Columbia and Western Trail

Columbia and Western Trail Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Columbia and Western Trail, Landmark & historical place, Castlegar, BC.

The Columbia and Western Trail in Southern British Columbia.The Trail rides along the abandon Canadian Pacific Railway from Castlegar to Midway and joins the famous Kettle Valley Line. The Columbia and Western Trail is 162 km long from Castlegar to Midway and travels the abandoned Canadian Pacific Boundary Subdivision with the last train going thru in 1991.

Smoldering Cigarette Butt Discovered at the Castlegar Pumphouse GateA child of one of the residents heading up to Shield...
07/26/2022

Smoldering Cigarette Butt Discovered at the Castlegar Pumphouse Gate

A child of one of the residents heading up to Shields who fortunately has a good eye, discovered a smoldering cigarette butt in the pine needles at the Castlegar pumphouse gate today. Fortunately, she alerted her parents who took the pictures and put it out.

It's hard to believe anyone could be so careless to let this happen.

Unfortunately we will never know who to remind of the potential catastrophic consequences for the entire community with such a careless act.

Please be vigilante with the extreme fire weather happening and more extreme in the forecast. It would not have taken a bit if wind to blow the cigarette butt into the dry grass and have a disaster underway.

It also doesn’t hurt to stop and take a quick look around sometime. If a child can do it, so can everyone else.

Have fun on the C&W and stay safe!

12/23/2021

Seasons Greetings on the Columbia and Western Rail Grade.

Have a safe and happy Christmas!

Fire pit ripped out at stolen at the Bulldog TunnelSometime more than likely on Tuesday night, someone drove up and dug ...
11/06/2021

Fire pit ripped out at stolen at the Bulldog Tunnel

Sometime more than likely on Tuesday night, someone drove up and dug up, ripped out, and stole the steel Fire pit at the Bulldog Tunnel kiosk. The vehicle tracks appear to lead in and out the Bulldog Forest Service Road.

This is very, very disappointing that thieves and vandals would do such a thing, most of the infrastructure on the Columbia and Western including the steel fire pits were all funded and installed by volunteers and the local community for everyone to enjoy.

The steel fire pits are highly recognizable, being manufactured at Castlegar Machine and Chrome with the “CWTS” welded right on them.

The club and community are offering a $1000 reward for information on who is responsible. If you have any information, please contact the Castlegar RCMP.

Rail Traffic returns to the Columbia and Western! The big trestles get the big checkup from the Doctor.The big trestles ...
09/21/2021

Rail Traffic returns to the Columbia and Western! The big trestles get the big checkup from the Doctor.

The big trestles on the C&W at McCormack Creek, Farr Creek, and Cub Creek received a long overdue visit from the High-Rail Snooper Truck and the Engineers to inspect and re-certify them. Although not actually riding the rails which are unfortunately long gone, these contractors who regularly work for the CPR and CN Rail on todays real rail lines, got a bit of a treat to visit some of the great CPR infrastructure from yesteryear on the C&W.

With not actually having a proper trestle inspection done since the CPR left in 1990, the great news from the Engineer is, after 100 years these steel trestles built in a different era have stood the test of time, and can actually be re-certified for a train, (if you can believe it) and this great news ensures that they will be around to serve us all for the foreseeable future. This must be a testament to the construction by our forefathers over a 100 years ago, when steel was steel.

We don’t get much Rail related traffic on the C&W these days, but it was good to see a real High Rail Truck actually pay the C&W a visit after some 32 years of absence. It was also good to catch a few pictures coming through at the Bulldog Tunnel, and at Farron.

Special thanks to Forest Minister Katrine Conroy for prioritizing staff and funds to properly maintain the major infrastructure. It’s really good to see this long overdue work actually getting done!

Have fun on the Rail Grade!

Red Flag Notice, Cougar on the Columbia and Western, Monday, May 24th.Yesterday at around 4:00pm, a group of people had ...
05/24/2021

Red Flag Notice, Cougar on the Columbia and Western, Monday, May 24th.

Yesterday at around 4:00pm, a group of people had stopped at the Bulldog Tunnel covered kiosk at 39km. While stopped, they discovered that they were being watched by a Cougar only 50 feet up the bank from the covered picnic kiosk.

They quickly loaded up and left the area as quickly as possible. It was a pretty unnerving incident.

This Red Flag Notice is being sent out warning everyone. Any close encounters with the animal would be extremely dangerous.

Walking, Hiking or Cycling is not recommend right now in the area 4km each side of the Bulldog Tunnel. Obviously do not plan to camp anywhere near the Bulldog Tunnel or in the covered Kiosk for now.

Also, please be extra careful if you are quading or driving up the Columbia and Western Rail Grade. Hopefully the animal moves on sooner than later.

Stay safe on the Rail Grade!

Red Flag Notice, Grizzly Bear on the Columbia and Western, Friday, May 21st.There have been multiple run ins with a Griz...
05/21/2021

Red Flag Notice, Grizzly Bear on the Columbia and Western, Friday, May 21st.

