Visiting responsibly means treating our community as you would your own. Be respectful of bylaws, control your pets, and minimize your impact on our environment. If you are staying for a little while, consider volunteering for one of our many local non-profits. They say home is where you park it, so make sure you treat Revelstoke like your home while you're here.

If you're here on a Saturday, our local farmers market is an excellent place to stock up on provisions. The summer markets are held at Grizzly Plaza and on First street from 8:30am - 1pm from May to October. The plaza comes alive with crowds of people and a vibrant market atmosphere. You’ll find fresh local fruits and vegetables, local honey, baking, preserves, locally-made crafts, knitting, fresh flowers, unique metal and woodworks, food vendors and more. 

There's a common expression that we know well in Revelstoke: a fed bear is a dead bear. 

Before heading out to explore our wild spaces, make sure that you are properly equipped and that you have the knowledge to properly deal with wildlife encounters. Because Revelstoke is situated in the heart of British Columbia's wilderness, wildlife encounters can happen anywhere. Whether you're going for a stroll on the Illecillewaet Greenbelt, driving the Meadows in the Sky Parkway or summiting Mount Begbie, make sure you know what to do if you encounter wildlife while you're out exploring.

The most important step to avoiding problematic wildlife encounters is simple: give wildlife ample space. Stay at least 100 metres away from bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves. Give other wildlife at least 30 metres of space. Approaching wildlife or allowing wildlife to approach you can lead to them no longer being wary of people and puts yourself, others and wildlife at risk. 

Wildlife is attracted to scents, including food, bath products and cleaning products. If you are camping or picnicking in Revelstoke, ensure that you take care to set up and clean up properly. When leaving your campsite for the day, pack up all cooking equipment. Do not leave any garbage or food unattended. If you are camping in the backcountry, some sites have bear storage lockers. In campsites without bear lockers, you will need to be prepared to make a bear hang. 

It's important that wildlife don't become habituated to eating human food. Wild animals who become used to handouts will lose their natural fear of people. This draws them into populated areas and makes them a threat to communities. Don't feed animals directly, and ensure that you don't feed them indirectly. Cleaning up your food and keeping your garbage secure will ensure that you don't give our wildlife an unintentional treat. 

Some wilderness areas are permanently closed to certain types of traffic to protect both visitors and wildlife. In particular some areas are closed to protect mountain caribou habitat. Parks Canada will sometimes institute specific regulations about group numbers or close specific trails because of problem wildlife. Our Visitor Information Centre is a great source for the latest closures and regulations.

For most people who have never spent any time in the Canadian wilderness or even driving down our highways, a bear is either one of two things: as thirsty for man-flesh as a tiger who hasn’t had a decent meal in two weeks or as soft and fuzzy as a 3-year-old’s teddy bear. Both of these perceptions of bears are extreme exaggerations of the real thing. Bears are neither as ferocious or cuddly as people seem to think they are.

Bears are omnivores; meaning that they eat both meat and vegetation. Most of their diet consists of nuts, berries, fruit, leaves, and roots. They will also eat small rodents, fish, and sometimes large game animals, like deer. 

Generally, bears don’t like to run into humans and humans don’t like to run into bears. They are animals of solitude and quiet so will avoid areas with noise. If you don’t have the privilege of bringing live little noise makers on your trip, put your singing talents to the test with some ‘forest karaoke’. Chances are the bears will appreciate your vocal skills as much as a panel of American Idol judges. Once your vocal chords need a rest or you would prefer not to sing, clap your hands every once in a while or shout phrases like “Hey bear!” and “Ay-Oh!”. Bear spray can only be used within 9 meters away from a bear and should be used as a last resort.

However, if you do run into a bear in close range there are a few strategies that can prevent you from participating in a human vs. bear showdown: 

Stay calm and make no sudden movements. Running away is probably the worst thing to do. Speak in a calm, soothing voice to let the bear know what you are, (and that you “come in peace!”). Back away slowly and don’t make eye contact. Most likely the bear won’t be interested in your existence and everything will be okay. 

Bears only become aggressive when they are protecting their cubs or food source. If you see a mother and her cubs while hiking, back away slowly and leave the area. You don’t want to turn your back.

Getting charged by a bear is very unlikely. Most attacks from bears are a bluff. If you are being bluff charged by a bear, stand your ground and stay calm. After the bear bluff charges, back away slowly and give the bear space to exit (back away as you want to keep an eye on what the bear is doing). But if the bear is a black bear and continues to show aggression, fight back. If the bear is a grizzly stay in a tucked position (tuck knees up to chest and hands behind head).  

In any case of a bear sighting, call the provincial government’s Conservation Officer Service hotline, at 1-877-952-7277. This is the 24 hour, “Report All Poachers and Polluters” (RAPP) hotline.

Every one of us in BC can play our part to stop the spread of invasive species and protect our province. When you're recreating in Revelstoke, follow these simple steps to help prevent the spread of invasive species. 

