Garland Bay Rec Site

This is an enhanced site and has a $12 per night charge. Garland Bay is a large open beach site on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. This site receives very heavy use during the summer season. Very popular area for swimming, camping, fishing and boating. 22 campsites.

Driving Directions: From the community of Riondel on the east shore of Kootenay Lake, take a right turn on to Eastman Avenue and proceed to Tam O’Shanter Creek. Take the Kootenay Lake East forest service road 9.0 km to the Bernard forest service road junction, then take the left fork for 4.0 km to the site. The road is suitable for 2wd vehicles.

(source: rec sites and trails )

Grizzly Creek Rec Site

Grizzly Creek recreation site is an ideal base camp for explorations up Koch, Greasybill and Grizzly Creeks. This site would make a good rest stop before exploring the rough 4 wheel drive road that goes over the height of land and down to Lower Arrow Lake near Fauquier. The two campsites are scenically situated on rock ledges adjacent to Koch Creek. On a hot summer day the pools below the rock ledges are most inviting. Stream fishing above the bridge rewards the patient angler with brook trout. The surrounding area offers good huckleberry picking and mushroom gathering.

Driving Directions:On Highway 6, near Passmore, look for the Provincial Park signs for “(Valhalla) Drinnon Pass Turn-off”. Following these signs turn left onto “Upper Passmore Road”. The first 3 km of this road are paved. At 3.7 km fork left onto the “Little Slocan Forest Service Road”, a good 2 wheel drive gravel road. Continue on this road following the “Valhalla” signs. At 5.2 km fork right. At 6 km you will cross Airy Creek. At 9 km fork right. At 12.7 km you will cross Koch Creek. At 13.2 km, stop following the “Valhalla” signs and turn left onto the “Koch Creek Forest Service Road”. Travel up Koch Creek for 9.2 km. Turn left, over a major bridge crossing to the other side of Koch Creek. The Grizzly Creek Recreation Site is on your left.

( source : Rec Sites and Trails )

Little Slocan Rec Site

A small, semi-open, lakeside campsite.

Driving Directions:The most popular access to Little Slocan Lakes campsite is from Passmore along Highway 6. As you drive through Passmmore heading north turn left off of the highway onto Passmore Upper Road. Cross the river and follow the road for 3.7 km. Turn left onto the Little Slocan Forest Service Rd.. Stay on the main road for approx 21 km to the recreation site on your right.

Milford Lake

Milford Lake is a small site at a sub-alpine lake that is accessible by 4wd high clearance vehicles. The site offers scenic views down Kootenay lake and 2 campsites.

Driving Directions:The Milford Lake road leaves the west side of Highway #31, 9.4 km north of Kaslo. Travel up Milford Lake Road for 8.0 km to a junction. Turn right at this junction and continue for another 0.8 km to the lake. Although there are some steep rough sections, the road is suitable for 2wd high clearance vehicles.

Oliver (Johny Connors) Lake

This is a small site located in a scenic alpine basin with a shallow lake. There is a short trail on the east side of the road to the shallow lake and around it. Access can also be gained to the surrounding ridges, although there are no developed trails.

Driving Directions:From the community of Crawford Bay, head south for 200 meters on Highway3A, and then turn left on Oliver road just past the Gray Creek store. Follow this road for 300 meters and then turn right, crossing Grey Creek. Follow this road , now called Anderson road, for 1.3 km, turning left at the junction. Follow the main Grey Creek road 15.0 km to the campsite.

Pebble Beach Rec Site

This is a popular sunbathing, swimming, and camping site. It is located in a small protected bay on the east shore of Kootenay Lake with a pebble beach surrounded by exposed rock. The site offers fishing, hiking, camping, picnicking, and swimming.

Driving Directions:From the community of Riondel on the East shore of Kootenay Lake, take a right turn onto Eastman Avenue and proceed to Tam O’Shanter Cr. Take the Kootenay Lake East Forest Service Road for 3.2km to the trail head. Park your vehicle on the left side of the road by the trail head sign. A moderate 2.0km trail located on the west side of the road leads into the site. This site is also accessible by boat.

