Last updated on August 30th, 2024 at 03:02 pm
The Greenbelt Pathway trail is the perfect easy stroll if you are in Revelstoke. It provides incredible views and is located close to downtown and so it’s easy to reach on foot if you are wandering around town.
It is paved so it’s perfect for anyone to tackle or if you want a bit more adventure follow one of the off shoots from the main trail, most of these take you down to the river and offer up beautiful views and great spots to stop and enjoy lunch or a coffee. The Greenbelt Pathway is also a perfect activity for a rainy day in Revelstoke.
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Finding The Greenbelt Pathway
There are a number of different entrances and access points for the Greenbelt Pathway in Revelstoke. The closest to downtown is the Centennial Park access which is at one end of the trail system. There is parking here as well so it’s a nice and easy spot to start if you are driving from outside of town.
The Greenbelt Pathway
From Centennial Park the trail follows the river, there are some benches to sit and enjoy the view back up the river. There are a few interpretive signs along the length of the paved trail which provide snippets of information about the trail.
This is a popular trail so expect to encounter others, I saw lots of people out walking their dogs, pushing children in strollers and people out for a run.
That being said, there are a number of well worn dirt paths which shoot off of the main paved trail, these are well used and some of them take you right down to the river’s edge where you can walk along the rocky river bed when the water is low.
I really enjoyed exploring these trails and the peace they offered. It was surprising to me how close to downtown you could be but how far removed the trail felt from civilization. I did end up getting cut off eventually and had to backtrack to find a trail which would lead to a pedestrian bridge to cross the Illecillewaet River.
In winter there are maintained cross country ski trails here after the pedestrian bridge which I stumbled across, these are maintained by the Illecillewaet Greenbelt society. It was late in the season but there was still a visible double trackset to be seen and I’ll be back to ski here since the trails are mostly flat and run along beside the river.
If you are hiking here in winter, make sure to stay off the trackset or find a different offshoot trail which isn’t trackset for skiing. The maintenance of these trails is completed by volunteers and it would be a shame to ruin the hard work.
Overall the Greenbelt Pathway is the perfect year round trail. No matter what the weather or your ability, this trail is geared to accommodate everyone.
What You Might Need
If you are sticking to the paved Greenbelt Pathway, you could complete the stroll in any shoes, if it were summer I’d be happy to do it in my Chaco Cloud sandals. Since it wasn’t summer and the trail was wet I opted for my La Sportiva Raptor 2 hiking boots, perfect for once I stepped off the cleared paved trail onto the snowy and muddy trails.
You don’t need to carry a backpack but I would, that way you can keep snacks and water in it, so when you find a nice peaceful place to stop, you can have a treat and watch the river running by and marvel at the surrounding mountains.
Even though the Greenbelt Pathway is a busy trail, I’d still carry bear spray with me, just in case of an encounter. Make sure to carry it and know how to use it.
Places To Stay To Hike The Greenbelt Pathway
If you are coming during summer there are a number of different campgrounds around Revelstoke. We’ve stayed at the Parks Canada Snowforest site and it is awesome. Modern bathrooms and clean sites make this a great option.
We stayed at the Northwinds by Basecamp motel, it was a really great price, the room was large with a fridge and microwave. It had everything we needed for a comfortable stay with no frills and for a great price.
If you are looking for something a bit more high end, there are a number of options including Basecamp Resorts in Revelstoke, although just outside of downtown these gorgeous suites have everything you need for a great time. There is a river trail which will bring you towards town and then you can continue to walk through town to get to the Greenbelt Pathway, a great option to extend your hike.
Alternatively The Regent Hotel is right in downtown Revelstoke making it the perfect base for a rainy stay in Revelstoke, with a bar and a restaurant attached.
