trail leads to an old fire lookout tower , which offers one of the best views of the surrounding mountains and the Columbia River Valley.

Also from the Upper Summit we can access 3 shorter and easier interpretive trails:

• The path number 15, the Koo Koo Sint, makes a circular turn of 1 km with good views over the Columbia River through which the history and discoveries of the explorer are discovered David Thompson.
• The path number 16 is the one that goes along the shore of the Heather Lake. A 400-metre circular route along the lake shore.
• Finally, we found the path number 17, the First Footstemps Trail. A 750-metre circular route cuts and easy that meanders through subalpine meadows and panoramic viewpoints. Here you will walk among information panels and sculptures of the stories of the original tribes of this area, the so-called First Nations, the Secwepemc, Ktunaxa and the Syilx / Okanagan.

Eva Lake

Lake Eva is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in this national park. It can be reached via a moderately difficult 14 km round-trip hike along a scenic mountain trail that starts from Upper Summit.

This route can take 5 to 7 hours and crosses beautiful alpine meadows. It's an ideal route for those who want a half-day or full-day hike.

Record-breaking bike park and ski jump

Coming down from Meadows in the Sky, just past the campsite, you'll find a parking area with a really cool bike park . If you're traveling with children, they'll love it.

From there you can also do a geocaching session and go up to the ski jump slope where a world record was broken. The climb to the top is steep until the jump point, where there is a photocall to take a photo as if you were skiing.

The Pipe Mountain Coaster and Revelstoke Mountain Resort Activities

If you want to enjoy a day out like a kid, this is one of the plans you can't miss. At Revelstoke Mountain Resort, you'll find an aerial adventure park during the summer months, axe-throwing games, a frisbee golf course, and the famous Pipe Mountain Coaster—a super-fun toboggan run on rails.

You can access all activities with a Play All Day Pass or purchase the pass for each one separately.

Parking location.

The ghost town of Three Valley Lake

At kilometer 19 of the Trans Canada Highway, we can park here and visit this castle and ghost town.

The Three Valley Lake Chateau & Ghost Town is actually a hotel-resort overlooking the beautiful Three Valley Lake and the Monashee Mountains. It offers a unique combination of resort amenities and historical attractions with its ghost town.

Even if you don't stay at the hotel complex, you can still take a tour of its historic ghost town, with 25 historic buildings from the late 19th century , a vintage car museum, and an old railway space.

Admission to the ghost town is $16 per adult and $8 per child and is open from 9 a.m. until sunset, there is no fixed schedule.

Beach at Three Valley Lake and viewing platform 

Next to the Trans Canada Highway we find another idyllic stop, especially if it is very hot and you fancy a swim.

In this parking lot you can access Rutherford Beach , Three Valley Lake, have restrooms and a good rest area.

However, if it's not hot enough to want to stop at a beach, not far away in this other parking lot you can walk 5 minutes to a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Three Valley Lake.

The Enchanted Forest 

Step back in time in the Enchanted Forest and enter another world, where enchantment is everywhere and dreams come true in a magical forest.

The Enchanted Forest and SkyTrek Adventure Park are “twin” attractions located 32 miles west of Revelstoke, where you can discover the magic of an ancient enchanted forest through 350 hand-crafted fairytale figures and structures.

Here you can climb the tallest and most magnificent tree house in Canada and a giant house made from a cedar stump, a castle and a dragon's nest.

Swimming in hot springs at Albert Canyon Hot Springs

Leaving Mount Revelstoke National Park in Canada, we find some hot springs within a complex where you can camp or rent a cabin, which is ideal for ending a day of hiking through Glacier National Park in Canada.

It's called Albert Canyon Hot Springs , and located here you'll find an ideal place to stay overnight next to some ideal hot springs after the hikes you've decided to do through Canada's Glacier National Park.

Map Mount Revelstoke National Park and Revelstoke what to see

Below is the map we made with everything to see in Mount Revelstoke Nature Park and what to see in Revelstoke town and surrounding areas. I hope you find it useful.

Conclusions about Mount Revelstoke National Park

In fact, this National Park and its surroundings are the place where we have found the most leisure and entertainment activities for our children in Canada.

Not only did we find brutal nature inside the National Park, but we were also able to enjoy very magical visits and precious moments outside the Park.

We definitely recommend 1000% visiting this corner of Canada , one of our favorites of our entire trip due to the variety of sights and activities.

Have a nice trip, family!