Length of stay: 1 day
Visited: July 2022
Mount Revelstoke National Park is situated next to the city of Revelstoke in British Columbia. It is a relatively small national park, but it offers a variety of hiking trails and overlooks, most of which are located along the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, a 26 km scenic drive to the top of the mountain.
We spent the morning in Glacier National Park and arrived at Mount Revelstoke in the early afternoon. We drove to our campsite to set up our tent and eat some lunch before hitting the trails. Similar to Glacier, hiking options were limited at Mount Revelstoke given the abundance of snow near the summit.
We started with Nels’ Knickers. There are two access points to the trail, one at the Nels Nelsen parking area, which is slightly longer and steeper and the other at the 4km park of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway. We had already done quite a bit of hiking earlier in the day, so we went with the shorter and easier route. The trail leads to the top of a former ski jump. Along the way there were a number of signs that tell the history of skiing in the area and about Nels Nelsen, a famous ski jumping champion. At the top of the ski jump, there’s even a pair of metal pants and a platform to stand on, which overlooks Revelstoke.
We continued our drive along the Meadows in the Sky Parkway and stopped at the Revelstoke Viewpoint for a panoramic view of the town below and the Rainforest Viewpoint, which overlooks a mountainside creek in the interior rainforest.
We then hiked along the Broken Bridge Trail (2km round trip, rated easy), which leads to a broken wooden bridge that has seen better days. It was a pleasant stroll through the forest and we were thankful for the shade. At the broken bridge, we walked a bit further up to get a better glimpse of the river and found a series of small cascades and falls. We took a break here and enjoyed the cool breeze from the river.
We then drove to the Columbia Viewpoint (at the 12km mark), which provided a nice overlook of the Columbia Valley. Because of all the snow at the summit, the rest of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway was blocked off past this point.
So we turned around and drove back to our campsite at the Snowforest Campground. Since our campsite was in the full sun, we instead made dinner and hung out in the sheltered picnic area by the Campground Information Centre.
The next morning we went for a hike along Inspiration Woods (2.5km loop, rated easy). It turns out that the Meadows in the Sky Parkway is gated overnight and doesn’t open until 8 a.m. Since the trailhead for the Inspiration Woods is just under a kilometre from the gate, we decided to just walk it rather than wait around for 30 minutes for the gate to open. The trail weaves through the interior of a cedar-hemlock rainforest in the Columbia Mountains.
We passed many small piles of burnt wood scattered throughout the forest. A few years ago, the park conducted tree clearing and brushing in the area to reduce the risk of wildfires along the base of the mountain.
Once we looped back to the trailhead, we returned to our campsite to eat breakfast and pack up. It was then time to hit the road again.
L
Great photos!
Thanks for your kind words. The mountain scenery was spectacular. I’m glad we had such beautiful weather to soak in the views.
Looks beautiful. And a refreshing diversion from a hot summer.
It was actually quite warm when we went out west, but the nice thing about camping in the mountains is that the temperature drastically drops overnight, which was very refreshing. It was also crazy to think that there was still a lot of snow on the summit of Mount Revelstoke.
Looked like a wonderful outing! The panoramic view of the town and lake from Revelstone viewpoint is wonderful. I also had a chuckle at the metal pants ski jump outlook spot. That’s a whimsical way to pay tribute to someone! So much to see and do in the West. Hope to also visit one of these days!
It’s neat how many of the national parks out west have a town nearby that shares the same name as the park. It’s also very convenient for grocery shopping, going out for a meal or even getting some ice cream. The Nels’ Knickers viewpoint was pretty cool. You can even lean into the metal pants, which was a bit scary considering how high up we were. It gives you a glimpse into what it would be like to ski jump. It’s definitely not the sport for me!
Not sure how I feel about kneeling into the metal pants but I’ll definitely enjoy the view otherwise! 😆
It was awkward to lean into them, but we had a good laugh and took some funny pictures! I don’t imagine the metal pants are very popular these days with COVID.
