Climate & Geography

The South Kootenay area has relatively low humidity with hot dry summers and mild winters. Towering mountains with gentle valleys, sparkling lakes and pristine wilderness are the hallmarks of the West Kootenay region. In unsettled weather micro climates create weather patterns that can be unique to a small area. It can rain in one valley and there will not be a cloud in the sky in the next valley 5 kilometres distant.

The Greater Trail area boast two unique climatic zones. The city of Rossland lies at an elevation of 1023 meters and is known as "Canada's Alpine City" and "Canada's Mountain Bike Capital". The city of Trail is only 10 kilometers downhill from Rossland, but lies some 610 meters lower in elevation.

Due to its elevation the city of Rossland gets more than twice the annual snowfall than the city of Trail receives. The city of Rossland receives 421 cm of annual snowfall. Slightly higher up the mountain at the Red Mountain Ski Resort there are 760 cm (25 feet) of annual snowfall. Rosslands alpine snow accumulations and pristine beauty make it an incredible tourist destination for world class skiing in winter and mountain biking in the summer.