Outdoor adventure paradise and funky mountain town vibes make Revelstoke one of the coolest places to visit. As an all season playground, you won’t run out of seriously fun things to do.
Surrounded by national parks and mountain peaks, there’s plenty of adventure to go around for any type of traveler.
Whether you’re spending a weekend in Revelstoke, passing through on a road trip from Calgary to Vancouver, or spending a week in the area, take a peak at the awesome things to do below and plan your itinerary.
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What to do in Revelstoke in Summer
1. Hiking
Hiking trails are abundant in and around Revelstoke, and especially beautiful during alpine wildflower season (late July through August).
For the best wildflower spots, visit Eva Lake Trail, the subalpine meadows throughout Mount Revelstoke National Park and after riding the Gondola up to Split Rock Falls at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
And if the wildflower scenery isn’t enough, there are plenty of hiking trails to waterfalls all around Revelstoke.
If you’re on your way to Revelstoke from Alberta, 20 minutes west of town you’ll find the Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail, which smells as amazing as it sounds!
You can see everything in as little as 10 minutes (if you just need a strecth and bathroom break) or stay longer for a nice picnic.
Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk is also nearby and not as smelly as it sounds!
Looking for shorter hikes with cute waterfalls? A few minutes north of town, visit Moses Creek Community Park to find Moses Falls or look for Begbie falls south of town.
Those looking for an easy to moderate hike with big views should look for the Big Eddy Bluffs hike, which will be about 1.5 hours round trip. This trail is a hidden gem that provides great views of the bend in the Columbia River.
Inside tip – hiking anywhere around Revelstoke is bear country, so always bring bear spray and make sure you’ve got other day hike essentials to stay safe on the trails.
2. Ride the Pipe Mountain Coaster
After you’ve taken the gondola up Revelstoke Mountain Resort, take the fun way down!
Ride the alpine Pipe Mountain Coaster through the winding mountain meadows. You’ll quickly understand why this has become one of Revelstoke’s best attractions.
You sit in a toboggan-like tub attached to a pipe where you can send yourself all the way down the mountain!
Up to 42 kilometres per hour (don’t worry, you’ve got a hand-brake to control your speed). It might seem a little expensive, but it’s so much fun and definitely worth the price of admission.
3. Mountain Biking
One of the best things to do to soak up the adventurous spirit of Revelstoke is to explore the area on a mountain bike.
Frisby Ridge Trail is one of the most popular spots for epic views. Visit the Mt. Macpherson Trails where there’s a network of green, blue and black mountain bike trails, complete with boardwalks and jumps.
If you have a great time mountain biking, consider donating to the Revelstoke Cycling Association who maintains many of the trails.
And of course, there’s alpine mountain biking trails up at Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
4. Aerial Adventure Park
Continuing with things to do at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in the summer, one of the newest attractions is the Aerial Adventure Park, which is an adventure obstacle course including a zipline, climbing wall and a 4-storey ropes course.
You could spend a whole day at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in the summer with an ‘all day pass’ which includes the aerial park, 2 pipe coaster rides and access to the hiking trails from the Gondola.
5. Meadows in the Sky Parkway
Take a 26 kilometre road trip along the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, one of the most underrated and hidden gem roads in British Columbia. Of all the places to see in Revelstoke, this should be high on your list (pun intended).
To visit the summit of Mount Revelstoke National Park, at the Balsam Lake Parking lot, take the shuttle or hike up to the summit. You will find paved trails and viewpoints everywhere.
Save this activity for a clear day, as you’ll be able to see for miles.
Inside tip – take the Nels Knickers Interpretive Trail, which brings you to a historic ski jumping spot, where you can imagine yourself in the shoes (boots) of the ski jumpers from where they used to take off. It’s a bit steep and will take about 40 minutes.
6. Williamson’s Lake and Beach
On a hot day, there’s a nice sandy beach and swimming area to take a dip in Williamson’s Lake, which is located 5 minutes south of downtown. Plus there’s a great campground here, including a new geo dome if you want to try glamping!
7. Martha Creek Provincial Park
Camp for a few nights or spend a beautiful afternoon at Martha Creek Provincial Park. This lakefront park sits along the edge of Lake Revelstoke (Revelstoke Reservoir) so bring your kayaks, paddle boards, floaties and swimming and fishing gear.
There’s also a family beach with a playground and a dog beach as well. At one point there was an awesome rope swing here, but not sure if it’s still there (let me know if you find it).
8. Revelstoke Railway Museum
A fascinating tribute to the workers who built the Canadian Pacific Railway through the difficult mountain passes, the Revelstoke Railway Museum is worthy of a stop on your visit to Revelstoke.
The full size steam engine locomotive is really cool to see in person!
9. The Last Spike at Craigellachie
A true piece of Canadian history. This is the site where the last spike was hammered in, in 1885 to mark the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway complete.
This landmark is located 45 minutes west of Revelstoke along the Trans Canada HIghway, where there is also a small gift shop on site.
And if you time it right, there may be a train that whistles by for a fully immersive experience.
10. The Enchanted Forest
For the ultimate stroll through fairy tale land, visit the Enchanted Forest.
A magically whimsical world deep in a massive cedar hemlock forest where childhood nursery rhymes come to life in the form of little forest figurines and gnomes.
