Rossland, BC - A Mountain Town Worth Exploring

Rossland is a small mountain town in the West Kootenays of British Columbia. Once people find it, they tend to come back. Red Mountain Resort sits just outside town and runs some of the most respected lift-served terrain in western Canada. In summer, those same slopes become a network of mountain bike trails that draw riders from across the province. Add in the hiking, fishing, decent food, and a main street that punches above its weight, and you've got a destination that works year-round.

Lone Star Motel is right at the edge of Rossland (but not far away). Minutes from Red Mountain, close to town, and set up for the kind of traveler who's here to do things. Not a resort hotel. A real place to stay while you use the mountain.

Skiing & Snowboarding at Red Mountain Resort

Red Mountain Resort is the reason most people come to Rossland from late November through April. Three mountains: Red, Granite, and Motherlode, covering 119 trails of lift-served terrain. It's known for deep Kootenay powder, challenging inbound tree skiing, and a ski culture that hasn't been fully polished away by mass tourism.

Ski season typically runs late November (Mid December) through April, with January and February being peak powder months.

Mountain Biking

Red Mountain opens its trail network to mountain bikers from roughly June through October, and the results are impressive. The network spans everything from flowy cross-country routes to technical downhill lines — Rossland shows up regularly on BC trail guides as one of the province's top destinations for mountain biking.

Don't have a bike? Revolution Cycles & Service on Columbia Avenue has full-suspension and e-bike rentals ready to go. They've been Rossland's dedicated bike shop since 2004, carry brands like Santa Cruz and Yeti, and run an official Shimano Service Center for repairs and tune-ups. Whether you need a rental for the week or a brake bleed after a rough run, they've got it covered.

More to Do in the Kootenays

The skiing and biking get the headlines, but there's more to this area. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails are accessible right in and around Rossland. Hiking routes range from easy ridge walks with big views to full-day scrambles into the surrounding range. The region has fishing in nearby lakes and rivers, and the Nancy Greene Provincial Golf Course — a short drive from town — offers a scenic round if golf is on the list.

Activities by season:

  • Winter: downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing

  • Summer/Fall: mountain biking, hiking, fishing, golfing

Where to Eat and Drink in Rossland

Rossland's food and drink scene is better than you'd expect for a town this size. Here's what's worth checking out.

The Flying Steamshovel Gastropub

The Steamshovel is Rossland's local institution. Twenty rotating craft beer taps, house-made gastropub food (burgers, tacos, mussels & frites, poutine with BC cheese curds), and the kind of warm room you want after a day in the cold. Open seven days a week from noon until late. A lot of post-ski evenings end here.

The Velvet Restaurant & Lounge

This restaurant sits at the base of Red Mountain inside The Josie Hotel. Modern Canadian menu with French influences, a 360-degree bar, and mountain views from the dining room. Open for breakfast and dinner. If you want a proper night out without leaving the resort area, this is it.

Alpine Grind Coffee

A proper coffee shop on Columbia Avenue, right across from the post office. Espresso pulled on a hand-built Synesso machine, beans roasted by Oso Negro out of Nelson, and food made in-house daily. Frittata bagels, focaccia paninis, baked goods. Open at 7 AM, seven days a week. Your mornings sorted.

Rossland Beer Company

Rossland's award-winning craft brewery, open on Columbia Avenue since 2012. Brewed with mountain-filtered water, no preservatives. Tasting room, sunny patio, and live music on Friday afternoons. Stop in after the trails.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Lone Star Motel is in Rossland, BC, approximately 4–5 minutes by car from the Red Mountain Resort base area, making it one of the closest accommodation options to the hill.

  • Lone Star Motel has 12 individual ski storage lockers and a dedicated ski wax room on-site, making it one of the few Rossland accommodations near Red Mountain Resort with a proper wax room.

  • Mountain biking is Rossland's main summer draw. Red Mountain Resort opens its trail network from roughly June through October. Rossland, BC also offers hiking, fishing, golf, and a solid local food and drink scene in town.

  • Red Mountain Resort's ski season typically runs from late November through April, weather dependent, with peak powder months from January through March.

  • Yes, Lone Star Motel offers family-friendly accommodation in Rossland, BC, including a 2-bedroom unit and a full 3-bedroom house, and Red Mountain Resort has beginner terrain and a family-friendly atmosphere on the mountain.