Mount Revelstoke National Park

Park Mountain park with old-growth forests and alpine meadows

A British Columbia park known for the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, alpine meadows, backcountry hiking and heli-skiing; accessible from Revelstoke town.

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Mount Revelstoke National Park is a protected area in British Columbia established in the early 20th century to conserve the mountain and forest landscapes near Revelstoke. The park protects a sequence of low-elevation rainforest, subalpine meadows, and alpine ridgelines on the eastern edge of the Columbia Mountains.

Visitors use a scenic ascent road to reach high-elevation viewpoints and short hiking trails that cross open meadows and ridgelines, with wildflowers in summer and vivid colours in autumn. The park also contains accessible old-growth cedar groves reached by boardwalks and short trails.

The park was created to protect the local mountain environment and has since been managed for both conservation and day-use recreation. Facilities are focused around the main access road and a few maintained trailheads and picnic areas.

Geographically, the park sits immediately west of the city of Revelstoke and occupies slopes rising from the Columbia River valley into the Columbia Mountains, offering direct access from the Trans-Canada corridor.

  • Establishment: One of Canada's older national parks, it was established to protect the mountain landscapes and forest ecosystems around the Revelstoke area.
  • Best season: Alpine meadows bloom in summer and provide the park's signature high-elevation scenery; the Parkway is the primary seasonal access route to those meadows.

What to See #

  • Meadows in the Sky Parkway: A scenic road that climbs from near the park entrance into subalpine meadows and provides access to short trails and panoramic viewpoints at higher elevation.
  • Giant Cedars boardwalk: A short boardwalk through an inland old-growth cedar stand that showcases large, ancient trees and is accessible from a low-elevation trailhead.
Mount Revelstoke National Park
Mount Revelstoke National Park, Revelstoke area, British Columbia, Canada
51.0290, -118.1858
Park open year-round; visitor centre seasonal (see website)
Parks Canada entry fees apply (single-day or Discovery Pass)

How to Get to Mount Revelstoke National Park #

Mount Revelstoke National Park is reached from the town of Revelstoke via the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). The park entrance and the start of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway are a few kilometres east of downtown Revelstoke, a short 5-10 minute drive from the town centre.

There is no frequent intercity rail directly into the park; most visitors arrive by car on Highway 1 from Revelstoke or by driving from nearby communities and then follow park signage to trailheads and viewpoints.

Tips for Visiting Mount Revelstoke National Park #

  • Drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway early in the morning (road is seasonal) to reach the alpine meadows and viewpoints before tour vehicles and RVs arrive - the summit-area parking gives access to short alpine trails that many day-trippers skip.
  • Enter via Revelstoke (Trans‑Canada Highway) and stop first at the park's visitor centre for current trail and road conditions; trailheads off the Parkway lead to quieter alpine loops, so plan to do one short hike rather than just the viewpoint.
  • If the Parkway is closed for the season, focus on lower-elevation trails near the highway and check for recent avalanche-mitigation or road‑maintenance notices - services and access are concentrated around Revelstoke so time your visit to daylight hours.

Best Time to Visit Mount Revelstoke National Park #

Summer (July-August) offers the most reliable access and hiking conditions in Mount Revelstoke National Park, with late spring and early autumn also excellent.

Late spring / early summer
June-July · 5-20°C
Snow melts lower on the slopes, alpine wildflowers appear and park roads and trails open for hiking and viewpoints.
Summer (peak hiking season)
July-August · 10-25°C
Warmest, most reliable weather for hiking, scenic drives and backcountry access, though higher elevations can remain cool.
Autumn (fall colors)
September-October · 0-15°C
Crisp days and fall foliage at mid-elevations; earlier snow becomes possible late in the season.

Weather & Climate near Mount Revelstoke National Park #

Climate

Mount Revelstoke National Park's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1238 mm/year), wettest in January.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
23°
Warmest Month
-8°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of -4°C and lows of -8°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (159 mm).

Comfort

-6°
Feels Like Freezing
-6°C
Temperature
-8° -4°

Weather

159 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm

February

February is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).

Comfort

-3°
Feels Like Freezing
-3°C
Temperature
-6°

Weather

103 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm

March

March is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-4°

Weather

89 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

April

April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°

Weather

67 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

May

May is cold with highs of 16°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm).

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cold
10°C
Temperature
16°

Weather

70 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
20°

Weather

88 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm

July

July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm).

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
10° 23°

Weather

85 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

August

August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (76 mm).

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
23°

Weather

76 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

September

September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
17°

Weather

80 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm

October

October is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (113 mm).

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

113 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

November

November is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm).

Comfort

-1°
Feels Like Freezing
-1°C
Temperature
-3°

Weather

154 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm

December

December is freezing with highs of -3°C and lows of -7°C. Significant rainfall (154 mm).

Comfort

-5°
Feels Like Freezing
-5°C
Temperature
-7° -3°

Weather

154 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm

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