Revelstoke is a town you will most likely pass while you’re traveling through Canada. It’s located along the beautiful Highway 1, so most tourists pass through it on their way from Vancouver to Banff. But Revelstoke is more than just a cute town that you pass on your way to Moraine Lake or Whistler. In fact, there are a lot of great things to do and sights to see.
Rachel and I stayed in Revelstoke on two separate occasions during our time in Canada. In this article, I want to share the best of our day trips from Revelstoke, with details, pictures, and personal recommendations. It turns out, that Revelstoke can be a lot more than just a simple town that you pass on your way to your destination!
Contents
- 7 perfect day trips from Revelstoke
- 1. Visit the Begbie Falls and continue to the Blanket Creek Provincial Park and Sutherland Falls
- 2. Drive up to the Mount Revelstoke National Park
- 3. Visit the Martha Creek Provincial Park
- 4. Relax at the Crazy Creek Hot Pools Resort
- 5. Hike in the Glacier National Park
- 6. Roadtrip Highway 1 to the Wapta Falls
- 7. Relax at the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort
- Best time to visit Revelstoke
- Wrapping up
7 perfect day trips from Revelstoke
Rachel and I made use of Revelstoke’s great location. It offers a good place to rest and stock up on groceries, and it offers some amazing day trips too.
Together with our little campervan, we made the most of our time here with these day trips. Of course, it’s up to you to decide what trips to include during your stay! But I hope these tips will offer you all the information you need to make the most of your time in Canada.
Beware: You’re in bear country in British Columbia, so whatever you do: bring bear spray and know how to use it responsibly! You can run into a bear at any moment!
1. Visit the Begbie Falls and continue to the Blanket Creek Provincial Park and Sutherland Falls
Day trip type: Hiking🚶🏿
Just a bit south of Revelstoke, you’ll find the Blanket Creek Provincial Park and the Begbie Falls Recreation Site. Both places offer easy hikes to some pretty picturesque waterfalls:
- The Sutherlands falls in Blanket Creek Provincial Park.
- Begbie Falls in the … You guessed it: The Begbie Falls Recreation Site.
We combined these two in a nice and easy day trip. Both waterfalls are accessible via relatively short hikes, but we didn’t mind because we were looking for a relaxing day anyway!
We packed some food and drinks with us and enjoyed a great little picnic at the Begbie Falls Recreation site.
2. Drive up to the Mount Revelstoke National Park
Day trip type: Hiking🚶🏿
Mount Revelstoke National Park is just around the corner, so you should definitely consider this for a day trip!
We drove the long and winding Meadows in the Sky Parkway up to the top of the mountain. Along the way, we found a couple of easy hikes and viewpoints:
At the top of Mount Revelstoke, you’ll find some nice and easy hikes that offer a glimpse of the alpine scenery, lush meadows full of wildflowers, and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
If you have plenty of time and you’re looking for a nice trail, we suggest you consider the Eva Lake trail! Although we didn’t do this one ourselves, we’ve heard great things! This post explains the hike in more detail.
3. Visit the Martha Creek Provincial Park
Day trip type: Hiking🚶🏿
If you’re traveling in an RV, the Martha Creek Provincial Park can offer a lovely and relaxing day.
If the weather is nice, this is a great place to go for a swim and simply read a book in the sun.
Rachel and I bought Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards and brought them here in our campervan. We enjoyed a 2-hour paddle trip on the lake before we cooked up some dinner and sat by a campfire.
One of the benefits of camping in a remote area like this is the lack of light pollution! We stayed until late and were able to capture some beautiful photos of the Milky Way!
4. Relax at the Crazy Creek Hot Pools Resort
Day trip type: Leisure🏊♀️
On our way west from Revelstoke to Kamloops, we found the Crazy Creek Hot Pools Resort. After a quick Google, we decided to take an afternoon off from traveling and recharged in the numerous pools here.
Next to the resort, you’ll find the Crazy Creek Waterfall and suspension bridge, for some good photo opportunities.
We decided to do something else, though. We walked to the nearby Eagle River to see the salmon spawn in full action. We were here in late September, so we got to see some beautiful sockeye salmon spawning!
We brought our bear spray with us, as there were plenty of signs of bear activity. We didn’t see any, but we did see some bald eagles in the treetops looking for a quick snack!
That night, we decided to stay at their beautiful serviced campsites with our campervan!
5. Hike in the Glacier National Park
Day trip type: Hiking🚶🏿
Not a lot of people know that Canadians have their own Glacier National Park. It’s not as well known as its counterpart in Montana, but it still has lots to offer.
For an easy hike, you can try to 15-minute hike at the Hemlock Grove Boardwalk. Another easy 1km return hike is the Bear Creek Falls Trail. For longer hiking opportunities, you can explore the Abbott Ridge Trail or the Sir Donald Trail. These both start from the Illecillewaet Campground.
Again, don’t forget to bring bear spray if you go hiking here!
6. Roadtrip Highway 1 to the Wapta Falls
Day trip type: Roadtrip🚗
Wapta Falls is a stunning natural feature located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the most accessible and magnificent waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies, offering a spectacular display of the natural beauty and power of water. The falls are part of the Kicking Horse River, a major waterway flowing through the park.
In order to get here, you’re gonna be driving a big part of the Highway 1. Now, if you’re smart, you’ll combine this daytrip from Revelstoke on your way to Banff! However, if you’re doing a roundtrip, there’s still a lot of fun to be had!
Driving the Highway 1 was a lot of fun for us as it’s simply one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in Canada. This is actually where we saw our first black bear in Canada! It was walking along the side of the road. Luckily for us, there was a rest stop just ahead of the bear, so we stopped there and took some cool pictures of the beautiful animal!
7. Relax at the Halcyon Hot Springs Resort
Day trip type: Leisure🏊♀️
If you’re heading east and need a relaxing day similar to the one we had at the Crazy Creek Hot Pools Resort, look no further.
While Rachel and I didn’t stay here, we read nothing but great stories of this place. You can fully relax while taking in the beautiful surroundings.
You can stay for a spa treatment or even spend a night there, but you can also enter as a guest to just soak in the water.
Best time to visit Revelstoke
Short Answer: The best time to visit the surroundings of Revelstoke, British Columbia, is typically during the summer months, from June to September.
Why? During the summer, the weather in Revelstoke is warm and pleasant, making it ideal for exploring the great outdoors. This season offers the perfect conditions for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and sightseeing. Additionally, the longer daylight hours provide more time for outdoor adventures and exploring the scenic beauty of the area.
Off-Season Tip: If you prefer to avoid the summer crowds and enjoy a winter experience, visiting Revelstoke from December to early April is a good alternative! Especially if you’re into skiing or snowboarding!
Wrapping up
If you’re planning on driving past Revelstoke, make sure you don’t miss out on any of these great day trip destinations! Revelstoke has a lot to offer, and with its proximity to some great National Parks, you can easily spend more than a week there!
Did I miss anything important? Do you have anything to add to these day trips? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
