We Were Glad We Got To the Summit Of Mt Revelstoke
When we stayed in Revelstoke on our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, we were happy we got to the summit of Mt Revelstoke. There were so many great views from the mountain top.
Our visit to Revelstoke started with amazing views of the waterfalls of Revelstoke. We watched the skies clear and headed up Mt Revelstoke. There were amazing views on the way up. And then we got blinded by a snow storm. But when the snow cleared we continued and explored the summit of Mt Revelstoke. And even got sunset views and a new moon on the way back down.
These mountain views were a great tease for our visit to British Columbia (BC).
Our First View Of Mountains
After we left Calgary, we got our first views of the Rocky Mountains. The sun shone on the great mountain vistas.
We stopped in Banff for our coffee stop. The town was as beautiful as we remembered, ringed with mountain views. We wandered in town for a bit before we headed back on the road.
There was one more stop planned for the mountains in Alberta. We took the exit to Lake Louise and planned to hike around the lake. But every parking lot was full. So there was no way to stop and experience this outdoor beauty on our drive through Alberta.
We hoped to spend more time in Banff and Lake Louise on our return trip from Vancouver to Toronto.
Driving Into The Mountains In British Columbia
After we left Lake Louise, we continued on the Trans Canada Highway and entered the mountains in British Columbia. We enjoyed more mountain views. And then passed over the summit at Rogers Pass. With higher avalanche-prone mountains, we went through several large tunnels (or sheds) that protected the highway from damage.
As we drove along, we saw many construction spots that impacted our road trip travel times. A major project was underway to expand the highway over the mountains. The Drive BC site provided up-to-date road status. We did not check the road closures in advance of planning our BC entry date. But luckily the main highway was open. On our return trip from Vancouver to BC, we again missed checking the site in advance. And ended up with a major detour on our road home!
We did our first drive through the Rocky Mountains when the roads were open and traffic moved well. But this stretch of our road trip between Toronto and Vancouver required a little more attention.
A Quick Stop At The Golden Skybridge
On our drive into Revelstoke, we passed through the town of Golden. When we saw the sign on the road for the Golden Skybridge we wanted to check it out. We thought it was a suspension bridge we could walk across. But when we pulled into the large parking lot, we knew it was much more.
When we entered the building, we saw that this experience needed far more than the short stop we had on a long road trip day. We wandered outside and got a view of the suspension bridge in the distance. And even further out we saw the zipline. If we also wanted to enjoy the hiking paths, we needed at least a half a day.
We left disappointed that we missed the Golden Skybridge experience. But we put it on a list for another visit to BC
Staying In Revelstoke
Our 2 night hotel stop at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Revelstoke gave us a great view of Mt Revelstoke. But it was also located right next to the train tracks. Our room literally shook when the train passed by. And we were warned they went past once an hour or more!
We found a good local spot for dinner and had a tasty bison burger at the Chubby Funsters Kitchen. And a homemade apple pie with more apple than we ever saw. We were now in British Columbia and we provided proof of vaccination when we ate inside.
It rained the first night in Revelstoke and was grey again in the morning. But when the sky cleared at noon, we packed our day bag and headed out to explore.
Heading To Mt Revelstoke National Park
As we visited the waterfalls in Revelstoke, we watched the weather closely. When the grey skies cleared, we knew we had the chance to go up to the summit of Mt Revelstoke. We headed to the Meadows In The Sky Parkway.
When we entered the Mt Revelstoke National Park, we had to make a decision about the park cost. There were a couple of options. One option provided us with entry to only Mt Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks. The other option was to buy a broad National Park Pass that covered all parks across the country. We ultimately decided that we would make good use of the much broader pass.
Viewpoints On The Way To The Summit
The road up the mountain was a twisty one filled with hair pin turns. We drove slowly up through the trees. There were several viewpoints as we climbed. We stopped and looked out over the town of Revelstoke and the winding Columbia River. Across the river we saw the area where we enjoyed the waterfalls of Revelstoke.
Other viewpoints gave us a view of the other mountains that surrounded Revelstoke. The skies were largely blue but some clouds moved in.
There were so many great views as we headed up to the summit of Mt Revelstoke.
