6-Day West Kootenay Road Trip: Revelstoke to Creston

Planning a road trip through British Columbia and looking for something beyond the usual tourist routes? The West Koot Route is one of the most underrated road trips in British Columbia.

This 6-day itinerary starts in Revelstoke and continues south toward Crawford Bay and Creston, passing through some of British Columbia’s most beautiful landscapes along the way.

Instead of rushing between famous viewpoints, this drive is all about slowing down and enjoying the drive. You’ll pass mountain towns, quiet lakes, free ferry crossings, beaches, forests, and small communities that many travellers completely miss.

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West Kootenay Road Trip Map

The West Koot Route is a scenic road trip through southeastern British Columbia connecting mountain towns, lakes, forests, ferry crossings, and small communities.

A section of this itinerary also follows part of the International Selkirk Loop, one of the most scenic road trip routes in the Pacific Northwest.

Planning a road trip through the West Kootenays? Grab the free interactive map with all the stops, restaurants, beaches, ferry crossings, viewpoints, and hidden gems from this itinerary. It’s compatible with Google Maps, making it easy to use during your drive.

Day 1: Arrive in Revelstoke

If you’re driving from Calgary to Revelstoke, expect about a 5-hour drive without major stops. The route itself is part of the adventure. You’ll be passing through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Western Canada: Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park.

You could easily spend several days exploring the drive itself, but if you want to arrive in Revelstoke by late afternoon, there are still a few stops worth adding along the way:

• Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park. The road typically opens from mid-June to mid-October, depending on snow conditions.
• Hemlock Grove Boardwalk in Glacier National Park. This short trail takes you through an old-growth forest filled with giant cedar and hemlock trees.
• Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail. This easy loop trail is one of the best introductions to the inland temperate rainforest. It almost feels like being on Vancouver Island.

Check Into Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort

Once you arrive in Revelstoke, settle in at Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort, located just outside downtown Revelstoke. L let the kids play outside, and enjoy a quiet evening in the mountains.

The property offers RV sites, tent camping, cabins, and beautiful dome accommodations surrounded by forest and mountain views.

This was one of the most family-friendly campgrounds we’ve stayed at. Near the main lodge, there’s a basketball court, a playground, and lawn games where kids can run around after a day in the car. There’s also a seasonal outdoor pool and a sauna for relaxing after a full day of exploring.

Plus, the campground hosts organize activities throughout the week, which made the experience so much more welcoming. During our stay, we got lucky with a free Sunday BBQ and outdoor movie night at the campground theatre. The kids loved watching Night at the Museum outside under the trees with free pop corn.

The staff were also incredibly helpful. Even though we already had a long list of places we wanted to visit around Revelstoke, they recommended several local spots we had not heard about and some of them ended up being highlights of the trip.

Day 2: Explore Revelstoke

Start your morning in downtown Revelstoke. The downtown core is compact and walkable. We had no problem finding free parking.

Downtown Revelstoke

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, make sure to stop by the Revelstoke Farmers’ Market. We happened to visit during market day. The atmosphere was lively and there were lots of local vendors selling baked goods, produce, handmade items, and snacks.

We also stopped at the Local Art Coop, grabbed coffee from Modern Bakeshop & Cafe, picked up fresh bread for a picnic at La Baguette, and browsed the shelves at Fable Book Parlour. 

Afterward, we walked over to the Revelstoke Museum and Archives. It’s a smaller museum that shares the history of the region, including the railway, forestry, and early mountain culture, and there’s also a beautiful outdoor garden area to explore.

Kids enter for free, and there’s plenty to keep families interested for about an hour or so. One thing my kids immediately asked was if there was a scavenger hunt. 

Greenbelt trail

Later in the morning, we headed to the Greenbelt trail system for a walk along the river. There are multiple access points and parking areas, but we parked near Kovach Park because it gives easy access to the Illecillewaet Pedestrian Bridge.

We also ended up having a picnic at the park (we always bring our Chilly Moose 16L cooler when we do road trips. That way we can leave the big cooler at our lodging and carry only our smaller cooler for picnics) while the kids enjoyed the playground.

Revelstoke Railway Museum

In the late afternoon, we visited the Revelstoke Railway Museum.  This museum is a must-visit in Revelstoke.

