This spring, Wildsight invites you to step onto the riverbed and into the story of the upper Columbia River.
These immersive, one-day field tours for adults and teens offer a chance to explore the rivers that shape our region. You’ll learn about the Columbia’s history, ecology and the challenges it faces, while experiencing the powerful and altered landscapes of our reservoirs, and considering their role in B.C.’s power system.
In early spring, before snowmelt refills the reservoirs, water levels are at their lowest. Participants will witness the full drawdown effect: vast expanses of exposed lakebed and wind-swept silt stretching far from the shoreline. It’s a stark reality of how the river is managed — and a powerful starting point for thoughtful conversations.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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Engaging discussions about ecology, history, economics and conservation
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Time for questions, reflection and connection
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A mixture of driving around the reservoir and walking over uneven terrain at a leisurely pace
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Group sizes of approx. 20-25 people
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Guided field exploration from approx. 10am–4pm
Dates, locations & registration
Each reservoir tells a different chapter of the Columbia Basin’s story. Join us for one — or experience them all! Places are limited; secure your spot today.
- Saturday, April 25 — Kinbasket Reservoir (near Golden) —CLICK TO REGISTER
- Saturday, May 2 — Upper Arrow Lakes Reservoir (near Revelstoke) — CLICK TO REGISTER
- Sunday, May 3 — Mid Arrow Lakes Reservoir (near Nakusp) — CLICK TO REGISTER
- Saturday, May 16 — Duncan Reservoir (near Kaslo) — CLICK TO REGISTER
Tours will begin at a designated location near each reservoir around 10am, and conclude no later than 4pm. Participants will receive a detailed info packet before departure.
Cost
Tours are offered on a sliding scale of $40–$70 per person. During registration, you will have the option to select your preferred price. If you require financial aid, please select this option when registering.
We aim to keep these tours accessible, while ensuring the program is financially sustainable. By participating, you’ll not only gain a deeper understanding of the river, you’ll also be directly supporting Wildsight’s work to protect and restore waterways across the Columbia Basin.
Who are these tours for?
These tours are ideal for adults and older teens who care about our region and want to better understand the pressures our landscape is facing. You should be prepared to walk a few kilometres over the course of the day at a leisurely pace, sometimes over uneven terrain. A light-to-moderate level of fitness is suggested — and plenty of enthusiasm!
What to bring?
- A packed lunch
- Snacks
- Plenty of water
- Weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear
We will facilitate carpooling to assist with transportation to and from each tour location. Additional details will be shared with registered participants in advance.
Content & context
From shifting waterlines and submerged forests, to displaced communities and wildlife, salmon, water management, hydroelectricity and climate change, each tour will explore what’s been lost, what remains, and what the future could hold.
We are living through a historic moment in the Columbia Basin. Especially with ongoing efforts to modernize the Columbia River treaty, reshape dam operations, and reintroduce ocean-going salmon. While electricity demand skyrockets in B.C. and around the world, now is the time to understand the issues and impacts of this watershed that connects us.
About Wildsight’s Columbia River programs
In 2018, Wildsight launched the Columbia River Field School, a 15-day summer field course for students focused on youth education and engagement around watershed issues. In 2021, we released Teach the Columbia, a curriculum package that makes Columbia River Field School topics accessible to classroom educators. In 2023 and 2025, we invited community leaders and local residents on multi-day deep-dive field tours. Now we are offering these single-day public tours to make this learning more accessible to anyone and everyone.