We Drove Into Snow
As we climbed higher we first lost the blue skies. Then rain started and as the temperature dropped to freezing, the rain turned to snow. And the snow became a blinding wall.
We made it to the summit parking lot and the snow continued to fall. We stopped briefly but decided we were not dressed to tackle a snow storm.
So we headed back down to the next viewpoint. And were surprised when the snow slowed and then stopped. So we turned around and headed back up to the summit. By the time we hit the parking lot at the summit, the snow storm had passed but the ground remained snow covered.
A Walk In The Snow To The Summit Of Mt Revelstoke
We headed out for the walk along the Upper Summit Trail. The sign said the hike was only 1km. But we did not expect it to be uphill all the way on a rough path covered in snow.
But we trudged on and finally came out at the summit trail network. We saw there were still several hiking paths to different points on the summit!
Following the Koo Koo Sint Trail, we continued higher. We found a lookout point with bright red chairs and a clear view out. Different spots gave us different perspectives.
From this point we kept climbing to the panoramic viewpoint. The sun was moving down and we got great reflections on a small pond. And as we climbed we saw mountains in the distance.
We hit the summit of Mt Revelstoke at the Fire Lookout at an elevation of 6360 feet (~2000 m). There were paths from here to the North Parapet and the South Parapet. But we had our views from the summit and it was time to head back down.
We were so glad the snow cleared and we made it to the summit of Mt Revelstoke. The views were most definitely worth the climb.
Heading Back Down As The Sun Set
From the summit, we walked back to start of the summit trails. We had the choice to go back along the hiking path or to walk down the road used by the shuttle bus. It was getting dark so we decided that the road was a safer choice.
We arrived at the parking lot and got in the car. We were amused when we saw that all the snow had melted on the car. But the temperature was still right at the freezing point so we drove down with caution. As we headed down Mt Revelstoke, the sky filled with colour. At each turn in the road, we got a different view of the setting sun on the mountains.
When we hit the lower viewpoints, we pulled in and caught the last sunset views. We were delighted when we saw the new moon rising at the same time.
Our last views from Mt Revelstoke were stunning.
A Great Day Heading Up To The Summit Of Mt Revelstoke
On our road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, we were so happy we planned a two night stop in Revelstoke.
We started our full day in Revelstoke with amazing views of the waterfalls of Revelstoke. When the skies cleared, we headed up to the summit at Mt Revelstoke. So many great views on the way up. And even a snow storm did not stop us from hiking to the summit.
We were excited by all of our outdoor adventures in Revelstoke and looked forward to more great fall adventures on this visit to BC.
Have you headed up to the summit of Mt Revelstoke? Did you get amazing views on your visit?
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Really amazing views! I love that alpine village too. The architecture reminds me of Bavaria. I would have to visit in the summer though, I have had enough snow in my younger years to last a life time.
It was strange to catch snow when we went up. But when we visited Revelstoke on the way back snow was a much bigger risk. A lovely stop in summer for sure.
These are such amazing views! The mountains are just so majestic…I can see why you were happy you made it to the summit of Mt. Revelstoke. I’m sorry to hear you hit a few unexpected obstacles along the trip, though – from the full parking lot at Lake Louise to construction traffic to hearing the trains pass by on the hour at your hotel. But then, it’s all the more realistic for what to expect on any road trip. They always comes with a few setbacks, but in the end, well worth it!
We generally have pretty realistic expectations for road trips. And even with some bumps Revelstoke was a great stop on our road trip to Western Canada.
The Canadian mountains always look so spectacular! Mount Revelstoke is no exception. Good that it is possible to drive up the mountain and kudos to you that you hiked on despite of the challenging weather conditions!
We were indeed glad we turned around and went back up. It was so pretty with just a little snow on the mountain top.
Firstly, sorry for the tough times you had during the trip, but how lucky that you actually made it to the top. The view is amazing. Mount Revelstoke is gorgeous.
It was a short visit to Revelstoke but we were so glad we got to the summit of Mt Revelstoke.
Wow oh my goodness Mt Revelstoke National Park looks so beautiful! Those viewpoints are just stunning and I especially love the amazing sunset shots!
We were so happy we did not turn back at the first sign of snow. It was worth it for all the great views we got to sunset for sure.