The town exists because of the railway, so learning about the train history gives you a much better understanding of how Revelstoke developed over the years.

The museum includes both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and once again there were interactive activities for kids, including another scavenger hunt and a dedicated play area.

You can easily spend a couple of hours here, especially if your kids enjoy trains.

After a busy day exploring Revelstoke, we headed back downtown for a well-deserved popsicle stop. We found handmade PopCycle popsicles at the bike rental shop on MacKenzie Street, and they were delicious. They’re made locally in Revelstoke and were the perfect treat on a warm spring afternoon.

By the evening, we were more than ready to head back to the campground, relax, and enjoy some of the activities happening around the resort.

Day 3: Another Full Day in Revelstoke

Start your morning with another coffee stop in downtown Revelstoke. There are so many good cafés in town that it’s worth trying a different one every day. This time we stopped at Split Milk. We grabbed coffee, a savoury scone, and a chicken pot pie to bring along for a picnic later in the day.

Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway

Once you’re ready, head toward Mount Revelstoke National Park to drive the famous Meadows in the Sky Parkway.

This scenic road climbs high into the mountains with multiple viewpoints and short walks along the way.

💡 Just know that the summit area is only open seasonally, usually around late June or early July depending on snow conditions. During our visit, the road was only open to kilometre 12, roughly halfway up the mountain.

Even without reaching the summit, the drive was absolutely worth it.

There are several scenic pullouts and short trails along the parkway, and all the stops are clearly marked. Parking areas can fill up quickly though, especially later in the day during summer.

Best Stop on the Meadows to Sky Parkway

• Nels Nelsen Historic Area: A short walking trail leads to the remains of the historic ski jump area where you can learn more about Revelstoke’s ski jumping history.
• Revelstoke Viewpoint: This is more of a quick roadside stop, but the views are incredible.
• Broken Bridge Trail: A short family-friendly at only about 2 km round trip. It winds through the forest before reaching a waterfall and the remains of an old bridge (that is not safe to cross).
• Beaver Lodge Kids Bike Park: Located just outside the park gate. This is such a great family stop, especially if your kids have bikes. You’ll also spot the famous Parks Canada red chairs here, which makes for another fun photo stop.

Option 1 for the Afternoon: Hiking Near Revelstoke

If you still have energy for more adventure, there are some great hiking options along Westside Road, just a short drive from Revelstoke.

• Boulder Mountain Lookout Trail: This short hike is steep but very rewarding. The trail can be slightly confusing at times, so pay close attention to the markings on the trees. The panoramic views from the lookout are completely worth the effort.
• Moses Creek Falls: This trail leads to a beautiful waterfall hidden in the forest. The trail heading down is fairly steep, and we found parts of it a little confusing near the waterfall area.

Option 2 for the Afternoon: Revelstoke Dam & Forestry Museum

Another great option is driving north along Highway 23 to visit the local museums and dam area.

• BC Interior Forestry Museum was unfortunately closed during our visit, but it looked like a really interesting stop for families interested in logging and local history.
• Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre. We unfortunately arrived around 3:30 PM and the centre closed at 4:00 PM, which meant we had to rush through the exhibits. Even with limited time, it was still incredibly impressive and absolutely worth visiting.

After another full day exploring the region, it’s time to enjoy one last quiet evening in Revelstoke. If you don’t feel like cooking back at the campground, downtown has plenty of great dinner options.

We ended our day at Sincero Cafe with warm Vietnamese soup, which honestly tasted perfect after a long day outside.

Day 4: Revelstoke to Crawford Bay Along the West Koot Route

The drive between Revelstoke and Crawford Bay is packed with waterfalls, mountain views, ferry crossings, small towns, and hot springs. Yet, it’s still a route that many travellers completely overlook. 

Even though the distance itself is not extremely long (250 km), plan for a full day on the road. The highways are winding, there are lots of scenic stops, and you’ll also need to plan around two free ferry crossings. It’s a good 4 hours without any stops.

💡 Important: Before leaving Revelstoke, make sure to check the schedules for both the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry schedule and the Kootenay Lake Ferry schedule.

And trust me, actually check the schedules.