You certainly had great weather on your side throughout your Western journey. Looks like some good trails and views in Revelstoke Park. We are always passing through, so it has been a long time since we stopped there for a walk. Thanks for sharing Linda and have a great week. Allan
Oh I know. It’s funny because when we went out west in 2016, it was mostly overcast, cold and rainy. It was nice to return and see what we were missing. Even though it’s a long drive through the mountains, at least it’s super scenic and there are lots of great spots to take a break and stretch our legs. Thanks for reading. Take care. Linda
Sounds like you enjoyed it. Beautiful place
You bet. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. It’s too bad that the entire Meadows in the Sky Parkway wasn’t open yet, but hey, I guess that just means we’ll have to return someday.
We did much the same walks and skyway drive a few years ago. The forest is amazing.
That’s awesome. Mount Revelstoke may be a small national park, but it sure packs a punch in terms of its scenery and viewpoints. It’s too bad we couldn’t drive along the entire Meadows in the Sky Parkway. Apparently there was still 1-2 metres of snow on the summit when we visited.
The panoramic views are absolutely stunning! And you had some great hiking trails (for a change a few easy ones it seems 😄).
In some ways it was probably a good thing that only the easy trails were open as our bodies were getting sore and achy from all the hiking we’ve been doing on our road trip out west. Hiking in the mountains is much more strenuous than back home where it’s relatively flat, but the scenery sure is beautiful!
Fantastic views! I have yet to properly explore that park. When we stayed overnight there we drove up to the ski area and walked a bit around there. Revelstoke is one of my favourite B.C. cities!
It’s neat how the national parks out west are located near a small town that shares the same name as the park. We didn’t spend too much time in Revelstoke the town, but we did drive through a few of the streets. We tried to visit the Revelstoke Dam, but it had just closed by the time we rolled into the parking area. I guess this means we’ll just have to return someday to more fully explore the town and the park.
Thought that’s Nell’s Knickers sounded to be an odd name but it all made sense when I read about the famous skier and his pants! Though I’ve visited Glacier I hadn’t even heard of Mount Revelstoke NP so thanks for bringing it to my attention Linda.
His actual name is Nels Nelsen, which is also an odd name, but it’s fun to say, just like Nel’s Knickers. It was a bit trippy to stand on the platform and lean into the metal pants. I’m guessing those ski jumpers do not have a fear of heights! Mount Revelstoke is actually not too far from Glacier, only about a 30 minute drive. It’s great how so many of these national parks are located nearby, which makes for a very convenient road trip.
Beautiful trail yet again – I laughed at Nel’s Knickers!
Nel’s Knickers has a nice ring to it. It’s definitely a fun viewpoint with those metal pants that you can stand in that overlook the town below.
Fabulous!! I just got back from a trip to Scotland. Their mountains are beautiful but tiny in comparison to the Canadian Rockies.
The Canadian Rockies certainly have some stunning peaks. Hope you enjoyed your time in Scotland. I’ve heard such great things about the scenery, especially in the highlands. The weather on the other hand, not so much!
I had a great time and the sun shone every day! The scenery is amazing and so green.
That’s awesome! Glad to hear that you had a wonderful vacation and that the weather was fabulous. I’d love to visit Scotland someday.
Beautiful vistas! I loved the drive up that mountain and the views. We didn’t get the most out of our western trip because of the wildfire of the time. The air was so thick it made breathing hard. We had to change plans and drive south instead of continuing west. Looks like you could not have asked for better weather!
It’s too bad that the smoke from all the wildfires forced you to change plans. That was one of the reasons why we decided to head out west earlier in the summer as there’s less risk of a wildfire then. The downside was that there was still a lot of snow on the mountains, which prevented us from driving up to the very top of Mount Revelstoke. So we didn’t get the most out of our trip either, but hey, at least we got to enjoy the nice weather!