Arrive with clean gear; 

Stay on designated trails; and 

Remove plants and seeds from your boots and gear before leaving trails

Many of our trailheads are equipped with brushes and signage to help prevent the transmission of invasive species. By being mindful and practicing these simple steps, outdoor recreationalists can stop the spread of invasive species and protect our valuable natural resources. 

Boats and other watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, easily and frequently carry invasive species from one body of water to another. These aquatic invaders are entering BC’s beautiful lakes, streams, and wetlands. Boaters, anglers and paddlers can all take action now to help stop the spread by practicing Clean Drain Dry. As individual recreationists, marinas, and stewardship groups, we can all help to reduce the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species such as Zebra and Quagga mussels, Largemouth bass, and Eurasian watermilfoil.

When transferring your watercraft from one body of water to another: 

CLEAN - Inspect and clean plants, animals and mud from watercraft, trailer and gear.

DRAIN - Drain all water from your watercraft, trailer and gear (e.g. buckets, well, bilge, ballast etc.)

DRY - Dry all parts of your watercraft, trailer, and gear completely between trips

The seven Leave No Trace principles are well-established guidelines to follow in the outdoors. By following these simple rules, you'll help to minimize your impact on our environment and keep Revelstoke wild for everyone. 

Plan ahead and prepare: Before heading out on an adventure, whether it’s into the depths of Glacier National Park or a walk on the Illecillewaet Greenbelt, ensure that you are well-prepared with the correct equipment and knowledge. Check park regulations before planning your trip and ensure that your group size and route plan are appropriate. Our weather can change rapidly; make sure you pack for all conditions. 

Travel and camp on durable surfaces: When you’re out on the trail, stick to existing trails where possible. Do not leave the trail and cause braiding. If there is no trail, travel on gravel, rock, dry grasses or snow. If you’re camping in the backcountry, camp on established sites where possible. If you must camp in an unestablished site, try to pick a camping spot without vegetation. Protect riparian areas by camping at least 70 metres from lakes and streams.

Dispose of waste properly: If you pack something in, make sure you pack it out. This includes trash, both organic and inorganic, toilet paper and hygiene products. To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 70 meters away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater. If you’re using soap make sure it’s biodegradable.

Leave what you find: The key idea behind leave no trace practices is to leave places as you find them. When camping, don't create structures or create fire rings. Replace anything you move to clear your tent site. Leave natural objects as you find them, and don’t pick flowers or take souvenirs from the trail. If you find an object of interest, take a photo rather than taking the object.

Minimize campfire impacts: Campfires can have lasting impacts in the backcountry and potentially be catastrophic for our forests and community. Check for fire regulations before lighting a campfire. Use existing fire rings where possible and make sure your fires are properly extinguished.

Respect Wildlife: If you see wildlife on your adventures, observe it from a distance. Do not follow or approach wildlife. Do not feed animals. Feeding wildlife can be harmful to their health and can alter their natural behaviours. Keep your garbage secure to avoid feeding them accidentally. Keep your pets under control or leave them at home.

Be considerate of others: Respect others and protect the quality of their experience. Locals and visitors value Revelstoke’s wilderness and natural surroundings; avoid playing loud music or disrupting the sounds of nature. Be courteous and kind; yield to others on the trail.

We've all been there. You're hiking along on the trail, keeping an eye out for slippery roots and listening to the crunch of dirt under your boots when a promising viewpoint opens up ten feet to your right. You strain your neck to see over the edge, but a shrub blocks your view. You look down, and it is clear that at least one or two other people have stepped off the trail to get a better view. "What harm can it do?" you think. "I wouldn't be the first one." So really, what is the harm? 

On the surface, trails may seem like they have one purpose: to get you where you want to go, as safely as possible. Constructed trails do just that—they travel through natural areas, leading hikers to scenic viewpoints or through beautiful terrain. They are, in effect, the transportation grid of the backcountry. 

But trails do something else, too: they help protect the landscape you are traveling through. Trails consolidate impact by providing a single route for feet, hooves, and bicycle wheels to stay on. Modern trails are also laid out with durability in mind, and trail designers utilize best practices to create routes that are built to last for decades. Though building a trail is an impact, it protects the rest of the landscape from harm. As the knowledgeable folks at Leave No Trace say, "it's better to have one well-designed route than many poorly-chosen routes." That's what a trail is for. 

When you're hiking, tread lightly on the land by staying within the width of the trail. Trust that the trail designers will give you plenty of opportunities for that perfect picture and that panoramic view you've worked hard to reach. When you see a wet area on the trail, walk right through it instead of skirting around it and widening the trail. If the trail is wet and the mud sticks to your boots, turn around and try again another day. It may seem like no big deal on the day you're hiking, but the mud sticking to your soles means you are causing damage to the trail that may last for the entire season, or longer. 

Keeping your impacts to a minimum not only helps to protect the area you're traveling through but also ensures that those who come after you can have just as wild an experience as you did. Think of it as a gift to the future...and we think we can all get behind that.