When we visited during Memorial Day weekend, I assumed the Kootenay Lake Ferry was already running on the summer schedule. We arrived at the terminal around 4:05 PM and realized the ferry was leaving at 4:30 PM. If we had missed it, the next crossing would not have been until 6:30 PM. We got very lucky.

Best Stops Between Revelstoke and Crawford Bay

There are many stops on this West Kootenay road trip, but here are the ones we did:

Begbie Falls

One of the first waterfall stops along the route is Begbie Falls.

There are actually two ways to visit the falls. You can either park near the highway and hike the full 5 km round-trip trail, or drive farther along the forest service road and park much closer to the waterfall.

The road is gravel, but we had no issues driving it in a small car. The waterfall itself is beautiful and surrounded by lush forest.

Sutherland Falls

A little farther south, you’ll reach Sutherland Falls.

This is one of those quick roadside stops that barely requires any effort but is still completely worth it. The waterfall is only a couple of minutes from the parking lot, making it an easy family stop during the drive.

Upper Arrow Lake Ferry

The Upper Arrow Lake Ferry crossing between Galena Bay and Shelter Bay is completely free and runs roughly every hour.

While waiting for the ferry at Shelter Bay, we found a nice little walking path leading to the lake. There was lots of green space nearby, so the kids ended up playing soccer while we waited for boarding.

Hot Springs Stop

This section of the West Koot Route is also known for its hot springs.

There are several options along the drive, including Halcyon Hot Springs, Nakusp Hot Springs, Ainsworth Hot Springs, and the more natural Halfway Hot Springs.

I originally considered visiting Halfway Hot Springs because we had heard so many good things about it, but it would have added about an extra hour of driving and many reviews mentioned rough road conditions. Since I was travelling solo with the kids and there was limited cell service, I decided not to risk it this time.

We had already visited Ainsworth Hot Springs in the past and loved the unique cave experience, so this time we decided to try Halcyon Hot Springs instead.

And it was a great choice for families.

The pools are spread across two levels. The lower level is more like a warm pool where kids can splash and play comfortably, while the upper pools have a more traditional hot springs temperature. Having both options made it much easier to enjoy with children.

New Denver

We also made a quick stop in New Denver. The small downtown area is colourful and full of old western-style buildings. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and wander around for a while.

We wanted to visit the Silvery Slocan Museum, but unfortunately it was closed during our visit. The kids were a little disappointed because they had been excited to explore it.

Kaslo

Kaslo was one of the stops we were most excited about. We had visited the town before, but this time we finally stopped at the SS Moyie National Historic Site, which had been on our list for years.

Kaslo itself is incredibly charming, with a small downtown core full of local shops, cafés, and historic buildings. You could easily spend a few hours here exploring.

Just outside Kaslo, you’ll also find Fletcher Falls, another great short waterfall hike. The trail is less than 2 km round trip and also leads to a small beach area. We didn’t have time to stop during this visit, but we had done it on a previous trip and really enjoyed it.

Kootenay Lake Ferry Experience

The Kootenay Lake Ferry is free and a fun way to end the drive.

The crossing between Balfour and Kootenay Bay takes about 35 minutes and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and lake. For kids, the ferry itself becomes part of the adventure. 

If you arrive early and have time before boarding, there’s also a seasonal pub and restaurant near the ferry terminal.

Stay at Kokanee Springs Resort

After the ferry crossing, it’s only a short drive to Crawford Bay.

We stayed at Kokanee Springs Resort in one of the lodge rooms, and it ended up being a really great family-friendly base for exploring the area, though the staff told us they don’t see many families.

Even if your family is not into golf, there’s still plenty to do around the property. The resort offers pickleball, disc golf, a driving range, walking paths, and lots of green space for kids to run around.

After a long driving day, it was the perfect place to slow down and relax for the evening.

Day 5: Explore Crawford Bay

Start your morning slowly and take advantage of some of the activities offered directly at Kokanee Springs Golf Resort.

I would recommend enjoying the outdoor activities earlier in the day before the afternoon heat sets in, especially during summer.

Even though we are definitely not a golfing family, we still ended up having a lot of fun at the driving range. We rented clubs. The kids were more excited about riding in the golf cart than actually hitting golf balls. 

