Trail

Trail is a city in the Kootenay Boundary region situated on both sides of the Columbia River. It stretches between the Monashee Mountains to the west and the Selkirk Mountains to the east.

The city grew from a mining settlement in the 1890s when Fritz Augustus Heinze founded the British Columbia Smelting and Refining Company. The company processed ore from nearby Rossland mines.

The Historic Gulch neighborhood displays deep Italian roots with traditional terraced gardens and homes along Trail Creek. Residents continue to maintain this connection through how they shape and use the space.

The Trail Memorial Centre serves as the central hub for events, sports, and home games of the Smoke Eaters hockey team. This facility makes a good starting point to explore the city.

The Teck Resources smelter has operated for over 100 years as one of the world's largest lead and zinc processing plants. The industrial facility remains a defining feature of the city's landscape and economic story.

Location: Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

Elevation above the sea: 440 m

Part of: West Kootenays

Shares border with: Castlegar

Website: https://trail.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.09500,-117.71000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 02:42