There have been multiple run ins with a Grizzly Bear around 47Km (near Farron) on the Columbia and Western. Fortunately, he does seem to take off into the bush pretty quick when he sees anyone, but he also does seem to come right back to the Rail Grade after everyone leaves.

The Grizzly Bears had been a bit MIA this Spring on the Rail Grade compared to last spring, but they have definitely showed back up now. This guy appears to be one of the cubs from last year from around Farron, now out on his own.

This Red Flag Notice is being sent out warning everyone. He is a bit smaller, and afraid, but very much still a wild Grizzly Bear.

Walking, Hiking or Cycling is not recommend right now in the area 46km (Porcupine Creek) and 50Km. (Near Farron)

Also, please be extra careful if you are quading or driving up the Columbia and Western Rail Grade. Hopefully the animal moves on sooner than later.

Stay safe on the Rail Grade!

Red Flag Notice, large Black Bear on the Columbia and Western, near the Castlegar Terminus Friday, May 21st.Several peop...
05/21/2021

Red Flag Notice, large Black Bear on the Columbia and Western, near the Castlegar Terminus Friday, May 21st.

Several people have had multiple run-ins with a large black bear that has shown up, and is hanging around barely 500 meters past the pumphouse gate in Castlegar between 9-10km.

This Red Flag Notice is being sent out warning everyone. It is a very large Black Bear and any close encounters with the animal would be extremely dangerous.

People who have had run ins with the Bear are reporting he would not move off very far, and seems to be coming right back to the same area.

Walking, Hiking or Cycling is not recommend right now in the area between the Castlegar parking lot at 8.8Km and 11km, is not advised right now.)

Also, please be extra careful if you are quading or driving up the Columbia and Western Rail Grade. Hopefully the animal moves on sooner than later.

Stay safe on the Rail Grade!

Red Flag Notice, Adult Cougar on the Columbia and Western, Wednesday, May 19th.One of the local residents crossed paths ...
05/19/2021

Red Flag Notice, Adult Cougar on the Columbia and Western, Wednesday, May 19th.

One of the local residents crossed paths with a very large adult Cougar on the Columbia and Western Rail Grade at 24Km near Shields Creek last night on the Rail Grade at about 8:30pm.

This Red Flag Notice is being sent out warning everyone. It is a full grown adult Cougar, and any close encounters with the animal would be extremely dangerous.

Walking, Hiking or Cycling is not recommend right now in the area 4km each side of Shields. (Basically between the McCormack and Farr Creek Trestles.)

Also, the animal was within 1 km of the Shields Covered Kiosk, and it is not recommended to overnight camp at Shields for now.

The Residents at Shields Creek have also be notified, the animal was within 1 km of the houses.

Also, please be extra careful if you are quading or driving up the Columbia and Western Rail Grade. Hopefully the animal moves on sooner than later.

Stay safe on the Rail Grade!

Irresponsible, Reckless, and Unacceptable Behavior on The Columbia and Western Rail Grade and in the Community!Today, th...
05/17/2021

Irresponsible, Reckless, and Unacceptable Behavior on The Columbia and Western Rail Grade and in the Community!

Today, the B.C. Wildfire crews had to respond to a serious wildfire that was started on private land immediately adjacent to the Columbia and Western Rail Grade near the Castlegar Terminus.

Preliminary investigation by the B.C. Wildfire crews have traced back the point of ignition to a campfire that was left smoldering and abandoned by a probable hiker, on a fairly remote and hard to access skid trail on private land immediately adjacent to the Rail Grade.

As most people know, leaving a campfire to burn itself out, is a very, very, very bad idea and can lead to a disaster, as it did today.

It is also very much against the law, and very reckless towards the entire community as a whole.

Private land owners with acreage, timber and woodlands no longer have the ability to hold insurance coverage against Forest Fires. (Especially ones started by idiots.) Incidents like this, give re-enforcement to ban public access across private lands for this very real liability reason.

All the Columbia and Western Rail Grade users share access across private lands, and also with many residents, farmers, and industry partners who also have adjoining acreages and private lands. We value these partnerships and relationships with these farmers, land owners, residents, and industry partners and the community as a whole.

"Smokey the Bear" is actually the longest running public service announcement campaign in the United States history with origins back to 1944. Please, go back to kindergarten and study "Smokey the Bear" before you show up anywhere on, or near the Columbia and Western Rail Grade, or anywhere outdoors in the local communities or the Province.

The B.C. Wildfire Service is looking for any witnesses or information regarding this incident. The Private Land owner is also offering a reward for any information regarding this incident. Please contact the B.C. Wildfire Service in Castlegar, or the Castlegar R.C.M.P. if you have any information.

To Report a Wildfire in B.C., dial 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.

Special Thanks from the community to the resident who spotted the fire and called it in. You more than likely averted a very large disaster for the community.

And Special Thanks to Mercer and the B.C. Wildfire crews for the quick response today. Definitely, Partners in the Community!

Thanks

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Castlegar, BC
V1N3H4

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