Read more on the Enchanted Forest wonderland here.
11. SkyTrek Adventure Park
Right next door to the Enchanted Forest is the SkyTrek Adventure Park which is an awesome arrangement of a ropes course and aerial obstacle park. Fun for the whole family as they have courses for both kids and adults.
12. Three Valley Gap Ghost Town
As you drive west on the main highway from revelstoke, you can’t miss the big red roof known as the Three Valley Gap. You can either visit the little frontier-themed ghost town, or stay overnight at the Chateau and enjoy the private beach or pool.
Inside Tip – plan a whole day trip from Revelstoke to visit all three attractions! You can bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds of the SkyTrek park.
13. BC Hydro Revelstoke Dam
Take a tour at one of North America’s largest and modern dams at the BC Hydro Revelstoke Dam. Tours are in depth and informative and include a ride in the elevator to look out at the top of the 175 metre high dam.
Entry is only $8 for adults and less for kids. Plan 1 to 2 hours to visit the Revelstoke Dam.
14. Historic Downtown Revelstoke
One of the things I love about the Kootenay Rockies is all the old communities that started as mining towns. Many of the original heritage buildings still remain, and Revelstoke is no exception.
The Grizzly Plaza has a small outdoor stage and hosts free concerts and entertainment every night in the summer.
Stroll through the historic main streets with a coffee and check out the antique and boutique shops.
Then, catch a flick at the vintage Roxy Theatre, built in 1905.
P.S. – if you love heritage buildings and historic places, you will love staying at the Holten Heritage House Bed & Breakfast, an 1897 Victorian mansion!
15. Hot Springs Near Revelstoke
There are few hot springs you can access near Revelstoke, both commercial and undeveloped or ‘natural’ hot springs. The closest developed hot springs are the Canyon Hot Springs (25 minute drive east of Revelstoke) and the Crazy Creek Hot Pools (30 minute drive west of Revelstoke).
To the south of Revelstoke, Halcyon Hot Springs are a 1 hour and 15 minute drive with beautiful accommodations on site.
To visit natural hot springs closest to Revelstoke, you’ll have to go a little off the beaten path to Halfway River Hot Springs and St. Leon’s Hot Springs (each about 1 hour and 45 minute drive).
You’ll need a high-clearance vehicle and the ability to hike in to get to these gorgeous soak spots.
Looking for more natural hot springs in BC? Try this Road Trip to 3 Natural Hot Springs in the Kootenays.
What to Do in Revelstoke in Winter
16. Ski and Snowboard at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
One of the top things to do in Revelstoke in winter is to go skiing and snowboarding.
The Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s claim to fame is the longest vertical descent in North America, with the longest run being about 14 kms long!
I love snowboarding in Revy because you spend more time on the slopes and less time in the lift lines. The last time I was there, I think I only rode the lifts 5 times since it takes so long to get down every run.
Plus, the snow here is deep and plentiful. My favorite runs are Snow Rodeo and Critical Path (good for cruising) and Powder Assault for thick and pillowy snow.
Good to know – Revelstoke is part of the Powder Highway – a network of mountain resorts that get deep, champagne powder and funky little ski towns.
And since it’s one of the newer mountain resorts to open in British Columbia (debuted in 2007), everything is brand new and modern (with more amenities being added each year).
Plus, the Sutton Place Hotel offers luxurious on-hill accommodation, just steps from the Gondola.
The best thing about skiing in Revelstoke is that the hill is only a 5 minute drive from downtown!
17. Snowmobiling
Revelstoke is snowmobiling mecca because of the amount of snow and long sledding season here.
Visit the Tourism Revelstoke website for more information about where to snowmobile in Revelstoke, or you can even book a guided tour if you’re a beginner (or even if you’ve never ridden before).
18. Dog Sledding
There aren’t many things more Canadian than dog sledding through mountain trails on a freshly snowed day!
Check out Revelstoke Dogsled Adventures to book your tour, which typically lasts about 3-4 hours.
19. Fat Biking
There are plenty of trails to explore on your fat bike in Revelstoke (you can also rent bikes from local shops in town). Check out trails at the Meadows in the Sky Parkway and Mount Revelstoke National Park.
Best Places to Stay in Revelstoke
Best Pet Friendly (and best value)
The Stoke Hotel is our favorite place to stay in Revelstoke. It’s a funky little boutique hotel – prices are good, hot breakfast is included (including locally roasted coffee) and it’s pet friendly!
Best Location
If you want to be in the middle of downtown, less than 5 minutes walking distance to any shop, restaurant or cafe, choose the Explorers Society Hotel.
Best Views
Basecamp Resorts is a brand new boutique hotel that offers ‘micro suites’ so you can brew your morning coffee and cook dinner looking out on the mountains. They also have several pet-friendly suites.
Budget Pick
If you’re on a budget, stay at the Cube in Revelstoke, which offers newly renovated rooms and a shared kitchen to prepare meals.
Cozy Airbnb
First Chair Bed & Shred is a fully contained private suite, 5 minutes to the ski hill (and is also pet friendly).
Cabin
If you’re looking to rent a cabin in Revelstoke, look no further than the Kodiak Cabin, which can host 6 guests and includes a private hot tub.
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