Getting Here by Land

Hear that crunch of gravel beneath your tires? That means you're home.

The Ranch is accessible by dirt road, the entrance to which is 6 km east of Salmo, BC

You can get personalized directions from your location by visiting our Google Maps listing. Shambhala on Google Maps

Be sure to check your gas gauge before entering the festival grounds. If you’re low, gas up in Salmo before entering the property. You may be in line for a while and the driveway is a long one, so be prepared. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition with a proper tune up, as RCMP road blocks are common on the way into the Salmo around the time of the event, and your car may be taken off the road if it does not meet safety standards. We also recommend cleaning out your air filter before heading home.

Arriving by Bus

Be aware that there are no shuttles of any kind to the property. The closest Greyhound gets to the event is the gas station in Salmo, and it’s up to you to make arrangements from there.

Carpool

Carpool!

We strongly encourage carpooling! Not only will you save money on gas, and meet a new Shambhala friend (or friends) on your way to the festival, but it’s better for the environment too. Less emissions than taking separate vehicles, and less cars on the property means a smaller impact on Rick & Sue’s farmland. If you are looking for a ride, or would like to offer one, you can post a message in our online community, on the Kootenay Ride Share website, or on Ride-Share.com.

Getting Here by Air

Getting to us by air can be a bit tricky – but it is doable!

The nearest Int’l airports are in Cranbrook, BC and Kelowna, BC. Cranbrook is about a 2.5 hour drive, and Kelowna is about a 5 hour drive from the Salmo River Ranch.

There is a regional airport in Castlegar, about a 45 minute drive.

If you’re coming from Vancouver, you may be able to get a deal flying into the (very, very small) Trail airport, which is also about 45 minutes away.

For those coming from the US, it’s considerably cheaper to fly into Spokane than it is to fly directly into Canada. Spokane is about a 3 hour drive (plus border crossing time).

Regardless of which air-route you choose, there is still some land travel involved. If you fly into Castlegar or Trail, taking a cab to the festival site is an option. If you fly into Spokane, depending on when you arrive, you may be able to catch the Kootenay Shuttle (*See note below). If you fly into Kelowna or Cranbrook, you can take the Greyhound bus to Salmo (See “Arriving by Bus” in the “Getting Here by Land” section). Car rental is an option from any airport mentioned, except for the one in Trail.

*Note: Kootenay Shuttles will take you to the Kootenay area – we are not sure if they will make special arrangements to take you to the festival site. Contact them for more info & reservations.

Crossing the Border

Over the last few years, we’ve seen the number of American Shambhazens increase significantly. We’re stoked! Lovin’ all the love from our neighbours South of our border. Here’s a few tips to for ease of travel.

The nearest border crossing to the festival site is Nelway, directly North of Spokane (open 8am-mindight daily). Nearby are also the Waneta border crossing near Trail (open 9am-5pm daily), and the Paterson crossing near Rossland (24 hour service). We recommend traveling via Paterson simply because of the unpredictable nature of travel. We all know it – trips often take longer than you think they will. Click the button below for a full list of CAD/US border crossings.

You will need a valid Passport to enter Canada. And while it’s not required, it’s always good to consider the purchase traveler’s insurance when traveling to another country. Be aware that if you have a DUI in the US, it’s likely that you will not be allowed into Canada. If you have any questions about crossing the border, you can visit the Canada Border Services Agency’s website.