The Great Circle Tour encompasses the entire Kootenay Rockies, a region of majestic natural beauty.  Discover spectacular views, woodland walks, hanging glaciers, hidden hot springs, sparkling lakes, outstanding resorts, wonderful attractions and friendly mountain towns.  International gateways include Calgary Alberta from the east and Spokane Washington from the U.S. in the south.  If you have a couple of weeks, plan to do it all.  If you have only a couple of days, you may like to choose one of the mini-tours.

Let's begin the Great Circle Tour from Calgary travelling westerly on the TransCanada Hwy #1 through Banff and Yoho National Parks and on to the mountain town of Golden.

(See Golden Triangle Tour for details on Yoho and Golden)

From Golden, continue along Hwy #1 to Glacier National Park.  With over 400 glaciers covering one-tenth of its area, this park is a stunning setting for some fascinating mountaineering history.  The Rogers Pass Centre is filled with memorabilia and photographs from this romantic era.  Shortly after you leave the park, you'll arrive at Canyon Hot Springs; a wonderful place to take a break and relax.  Restaurant, campground and cabin accommodation is offered.  Further west, you'll find rare old growth rainforest, containing cedar trees that are 1,000 years old in Mt Revelstoke National Park, with easy access on interpretive boardwalk trails.  Watch for signs to the Meadows in the Sky Parkway and drive to within 2 kilometres of the summit. 

The railway city of Revelstoke, is situated at the highway junctions #1 and #23.  Pick up a Heritage Tour brochure from the Info Centre and learn about the fascinating history.  Visit Revelstoke's excellent Railway Museum or take a tour of BC Hydro's colossal Revelstoke Dam, just minutes north of town.  Nineteen kilometres west of Revelstoke, is the unique community of Three Valley.  It combines a large modern resort with a historic town, allowing visitors to step back in history to relive the colourful pioneer days of the late 1880s.  And, just moments further west on Hwy #1 is The Enchanted Forest, Crazy Creek Falls and Craigellachie, famous for the point where the 'last spike' was driven, joining the western part of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the segment built from the east.

From Revelstoke, head south on Hwy #23 along the Upper Arrow Lake to Shelter Bay ferry landing and the Silvery Slocan.  As you continue travelling south along the Arrow and Slocan Lakes, visit the villages of Nakusp, New Denver, Sandon, Silverton and Slocan.  Once you reach Hwy #3A, a trip to beautiful Nelson is a must; all outlined in the Silvery Slocan Tour.

After a short drive south on Hwy #3A, the city of Castlegar will welcome you.  Enjoy some quiet time at Zuckerberg Heritage Park and learn about local history at the Doukhobor Village Museum and the Station Museum.  Take Hwy #3/3B or #22 to Rossland 'Canada's Alpine City' and right next door to the industrial city of Trail.  See the Discovery Loop.  Continuing east on Hwy #3B, you'll pass through some very quaint heritage villages before you arrive at Salmo, famous for its murals, made from locally quarried stone and depicting local historic themes.

Continue your tour south on Hwy #6/3 to the charming small town of Creston which boasts plentiful orchards resulting in many roadside stands selling seasonal fruits and vegetables.  The Creston Wildlife Management Area is a wildlife sanctuary and an important layover for birds.  Visit the Interpretive Centre, take a voyageur canoe tour or stroll along the marshes on a boardwalk.

Hwy #3/95 will lead you to the 'Key City to the Rockies' Cranbrook.  Cranbrook's heritage lies in the romantic age of railroading and it's celebrated in the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel.  The centrepiece of the train displays, is the restored complete set of the TransCanada Limited, a million dollar train set built in 1929.  The newest addition is the Royal Alexandra Hall.  Cranbrook is the commercial centre for the area; see a concert at the Key City Theatre or try your luck at the Casino of the Rockies.

From Cranbrook, take Hwy #93/95, for a visit to Fort Steele Heritage Town or the Elk Valley, (See the Rockies and Ranchlands Tour) or Hwy #95A to the 'Bavarian City of the Rockies', Kimberley.

The centre of Kimberley is the Platzl, surrounded by shuttered windows and flower baskets.  Kimberley's mining heritage is a prominent focal point in the community; the Bavarian Mining Railway takes a trip through history which visits the powerhouse.  Kimberley also boasts three fine golf courses, Cominco Gardens, a family fun park and many festivals such as the famous International Old Time Accordion Championships.

From Kimberley, head north on Hwy #95A to Highway #93/95.  If you're ready to leave the highway behind for a while, take the Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park turnoff, near Canal Flats to the Lussier Hot Springs.    This drive is 18 km (11 mi) on gravel road; there are several pools among the boulders which average 44°C (111°F).

Once you're back on Hwy #93/95, at Fairmont Hot Springs, an elegant 4 1/2 star resort offers you the ultimate in relaxation.  It features the largest odourless mineral hot pools in Canada and a 140-unit hotel with some terrific amenities including fine restaurants, lounge, tennis, golf, trail rides, hiking trails and spa services.

Explore the streets of Invermere - lined with quaint shops, arts and crafts exhibits, outdoor cafes and restaurants.  Just a short walk from downtown is Windermere Lake offering a beach with warm swimming water, parks and picnic areas, and various water sports with rentals.  From Invermere, a winding road leads westward into the Purcells for more outdoor adventure, at the Panorama Mountain Village including guided nature walks and mountain biking trails accessed by the quad chairlift.  There's also restaurants and excellent accommodation with a huge outdoor hot pool facility exclusive to lodging guests.