Revelstoke looks like an incredible site to visit. I think it’s so cool that it started to snow while you were making your way up the summit too! It’s a part of Canada I’d love to see, the nature is magnificent here.
Our trip up to the summit at Mt Revelstoke was absolutely stunning. We were so glad we added this to our 2 day stop.
This is making me miss home sooooo much! Luckily we’ll be visiting Canada this summer for the first time after the craziness of the last few years. And we want to make a point of heading into the mountains! Thank you for the inspiration!
I hope you do get into the mountains when you get back to BC. Revelstoke was a great stop on our roadtrip.
We will hopefully be doing a BC road trip either next year or the year after. We have been to Kootenay and fell in love! Mount Revelstoke looks fabulous!
There are so many great stop in BC. Hope you get to visit Revelstoke and go up to the summit at Mt Revelstoke.
This is a trip of a lifetime! But it looks like you need to plan a return trip to do that suspension bridge. Good to know about planning at least half a day due to the others activities while there. I too would be itching to continue to drive, and the destination is worth the journey – Mt. Revel stone is worth the drive.
We were glad we planned a 2 night stop in Revelstoke but we could easily have spent much more time in this mountain area of BC.
We have passed Revelstoke many times on the way to and from Calgary, where my daughter lives, to Vancouver. We never stopped to see. I am missing a lot with those waterfalls, the summit, and the whole national park!
I hope you do get to stop in Revelstoke the next time you are in the area. It was a great stop for a few days of outdoor fun.
Your journey to the summit of Mount Revelstoke is truly magnificent! Driving across the winding road zigzagging through the alpine trees is an enriching experience and the views of the crimson skies during sunset peeking through the trees and looking at rain turning into snowfall is truly amazing!
Sometimes we are really glad we just stick with our plan. We would have truly missed some amazing sights if we did not turn back around. Definitely a great spot to see.
You inspired me a lot! We plan to visit friends in BC in July, and we will have a few days to explore the area. I was just wondering which direction to go. So far, I have not seen any pictures of Mount Revelstoke. The place seems delightful, even in the snow 🙂 I didn’t even know it was a national park. Maybe we can get there and get to the summit. I would also like to see the waterfalls of Revelstoke.
There is so much to see and do in BC it will be hard to pick just a few spots. But we were glad we planned a few days in Revelstoke.
It looks absolutely beautiful there! I would love to these same road trips someday. Too bad you had to take a detour on your way back home. I would have also climbed up the Summit Trail even though it was snowing and it was hard. It sounds too good to pass.
We were so glad we persevered and went back up after we hit snow. It was a wonderful day for amazingly clear views from Mt Revelstoke.
Dam, I wish I had made it out to revelstoke. Such stunning views and looks like a wonderful time of year with the light snow cover and that sunset as you head down. Although sounds like a risky drive down, you caught just the right time. I could only imagine it would be worse going down in the dark.
We were glad we got to the summit at Mt Revelstoke and got the views even with a little snow. A great drive to plan – with some contingency planning!
This is BEAUTIFUL. I especially love you how stopped at the Sky Bridge and how you were driving into snow the further up you got. I have not yet been in this area, but this looks list a must-visit attraction.
Our visit to Revelstoke definitely was beautiful. So glad we kept going up and got the views from the top. And the snow added a bit of interest.
Oh wow, these views are stunning! I would certainly hunt for all those viewpoints and try some of that food. Seems like you had a great time. And always topped with the best tips! Thank you for putting this together!
We certainly had a great visit to Revelstoke and wanted to share all the tips we discovered.
I’m glad you decided to turn around and went back to Mt. Revelstoke! The views on your hike to the summit of Mt. Revelstoke are amazing! And I agree that you should go back to Golden Skybridge for a longer visit. It looks like that place needs at least a day of your time to explore and experience.
We will definitely plan to stop in Revelstoke and the area on our next road trip in BC. So much to see and do for sure.
Well I learned something new! I’m a Washingtonian and have spent a lot of time in BC but have not been to this mountain or this NP. So putting on the list! Looks beautiful!
I am very happy to give you a new BC destination. We were sure glad we stopped!
I first heard of Revelstoke when a friend went skiing there. I’m glad to get a look at the summer season and all of the things there are to do. It looks beautiful!