Your photos remind me to go hiking somewhere near Jakarta again after the last one in April this year. It’s always nice to be out in nature with viewpoints that afford you great vistas. Despite the sweat, I find this very relaxing to the mind in the end.
For sure. I find hiking is a great way to slow down, clear the mind and just focus on the present. Plus it’s a great way to get some exercise in while soaking in the scenery. Hiking in the mountains is always such a memorable experience.
Wonderful panoramic views, the weather really served you well. Mount Revelstoke NP has some lovely hiking trails. It’s a place I am unlikely to ever visit, so thanks for introducing me to its beauties and history.
Oh I know. We had such fabulous weather during our road trip out west through the Canadian Rockies, which was great for spending time on the trails and camping. Even though it was a long weekend, surprisingly Mount Revelstoke wasn’t too crowded.
Wow! Wonderful place and photos! So relaxing! Thank’s for share, Linda.
Have a lovely day! Keep well.
Elvira
Thanks for your kind words and for leaving a comment. We had a wonderful time exploring Mount Revelstoke and soaking in the views of the mountains. Have a wonderful weekend. Linda
Beautiful! I love the name ‘Meadows in the Sky’ Parkway… it absolutely makes me want to take that drive.
It’s a very fitting name for a scenic drive. Unfortunately we could only drive half way up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway as the summit was still covered in 1-2 metres of snow.
Perhaps Snow in the Meadows would have been a better name for it 😂
No kidding! At least the Snowforest Campground was aptly named.
another incredible tour of an incredible park. Your pictures are just so beautiful. It makes me miss the mountains so badly. But until I can get back to them, I will just happily get lost in your wonderful posts 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment. There’s something so magical about being in the mountains. The hiking is much more challenging, but it’s also very rewarding as the views are breathtaking.
I haven’t been to Revelstoke National Park in a very long time. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous pictures; you triggered some old memories!
Thanks for your kind words. We were unbelievably lucky to have had such nice weather during our road trip out west, which made us more fully appreciate the mountains.
The Revelstoke Viewpoint and the Rainforest Viewpoint provide really beautiful vantage points. Your photos of the mountains and forest are truly spectacular! I also really like your waterfall photos.
Thanks for your lovely comment. I’m glad we had such nice weather to enjoy the viewpoints and the trails. The scenery in Mount Revelstoke and of the surrounding mountains is beautiful.
Absolutely gorgeous Mountain View’s. And an inviting hiking trails. So beautiful to just take in the amazing fragrance of woods. Good for the body and soul. Thanks for the share 🙂
For sure. Spending time in nature can help soothe the soul. I find it helps put things into perspective. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Beautiful photos! Excellent place for trip. Mountains are awesome!;.😊😊🌹
Nice but it looked rather rugged and challenging compared to your Ontario parks.
Hiking in the mountains is definitely more challenging compared to Ontario where it’s relatively flat. It’s neat how the landscape is so different, including some of the tree species and wildlife.
When we were in Ontario, it seemed like we were always climbing up and down hills – unlike flat as a pancake Saskatchewan. I am sure the differences are fascinating. I find that following sites in the States – Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico – they don’t even look like they are on the same planet as us.
I guess this means we’ll just have to go to Saskatchewan! I’ve only been once, but that was for a work conference and I didn’t do any sightseeing or hiking. And no kidding, the landscape in those states is so unique with all the interesting rock formations. We’re actually thinking about visiting Utah next year.
Northern Saskatchewan is beautiful with its lakes and forests. I lived at LaRonge for a year when my oldest was an infant. The scenery, even in town, is stunning. Coming out of church on Sunday, we looked straight down a big hill to the lake. It was amazing. We lived feet from dense forest.
Sounds lovely. I’ve been trying to make an effort to explore more of Canada these days, so hopefully we’ll get to Saskatchewan soon.
