Trail

The city of Trail is situated in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia's south central interior. The city of Trail is made up of an area, reaching 34.78 square kilometres or 13.43 sq mi. The city is located along the banks of the Columbia River, just 10 km north of the border of Washington State. This section of the Columbia River valley is situated between the Monashee Mountains towards the west and the Selkirk Mountains towards the east. The Columbia flows directly north-south from Castlegar, turns east near downtown Trail, and next meets the United States-Canada border at the Pend d'Oreille River and Waneta.

The first mountains east of the Coastal Mountains to receive moisture laden westerly flow from the Pacific are the Monashee Mountains. Hence, regions west of Trail, like the Rossland Range, the Christina Range, Rossland City, and the Blueberry-Paulson part of the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) receive greater amounts of winter precipitation, mostly in the form of heavy snow. Vegetation within the Trail area, even though rather lush, is noticeably drier compared to various regions with a more westerly aspect.

Tech Cominco is the biggest employer within the region, hiring approximately 1,800 people. Cominco's Trail operation has an average employee age of 47 years old, meaning that in the next 15 or so years, there will be an entirely new labour force. A younger and possibly more technical workforce would most possibly replace those which will retire. The big picture for the area is one of an aging population that results in continuing employment possibilities within the region. This is proof based on the improved housing sales in the years between 2005 to 2007, making the Greater Trail region a target location for people in search of better quality of life in a smaller community setting.

The City of Trail is also home to the biggest hospital in the West Kootenay area.

Rossland is a city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. Tucked high in the Monashee Mountains, Rossland is at an elevation of 3410 feet or 1023 metres. Population today is approximately 3500; a number that changes from season to season. The population is at its peak in the wintertime. But back during the year 1897, as a result of a gold rush, Rossland for a time was one of Western Canada's biggest cities.

The village of Fruitvale is located in the West Kootenay part of south-eastern British Columbia. The village of Fruitvale is around sixteen km east of Trail City on Highway 3B.

Montrose is a village located in south-eastern British Columbia in the West Kootenay part. The village of Montrose is situated 7 km east of the city of Trail along Highway 3B.