The Best Spots For a Mini Road Trip In Your Toyota
In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, Parks Canada has issued a free Discovery Pass to all Canadians.
Holders of this pass are free to explore the many national and provincial parks across Canada, as well as gain free entry to any historic sites or monuments.
With spring officially here, Castlegar’s beauty will be on full display as flora and fauna make their way back through British Columbia.
If you’re tired of being cooped up inside all winter, you likely have a road trip planned. Not all of us can do a five-hour car ride, especially if you’ve got young children. For these reasons, we’ve outlined three spots that are perfect for your Toyota RAV4, Toyota Tacoma, and Toyota Highlander, and are under an hour away.
Syringa Provincial Park
Nestled on the southeast end of Lower Arrow Lake, Syringa Provincial Park is one of Castlegar’s most beautiful parks. You’ll find endless opportunities for recreational activities like hiking, biking, and water sports. The Syringa Provincial Park is also home to the protected Douglas-fir trees and is one of the only remaining natural grassland habitats found in the Kootenays, which means you’ll likely see some interesting wildlife. Your Toyota RAV4 will make the journey fun thanks to the seemingly endless amount of cargo space that split 60/40 seats bring. You can strap a canoe or kayak to its handy roof rails, and pack a few picnic coolers in the back. Syringa is just twenty minutes from our dealership, which means your kids won’t even get to ask “Are we there yet?”
Gladstone Provincial Park
Gladstone Provincial Park has one of the best-kept secrets in British Columbia--and all of Canada. Most famously known for its Texas Creek campground, Gladstone includes access to Christina Lake which has a reputation as one of the warmest and clearest in the country, so if you’re feeling brave, take a dip! Camping season starts May 5th, so grab a tent and load up your Toyota Highlander with all the essentials for an overnight trip in the great outdoors. The Toyota Highlander has seating for 8 which makes it the perfect vehicle for any sort of road trip. It’s also equipped with 60/40 split second and third-row bench seats that allow for maximum storage. Plus, the new AWD package is a great addition to have with the FWD and hill start assist, which makes getting to the campsite much easier. Gladstone Provincial Park is just 50 minutes away from our dealership.
Kianuko Provincial Park
If you prefer a more rugged adventure, Kianuko Provincial Park is calling your name. With spectacular views of the Kootenays, this park is undisturbed beauty at its finest. Plenty of old forests make their home here, and so do grizzly bears, caribou, moose and fish! You’ll need access to a tough and sturdy vehicle, like the Toyota Tundra, to get you here. The ground is rocky and steep in some areas, and trails aren’t always outlined, nor are the roads maintained. Kianuko Park is an area of Ktunaxa-kinbasket First Nation traditional use and has high spiritual values. Visitors must respect the park as it is and be respectful to the beauty surrounding it. Fishing, cycling, hiking and campfires are all allowed and the back of your Tacoma is a great place to store any firewood, fishing rods or bicycles you’d like to bring. Visitors will have to enter using the Kianuko Creek Wilderness Forest Service Road. This road has been deactivated to motorized use approximately 2 kilometres from the Kianuko Park Boundary (at its junction with the Skelly Creek FSR), so park your Toyota and enter on foot.
Do you have spring fever yet? Let Castlegar Toyota help you prepare for the ultimate spring road trip! Book a quick service appointment with us before you go to make sure your vehicle performs at its best. Most importantly, visit our Tire Store and buy a set of new all-season tires! You won't be needing those winter tires anymore, and our service technicians would be happy to take the stress out of installing them yourself. Call us today at 1-(877) 969-1929 or contact us online to reserve your spot.
