Westcastle Valley

The Westcastle Valley is a 29-km out and back mountain biking trip that follows the Westcastle River to its headwaters. The trail rates as moderately difficult with a few minor climbs along the way. Over the past few years most of the bridges have been repaired but there are still some opportunities to get your feet wet. Much of this trip is in the valley bottom but you do get occasional spectacular views of places like Rainy Ridge, Mt. Haig, and the top end of the valley. The Westcastle Valley’s spectacular scenery is not in constant view but when you do get a view you can’t beat it with its red, green, and steel blue Purcell Rocks. Be aware the first 3-km of this trail is frequented by 4WD and all-terrain vehicles.

This is a classic cruising trail along a good gravel and clay doubletrack. With its gentle climbs the trail follows the bottom of the marvellous Westcastle Valley running beside and some times across the Westcastle River to its headwaters. At the junction at 2.4-km you will find a clearing that was the site of an old oil well and a favourite spot on the river for many fishermen. Beware that the right-hand fork here will take you to more difficult mountain biking with the climb up Middle Kootenay Pass. At about 6.2-km you climb up the side of valley and have a spectacular view of Rainy Ridge to the right. Following this clearing you are at tree level again for most of the rest of the trip but once in a while you get a glimpse of the top end of the valley acting as a carrot on a stick. At 12.7-km you arrive at another fork with the left-hand fork again leading to another level of mountain biking with the climb to Sunkist Ridge, a favourite of some hardcore mountain bikers. Once at the top of the valley take in the scenery and get set for the fast trip out. When back at the trailhead you may be wondering why it seemed so easy on the way out, was there really that much up hill on the way in?