The Trans Canada Trail through the Boundary and West Kootenay regions comes from the west on the historic Kettle Valley Railway past Greenwood, Grand Forks and Christina Lake. The railgrade then makes a big climb over the mountains, passing through some tunnels and over some trestles to Castlegar. Here, the Kettle Valley Railway ends.
The trail continues through Castlegar on streets and byways, crossing the Columbia River to rural Ooteschenia and then down the undeveloped east side of the river on old roads and single-track trail to the City of Trail. Then, through the City of Trail and beyond to the Pend d’Oreille River valley where it heads east to Salmo and beyond.
From Christina Lake near the U.S. border, this route takes a big loop up to the north and then south to the Pend d’Oreille Valley - again near the U.S border.
Alternative trails through Rossland cross the base of this loop along the U.S. border.
These trails are on, or near the portion of the historic Dewdney pack trail in this region – it ran 700 km, or so from Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, all the way to Fort Steele near Cranbrook and the Alberta border.
To follow these trails through Rossland, travel east from Christina Lake on the Dewdney Trail (signposted) and over the “2nd Summit” and down to the tiny rural community of Sheep Creek. Then, up to the top of the “1st Summit”.
From here, either
(a) follow the gravel Rossland-Cascade Road gradually descending to Rossland, and then pick up the Railgrade Trail to Warfield and the adjacent City of Trail; or
(b) descend steeply on the excellent trail within the KCTS trails network named the “Dewdney Trail” or the “Dewdney Drop”. It ends in Paterson where it crosses Hwy#22. Then, go up the Doukhobor Draw Trail and over a height of land and down onto the Railgrade Trail in lower Rossland. Follow the Railgrade Trail down to Warfield and then on to the adjacent City of Trail.
These trails are excellent for hikers, horsemen and energetic bikers.