In General

• A single corridor from Midway to Christina Lake
• The Kootenay Loop between Christina Lake and Salmo
• A single corridor up the Salmo-Creston Pass

Main contacts:

• Chris Moslin (250) 422-2620 (Boundary Section)
  
• Hanne Smith Heintz (250) 362-7767 (Southern Section Kootenay Loop)
  
• Sjeng Derkx (250) 352-7300 (Northern Section Kootenay Loop)
  

Links

• Boundary Region Midway to Castlegar
• Boundary Region
• Abandoned Rail Grade (Map)

• The Trail is on abandoned CPR grade.

Within Grand Forks

• The Trail follows streets, park pathways and rail grade.

Grand Forks to Christina Lake

• The new surface applied by BC Gas on the section from Grand Forks to Christina Lake is very smooth and consistent. The trestle over the Cascade Gorge at Christina Lake has been redecked with sturdy handrails, and provides a spectacular view of the canyon. The remaining trestle over the Kettle River is awaiting the return of the Royal Engineers from Iraq.
  Contact: Bob Dupee at (250) 447-6561 or

Christina Lake to Rossland

• The Dewdney Trail will be used for hikers, horses and cyclists.
• Cascade Highway for cyclists loaded with panniers.

• The Trail will follow abandoned rail grade.

Warfield to Trail

• The Trail will follow the Dewdney Trail and local roads.

• The interim route takes the Trail across the old bridge and through city streets and along the highway out to 7 Mile Dam.
• The ultimate route will take the Trail along the Dewdney Trail to Fort Sheppard on the Columbia River where a river crossing is required.

• As no bridge across the Salmo river is built yet, most people use the abandoned road through the Pend'Oreille Valley, from Waneta to Nelway. It features beautiful views as well as a campsite near the 7-Mile Dam. They then continue on to the Lost Creek Forest Service Road using Highway #6 and #3.
• NOTE: Much of the Lost Creek Forest Service Road is presently the site of a new BC Gas pipeline construction; it may not be passable.
  Contact: Pend D'Oreille to Salmo-Creston Summit (250) 357-9964

• The Trail will follow the abandoned Columbia and Western rail grade. Along the gently sloping route are fabulous views, a kilometer long tunnel (bring a flashlight!) and tall trestle bridges (at present without decking or railings). The last 8 kilometers to Castlegar are on a paved road.
• Update 2004-11-26: The Columbia and Western rail grade is now owned by Tourism BC and will be upgraded once its Environmental Assessment Document is approved. For more inforamtion, see Columbia & Western Rail Trail update in the Boundary Region section.

• Most bicyclists use the quiet Pass Creek Road. It has a few short steep climbs in the first few kilometers but then flattens out through the pastoral lands surrounding Pass Creek. A few short kilometers on Hwys #6 and #3A lead to Blewett Road, the backroad way to Nelson.
• Hikers can use the Skattebo Reach Trail. It starts just west of the Brilliant Bridge and goes to Glade.
• Update 2004-11-26: The Ward's Ferry Trail is now complete, and takes hikers from Glade to Rover Creek Forest Road and Blewett Road.

• The well used, abandoned Burlington Northern Rail line leads the traveller on a gentle slope from Nelson, through alpine meadows, and along the beautiful Salmo River all the way to Salmo.
• Update 2004-11-26: The Burlington Northern Rail line is now owned by the BC Ministry of Transportation, and will be leased to the Regional District of Central Kootenay and set up as a Regional Park, with maintenance performed by volunteer groups. The trail's trestles are being upgraded with decking and railings as part of Tourism BC's Spirit of 2010 Trail Network project.

• A road alternative for bicyclists on their way to Creston is to follow Hwy#3A to Balfour, take the longest free ferry ride in Canada to Kootenay Bay and then continue on the narrow winding section of Hwy#3A to Creston.

Other Information

• Bed and Breakfast in The Sheep Creek Valley west of Rossland - (250) 362-5216

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The Trails Society of British Columbia
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VANCOUVER BC   V6V 6J6
Email: trailsbc@trailsbc.ca
Phone: (604) 899-0737