Now that Winter is behind us, we’re taking a minute to highlight one of the Kootenay’s most diverse communities: Castlegar. This community, originally a railway community, has since become a major hub for the Kootenays. At the junction of several major highways, and offers a wealth of outdoor activities for visitors and locals.

There’s an endless amount of hiking and biking trails here, along with world class fishing, several art and history museums, and some great family-friendly parks to explore. Here’s our picks for five things to do in Castlegar this Spring:

Explore Zuckerberg Island

For such a small island, Zuckerberg offers a huge variety of wildlife and plant life. The network of trails provides a chance to explore the island’s diverse habitats, including wetlands, forests, and riverbanks. It’s a perfect way to unwind this Spring, and is fairly accessible for people of all ages. This island’s rich heritage and indigenous roots provide a unique opportunity to walk among the remains of traditional pit houses. We’d also recommend this spot as a quick adventure for kids, an afternoon picnic, birdwatching, and fishing.

Walk the Brilliant Suspension Bridge

Take a scenic walk across the Brilliant Suspension Bridge, which spans across the Kootenay River. It offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and is a great spot for photography and birdwatching. Originally built in 1913 by the Doukhabour community, the bridge still stands as a testimony to their achievement, and offers an incredible view of the Brilliant Dam and Columbia River.

In the mood for a more serious hike? The trail connects from the Brilliant suspension bridge to the Dove Hill Trail and also Little McPhee Falls. Hard to beat those views!

Go for a Woodland Walk at Merry Creek

Merry Creek Trail offers a few different loops – some short and some long, but all are fairly easy walking trails. This scenic woodland walk is located just a few minutes from downtown Castlegar, and is easily accessible to SUV’s and all trucks/offroad vehicles. You’d probably get there without too much difficulty in a sedan too if you drove carefully around the potholes, it’s really not that far.

The smaller loop is great for kids, with gently rising paths, and the longer loop leads to a scenic lookout with a short steep climb. Due to the steeper nature of this path and the steeper banks, we’d recommend holding smaller children for this 7-10 minute leg of the hike. The views are worth it, and for older children and adults this is still an easy one to recommend.

Whether you take the short loop or the longer circuit, Merry Creek offers a gentle walk through a spacious older forest with winding paths, woodsy organic bridges, and its namesake creek. We’d recommend this one in Spring, as by Summer the creek itself will be nearly dry, and you’ll miss a piece of the magic that keeps this ecosystem such a great representation of BC’s lush forests.

Fish the Columbia

Castlegar offers world class fishing for both beginners and seasoned fishermen. Spring is a perfect time to cast a line for trout, kokanee salmon, and other freshwater species, and you can do so right from shore (although you’ll wish you had waders to get in a little further). The caddis fly hatch is among the biggest in the world, and while some years driving through Castlegar can feel like driving through a snowstorm due to all the freshly hatched caddis, it’s because of them that this area is such a cornucopia of aquatic life.

Visit the Doukhobor Discovery Centre

Learn about the rich cultural heritage of the Doukhobor community at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre. This heritage site showcases exhibits detailing the history, traditions, and contributions of the Doukhobor people to the Castlegar area. Explore historic buildings, artifacts, and displays that offer insight into Doukhobor life and culture. Guided tours are available, providing a fascinating glimpse into this unique aspect of Castlegar’s history.

Have ideas for more Spring activities in Castlegar? Drop us a message on social media, and subscribe so you don’t miss our articles on waterfalls, hikes and great places to eat in Castlegar coming soon! We’ve been visiting this community more often this past year, and are excited to see it growing!

In the meantime, why not take a day trip out to Kaslo – we put together an itinerary for you!