Ross Lake Trail

The Ross Lake trail offers a sub-alpine experience for the whole family. This is a short,but rough, trail that ends at a small alpine lake and provides access to the surrounding ridge system. The primary activities are hiking, fishing, and camping.

Driving Directions:From the ferry terminal at Balfour, travel west on highway #3A for 2.7 km to Beggs Road on the right. Keep to the left, and follow Beggs road for 0.8 km to a fork in the road. Stay left and drive 0.3 km to Redfish Forest service road on the left (cross over Laird Creek). Follow Redfish forest service road (keep right at the junction with the Redfish Research Area) for 10.3 km to a bridge. Drive across the bridge and drive the remaining 1.0 km to a road that leads to the right. The bridge across this road is damaged, so you will need to walk the remaining portion of the road to the trailhead. The trail begins on an old skid trail to the north-west.

Sasquatch Lake Rec Site

Sasquatch Lake Recreation Site offers attractive campsites big enough for group gatherings. The semi-open site is spacious enough for small motor homes and trailers. This site is popular with huckleberry pickers and picnickers. A rock slide along the lake shore gives access to the warm water, making this a popular swimming hole.

Driving Directions:Travelling north on Highway 6 from Appledale, watch for the “Kokanee Glacier Lemon Creek” Provincial Park signs. Just before the bridge over Lemon Creek, follow the signs and turn right onto a good 2 wheel drive gravel road. Follow the “Kokanee Glacier Park” signs on the “Lemon Creek Forest Service Road”. At about 14.5 km turn right onto a dirt road signed “Sasquatch/6 Mile Lakes”. A half kilometre up this road, turn right at the sign to the Sasquatch Lake Recreation Site.

Six Mile Lakes

Six Miles Lake site is a series of three connected sub-alpine lakes. A rustic 3.0 km nature trail on the west side of the lake offers views of the lakes and a pleasant walk through the forest. The trail head is just south of the recreation site on the west side of the road. The end of the trail rejoins the road past the furthest lake, and you can walk back along the road to the trailhead. This is the headwaters of a domestic – use watershed. Please respect the lakes and creeks.

Driving Directions:Travel north from Nelson on highway #3A for 8.0 km to Six Mile Lakes road. Follow Six Miles Lakes road for 10.0 km to a fork in the road. Then take the right fork for 3.0 km to the recreation site . The road is suitable for a 2wd vehicles, although the last 3.0 km are very rough in sections.

(source: Recreation Sites and Trails )

In the winter the six mile lakes circuit is popular with snowmobilers connecting the road across to Lemon creek in the Slocan Valley. Nelson Snowgoers for more information

There are some ski touring destinations in the area as well.

Sunshine Bay Recreation Site

Sunshine Bay has a long history. Two kukuli across the road from the recreation site attest to occupation by First Nations people long before recorded history. The remains of a log cabin on the site is of more recent vintage. Sunshine Bay offers a crescent shaped, south facing beach and protected campsites under a pine stand. Nearby, the mouth of Sunshine Creek promises good fishing. The road past Sunshine Bay offers good hiking. When the water in the Lower Arrow Lake is down, beach combing is a relaxing past time. It is difficult to get a boat down to the water at Sunshine Bay, as the bank drops off abruptly. A flight of stairs goes from the campsite to the beach. A canoe, kayak or inflatable zodiac would be your best bet. The closest good boat launch is at the Renata turn-off, at 18.7 km.

Driving Directions:Just before the yellow gates in Syringa Creek Provincial Park, turn right onto the “Deer Park Forest Service Road”. Follow this narrow, good 2 wheel drive gravel road to the community of Deer Park. In Deer Park, turn right. There is a small “Renata” sign, pointing the way. Within a half kilometre, the road forks. Take the upper fork to the right, continuing along this road. At 18.7 km the road forks again. Left takes you to the lake shore, and the boat launch to Renata. Go right to continue on to Sunshine Bay. From here the road deteriorates, and a high clearance vehicle is recommended. At 25 km you pass through the old fruit growing community of Broadwater. At the junction in Broadwater, take the right fork onto the “Sunshine Creek Forest Service Road”. Continue along this road, staying right at the fork just before the 31 km sign, and passing over the Two Bit Creek bridge. The last 3 km descend steeply to Sunshine Bay Recreation Site at 34 km.