I lived in several communities, pretty much all over the province but the more northern areas are the most scenic – Lloydminster, North Battleford, Spruce Lake (pop. 50 😂), La Ronge – and all of their surrounding areas. I have a son that went back to make his home in Lloyd so we go up there a few times a year.
Good to know. It’s crazy how teeny tiny some of the communities are up north! I gotta say, ever since we moved out of Toronto, there’s something really nice about knowing your neighbours. There’s a much stronger sense of community in the smaller towns. I can definitely see the appeal to it.
It depends on how appealing your neighbours are. 😂
Absolutely stunning photos. Thanks for the share.
Thanks for your kind words and for commenting. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.
Revelstoke looks so stunning. Those photos are seriously beautiful. I would be sitting there for hours marveling at that sight 🙂 I can see why you guys stop there to take pictures. I also get a kick out of the name, Inspiration Woods haha. Did you become inspired walking in there? That’s really cool how they have the burnt wood in this place too.
The mountain scenery is so beautiful. It’s all about making stops while on a road trip to help break up the drive and breath in some fresh air. I’m always inspired whenever I’m in nature, so the name of the trail was very fitting. It was nice to hike it first thing in the morning when everything was so quiet. And yah, I couldn’t figure out why there were so many of these burnt wood piles. At first I thought they were some random firepits, but we passed so many so it didn’t seem right. It wasn’t until afterwards when I did some googling that I found out about the prescribed burns.
That would shock me, too. You don’t expect to find charred wood randomly. Going early in the morning is very invigorating. My mom and I went early on our local woodsy trail. We saw fox, turkey and deer. It was almost magical feeling. We also avoided the brutal summer heat, going as early as we did. It was a total bonus 😜. Nature is very inspiring and full of unspoken wisdom. I can feel the years being next to the tall oaks and pines. I just love the way being in nature makes me feel. It’s a freedom that can’t be felt anywhere but in nature 🙂
Well said. I find being in nature helps put everything in my life into perspective. It is inspiring and definitely affects my well-being. I love hiking early in the morning too as I find the trails are typically quiet and it’s the best time to spot some wildlife. That’s neat that you saw a fox on the trail!!
It’s so true!!! Going early does allow more opportunities for nature to let loose. 🙂 The fix was a huge surprise. I never expected to see one so close. It was really neat. Fixes are such best little critters. I really like them. I love the quiet of early morning hiking, too. It’s a great way to start the day, especially when it’s fall. 🙂
For sure. Foxes are so clever and cute. It’s definitely starting to feel like fall. The nights are getting cooler and the leaves are already starting to change. Soon it’ll be time to buy pumpkins. Here’s hoping we get to enjoy a longer than usual fall season.
Lucky you that the weather held up and it seems you had less difficulties with snow. Thanks for taking me along and help me feel that cool Canadian air.
It’s always a huge bonus to have nice weather while camping or spending time out on the trail. There was actually over a metre of snow still on the summit of Mount Revelstoke, so we couldn’t actually made it all the way to the end of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway scenic drive. Either way, we still had a wonderful time. Thanks for reading. Linda
Always beautiful scenery. And that name: Nels’ Knickers. Sounds like a clothing item, for sure!
For sure. The mountain scenery is spectacular. And yes! Nel’s Knickers totally sounds like an article of clothing. Plus it’s fun to pronounce.
Gorgeous views!
We were lucky and had such fabulous weather during our road trip out west. Even though we weren’t able to drive all the way up to the summit of Mount Revelstoke because of the snow, at least we got to admire the scenery of the surrounding area.
Oooh it is good to see that there is so much more to explore in Mount Revelstoke! We did visit (and did the amaaaaazing meadows in the sky to Jade Lake) but I was wondering how the other trails are on the way up. It is great to see they are also lovely.
It’s a shame that the Meadows in the Sky Parkway wasn’t all the way open when we visited at the beginning of July, we were only able to make it about halfway up the mountain. I have a feeling we’ll be back someday. There’s so much incredible scenery and hiking in the Canadian Rockies.