Visit Pilot Bay Lighthouse

Once you’re ready to explore, drive toward Pilot Bay Provincial Park near the Kootenay Lake ferry terminal.

The walk to the lighthouse is short and family-friendly, making it a perfect easy stop during your stay in Crawford Bay. Once you reach the lighthouse, you can actually climb inside and admire the views from above. The panoramic views over Kootenay Lake are beautiful, especially on a clear day.

It’s a quick stop, but definitely one worth adding to your itinerary.

Explore the Crawford Bay Artisan Shops

After your hike, head back toward Crawford Bay for coffee and a relaxed afternoon exploring the local artisan shops.

One of the things that makes Crawford Bay so unique is its strong artisan community. You’ll find pottery studios, broom makers, blacksmith shops, galleries, weaving studios, and local handmade goods all within a small area.

💡 To make exploring easier, I highly recommend following the official artisan tour created by Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.

Even if you are not planning to buy anything, it’s still really interesting to stop in and watch some of the artisans at work.

Disc Golf & Pickleball at Kokanee Springs

After exploring Crawford Bay, head back to the resort for a more relaxed afternoon.

One activity we absolutely loved was the disc golf course at Kokanee Springs. The course winds through the forest and is beautiful. It’s a 9-hole course, and even as beginners we had so much fun playing together as a family.

We had actually tried disc golf once before during a summer trip to Hinton, Alberta, so the kids were really excited to play again here.

Later in the afternoon, we also tried pickleball for the very first time.

Honestly, none of us really knew what we were doing at first, but it quickly became one of the funniest moments of the trip. We ended up playing much longer than expected. I’m pretty sure we’ll now end up trying pickleball again back home.

💡 One thing we really appreciated is that you can borrow all the equipment directly from the main lodge, including pickleball paddles and disc golf discs, which makes it really easy for families to try new activities without needing to bring extra gear.

After another full day exploring the West Kootenays, enjoy a quiet evening at the on-site restaurant before getting ready for the drive home the next morning.

Day 6: Drive Home

If you have an extra day or two, I would highly recommend adding Nelson to your itinerary. It’s located on the opposite side of Kootenay Lake and is one of the most beautiful small towns in British Columbia.

We’ve visited Nelson a few times in the past, which is why we decided not to include it during this trip, but it’s absolutely worth considering if you have more time.

Stops Worth Adding on the Way Home

If you’re driving back toward Calgary, there are still several fun stops you can add along the way.

The Glass House

Located about 30 minutes from Crawford Bay, the Glass House is one of the quirkiest roadside attractions in British Columbia.

There’s a small entrance fee that includes a short guided tour inside the house before you can explore the property on your own. The house itself is built almost entirely from glass bottles, which makes it a really unique stop during the drive.

Creston Museum

If you enjoy local history museums, the Creston Museum is another worthwhile stop.

Admission is by donation, and despite being a smaller museum, we found it surprisingly interesting. During our visit, we were able to join a guided tour through the different buildings and exhibits, which helped us learn much more about the history of the Creston Valley region.

Creston Grain Elevators

The historic grain elevators in Creston are another quick roadside stop worth adding.

They’re one of the last remaining sets of traditional grain elevators in British Columbia and make a great photo stop during the drive.

Yahk Soap & Candle Co.

This is one of those classic road trip stops that kids usually end up loving.

Even if you’re not planning to shop for soap or candles, it’s still a fun stop because there are often goats outside and a small ice cream shop nearby.

If you continue toward Calgary, you’ll eventually enter the East Kootenay region, another beautiful part of British Columbia with lots of places worth exploring.

You could easily extend your trip with stops in Cranbrook or Kootenay National Park.

FAQ: West Kootenany Road Trip

Conclusion

The West Koot Route is slower and quieter than other area in British Columbia and Alberta. It’s filled with places many travellers completely overlook. Between the ferry rides, mountain towns, hot springs, artisan shops, and lakeside views, this ended up being one of the most relaxing and memorable road trips we’ve done in British Columbia.

If you’re looking for a scenic BC road trip that combines adventure, hidden gems, and a slower pace, the West Koot Route deserves a spot on your list.