The upper portion of the historic railgrade from Trail to Rossland.
Elevation change: 330m
Length: 7.1 km
Walking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing equestrian
Trailheads:
(F) Railgrade-Drakes
(G) Princess Street Railgrade
(U) Warfield
(F) Railgrade-Drakes from downtown: Set odometer at 0.0 km at Start Point at Columbia Ave. Washington St. intersection. West on Columbia Ave. 1 block, left down Spokane St., right down LeRoi Ave. 2 blocks, left down Davis St. 4 blocks, left down Victoria Ave. 1 block, angle up right then shortly left down Union Ave. ½ block, right onto Spokane St. (Km 1.0), continue along south to Gelesz-Drakes Roads junction (Km 2.3), left on Gelesz Road about 200m to Railgrade
(G) Princess Street Railgrade from downtown (-70m)
Drive/Ride (1.5km) West on Columbia Ave. 1 block, left down Spokane St., right down LeRoi Ave. 2 blocks, left down Davis St. 3 blocks, left down Thompson Ave. 4 blocks, right down Washington St. 3 blocks (end).Trailhead 50m up Princess Ave. to right. Kiosk.
Walk/Ride (0.8km) Directly south across plaza and down covered stairs, down very steep path on Washington St. alignment about 2 blocks, down Washington St. 5 blocks (end). Trailhead 50m right up Princess Ave. Kiosk.
(U) Warfield (Bottom of Railgrade): (5.0 km; -350m) from downtown, east on Columbia, right at traffic light and down Hwy#3B/22 toward Trail, B.C. At Km 5.0 enter Warfield. Right onto first lane sign-posted “Schofield Highway”, west 100m to Kiosk at end. Park at nearby Community Centre.
Trail:
This trail follows the original railway bed that linked the mines in Rossland with the steamships stopping at Trail Creek Landing and the smelter in Trail. Used until the mid 1900’s it now serves as a local trail linking Rossland with the Village of Warfield and provides access to and from many other trails. The top of the Railgrade starts at the (G) Princess Street Railgrade Trailhead (see above).
The consistent, gentle grade is ideal for multiple uses, with views of the forest, Trail Creek, and the surrounding area. Walk or ride downhill to Warfield.
You may use local transit bus for a ride back up to Rossland. Check www.bctransit.com/regions/kob/ for an up to date bus schedule. The buses have racks for bikes.
Not far from the (G) Princess Street starting point, the trail passes through a private machinery yard and runs past a private residence. When passing through this area please be respectful, yield to any vehicles you may encounter and keep dogs close by your side.
Just beyond this is the (F) Railgrade-Drakes Trailhead (see above) if you choose to use this access point.
The Railgrade continues, then becomes a gravel road for a short distance. Turn left off of the gravel road at the sign indicating the continuation of the Railgrade down to Warfield. From this point on, the Railgrade winds its way down the valley to Warfield. Keep an eye out for the two switchbacks. At the first switchback, the trail turns sharply to the left, however there is a short section of old railway bed that continues straight ahead that allowed the trains to reverse direction. Watch for the signs and follow the beaten track to the left. At the second switchback the trail also turns sharply to the left, again watch the signs and follow the beaten track.
Continue to Warfield through open fields with expanding views.
Elevation change: 75m
Length 1.5 km (to Railgrade)
From Railgrade back to Lower Rossland, add approx. 3km.
Hiking, biking, snowshoeing, equestrian: Gentle
Trailheads:
(D) Wagon Road to Warfield Trailhead (north end)
(G) Princess Street Railgrade Trailhead (approx. 3 km from south end)
(D) Wagon Road to Warfield, Rubberhead & Bike Skills Park (-180m)
Drive/Ride (1.6 km) from downtown: East on Columbia Ave. 2 blocks, right at traffic light and down Hwy#3B for 0.7 km, sharp right back around onto Thompson Ave., then left down Irwin Ave 1 block. Park here – no parking at trailhead. Left, and steeply down Esling Drive (past Bike Skills Park) 0.3 km to trailhead].
Walk/Ride (1.1 km) from downtown: Directly south across plaza and down covered stairs, down very steep path on Washington St. alignment about 2 blocks, cross Kootenay Ave., down 1 block, left on Cooke Ave. 2 ¼ blocks, angle to right down Esling Drive, continue on, crossing Thompson and Irwin Aves. then down (past Bike Skills Park) 0.3km to trailhead.
Alternatively, from Start Point, walk east 2 blocks, right down St. Paul St./Hwy #3B 1 block, down steps and straight on down St. Paul St. 2 blocks, left on Cooke Ave. ½ block, angle to right down Esling Drive, continue on, crossing Thompson and Irwin Aves. then down (past Bike Skills Park) 0.3 km to trailhead.
(G) Princess Street Railgrade from downtown (-70m)
Drive/Ride (1.5km) West on Columbia Ave. 1 block, left down Spokane St., right down LeRoi Ave. 2 blocks, left down Davis St. 3 blocks, left down Thompson Ave. 4 blocks, right down Washington St. 3 blocks (end).Trailhead 50m up Princess Ave. to right. Kiosk.
Walk/Ride (0.8km) Directly south across plaza and down covered stairs, down very steep path on Washington St. alignment about 2 blocks, down Washington St. 5 blocks (end). Trailhead 50m right up Princess Ave. Kiosk.
Trail:
This single track section of the old Rossland Rubberhead racecourse takes you through open fields, the new Redstone residential development, past the Redstone Golf Course, through deep woods and finally back up onto the Railgrade.
From (D) Wagon Road to Warfield Trailhead at the end of the gravel section of Esling Drive, follow the signs off to the right onto the single track through the open field, across the newly constructed Redstone Drive, then down and across Trail Creek by the small reservoir. On the far side of Trail Creek the single track continues through the woods and past portions of the Redstone Golf Course. It then climbs back up to the Railgrade on the south side of the valley. Watch for the 1800’s vintage boiler left over from Rossland’s mining camp days. It is to left side of the trail on the climb up to the Railgrade.
Once at the Railgrade (signposted), turn right and take the Railgrade, a gentle 3% rise, for a perfect loop back to Rossland at (G) Princess Street Railgrade Trailhead.