Revelstoke is definitely a ski destination. But we loved all we found to do without snow. Well mostly without snow 🙂
I would love to get to the mountains of BC. I think you made the right decision getting the pass as it seems like you will make good use of it.
We sure enjoyed our visit to the mountains in BC. We are headed back next month and hope to do more of the National Parks with our pass.
Thanks so much for sharing this post – I might be headed here this summer, so I’m bookmarking for later. This is a great guide!
I hope you do get to visit Revelstoke with summer. So much to see and do in the summer.
I’m sorry your journey wasn’t the smoothest but it looks like it was worth all the trouble! Look at the photos! Plus, it make everything more memorable. Mount Revelstoke is sure breathtaking. I have to say that Canada’s landscapes is one of the best. the mountains offer such spectacular views.
Revelstoke was definitely a great stop in BC. The mountains are always a great reminder of the stunning places we have it in Canada.
I stayed in Revelstoke on a road trip from Vancouver to Banff and I was wishing I knew beforehand how beautiful Revelstoke was as I would have liked to explore it more. Next time I’m in Western Canada, I’ll be staying in Revelstoke longer.
I was glad we did some research before we landed in Revelstoke. We would have hated to miss both the waterfalls and the trip up to the summit on Mt Revelstoke. Definitely worth a few days if your road trip through BC.
I’m so glad I read your post. I had never heard of Mt Revelstoke before, but all the places you mentioned including Banff and Lake Louise are places that I have been wanting to visit for some time. Now, I can add Mt. Revelstoke to the list. And, that apple pie looked heavenly.
You can’t go wrong with planning a road trip that includes Banff, Lake Louise and Revelstoke. Add in Jasper and it will be perfect.
The whole area looks absolutely stunning. Then the views on the way up and at the top are beautiful. I love being at the top of a mountain, but always forget just how different going 1 km on flat is to going uphill. It is always worth it with amazing views! Also – that apple pie is the biggest I have ever seem!
We were indeed so glad we persevered and got to the summit on Mt Revelstoke. The views were stunning at the top and all the way back down. That apple pie was definitely well deserved when we finally made it back to town.
You’ve definitely inspired me to visit Mt. Revelstoke with those amazing views which look like an absolute dream. The weather seems unpredictable, but worth the experience. I tried a bison burger for the first time when I visited Toronto and it was amazing! I’ll save your post for later.
I hope you do get to visit Revelstoke one day. The mountain weather can often be unpredictable but often worth a little perseverance. We do love wild game so it was awesome to find it in the local spot in the town.
Wow! The views going up and at the top of Revelstoke are breathtaking! It’s crazy how the weather changed so much from the bottom to the top. I would definitely want to visit and experience for myself. I’d love to include time to visit the Golden Skybridge too!
I hope you do get to visit Revelstoke one day. There was so much to see and do on a visit.
Those views are SPECTACULAR. i would LOVE to hike in that area. Even the drive to Revelstoke looks amazing. Also, the Apple pie was likely to die for.
The views really were amazing. We were glad we kept going and got the views from the summit of Mt Revelstoke. And earned that apple pie!
What an incredible view, especially covered in snow! And that apple pie looks incredible! This sounds like a really fun road trip.
The snow did add a kind of magical cast to the views from the summit of Mt Revelstoke. Definitely worth a drive up.
Truly incredible! The drive to Revelstoke looked beautiful and I’d love to stop in Banff and around Lake Louise. The view of the Sunset on the way down from the summit is absolutely beautiful!
Mother Nature had some tricks and treats in store for us the day we headed to the summit at Mt Revelstoke. But an amazing sight to get.
I have never driven or hiked up Revelstoke, but I have skied there and the views were amazing. It is one of my favourite resorts in Canada. Looks like you had a few disappointments on the trip what with no parking a Lake Louise (it gets so busy!), the road works and then not being able experience the bridge in Golden, but I think Revelstoke made up for it. Great that the snow storm passed and you could see those great views.
Revelstoke certainly did make up for everything. We were so glad we planned two days to stay there. Although we could probably do longer! One day we will have to go back in the winter.
What a beautiful sunset! And everything looks so pretty covered in snow! Adding this spot to the list for when I visit Canada!
We were sure glad we went up to the summit on Mt Revelstoke. The views were just amazing and the snow just added an interesting element.