Category: Recreation Sites and Trails

Taite Creek

Taite Creek flows into Lower Arrow Lake. The recreation site is located on the north side of Taite Creek, on the shore of Lower Arrow Lake. It is a great spot to camp while fishing Lower Arrow Lake. During low water, there is a sand and cobble stone beach. The campsites are in a semi-open stand of mature trees. There is lots of opportunity to camp on the beach. The water warms up later in the summer and is quite pleasant for swimming and board sailing. Perennial sweet peas along the shore hint at the old settlements that were here, before the area was flooded by the Hugh Keenleyside Dam. For the back roads traveller, Taite Creek makes a good rest stop on the rough 4 wheel drive road that goes over the Valkyr Range. This road ties into the “Koch Creek Forest Service Road” which leads down to the Slocan Valley. 5 campsites.

Driving Directions: From the junction of Highway 6 and “Applegrove Road” in Fauquier, travel south on “Applegrove Road” for 9.6 km on a good, 2 wheel drive, gravel road. 100 meters before the bridge over Taite Creek, turn right onto a dirt road. Follow this narrow, 2 wheel drive road for 1 km to the recreation site on the lake shore.

Wensley Creek Cross Country Ski Area

Wensley Creek Cross Country Ski Trails offer 9 kilometres of groomed classic track skiing for both beginner and intermediate skiers. The trail is usually ready for skiing by mid-late December, and the season extends through to late March, with variable conditions throughout the season and even along different sections of the trail. Bringing a variety of waxes is recommended. Horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking are available in the off season.

Driving Directions:Head south from Nakusp on Highway 6 toward Nelson for about 4 kilometres, Turn left on Upper Brouse Road and follow it to the top through a series of turns until reaching the parking area for the trails.

(source: rec sites and trails )

Wilson Lake East

Wilson Lake offers good boating. This 4.5 km long lake is deep and narrow. Most of the shoreline is steep and accessible only by boat. The recreation site, on a flat at the east end of the lake offers a large open area, with the campsites around the edge of the clearing, ideal for group gatherings. Trout fishing in the lake and in Fitzstubbs Creek can be rewarding. Miles of forestry roads in the vicinity are popular with bikers and ATV users.

Driving Directions:Access from Rosebery: Turn off Highway 6, at Rosebery, onto the “East Wilson Creek Road”. This road soon turns into the “Wilson Creek Forest Service Road”. Follow this good 2 wheel drive gravel road. At 5 km the road forks, stay left. At 33 km a dirt road crosses the “Wilson Creek Forest Service Road”, continue on the gravel road to the left. “Wilson Lake East Recreation Site” is straight ahead, at 34 km, just before the road crosses a bridge over Fitzstubbs Creek. Access from Nakusp: From the junction of Highway 6 and 23 in Nakusp, travel east on Highway 6 towards New Denver for 6.3 km. Turn left onto the “Wilson Lake Road”. Take this good 2 wheel drive, gravel road up Wensley Creek, past the sawmill. 7 km up the road, turn right onto the “Wilson Lake Forest Service Road”. Follow this rough 2 wheel drive road for 7 km, as it climbs steeply over the rocky bluffs south of Wilson Lake. Several spur roads come onto it from the right. Stay straight ahead at all of these, eventually descending to the shore of Wilson Lake. The recreation site at the end of the lake, is visible across the lake, from the last steep descent.

Wilson Lake West

Wilson Lake offers good fishing and boating. This 4.5 km long lake is deep and narrow. Most of the shoreline is steep and accessible only by boat. The recreation site at the west end reflects the character of the lake. It is a narrow strip at the base of a steep cliff offering little room for over night camping, but it is a pleasant picnic spot. The shoreline drops quickly away. However, a nearby float provides a platform to cast from for the ever elusive trout. There are two campsites.

Driving Directions:From the junction of Highway 6 and 23 in Nakusp, travel east on Highway 6 towards New Denver for 6.3 km. Turn left onto the “Wilson Lake Road”. Take this good 2 wheel drive, gravel road up Wensley Creek, past the sawmill. Stay left at the “Wilson Lake Forest Service Road” junction. Continue straight ahead for another 700 meters to another junction. Take the right fork, down a good 2 wheel drive dirt road, for 400 meters to the Wilson Lake West Recreation Site.

Barrett Lake

Barrett Lake is a beautiful little mountain lake with a small rustic cabin on the shores. There are opportunities for Quading, hiking, fishing, and camping. Barrett Lake is at 1800 Meters. Popular in the winter for snowmobiling and ski touring.

Driving Directions: Access to the Barrett Lake is via Porto Rico Road, 15 km south of Nelson off Highway 6. In summer you can drive up 3 km and park there. (Recommended Quad Access Only from this point). From here you take the lower fork in the road up another 3 km (this section of road is deactivated but is passable in a high clearance 4X4) to a junction, take a right here (about 6 KM up in total). From here, follow the really rough and rocky road for another 4.5 Km up to the lake, stay on the main road on the way up. The last 4.5 Km is extremely rough, and heads to the East up the drainage crossing a South facing rocky slope.

Beaver Valley Champion Lakes Cross Country Trails

The Beaver Valley Cross Country Ski Club provides winter maintenance of the trail system and track setting as well as warming shelters for day use. 14 km of the trail system is within Champion Lakes Provincial Park and another 6 km are outside the park boundary.

Driving Directions:The Beaver Valley Cross Country Ski Trails are situated 17 km Nortwest of Fruitvale with access provided by Highway #3B and the Champions Lakes road.

Barnard Beach Rec site

This popular recreation site consists of a mix of vehicle campsites (not on the lake) and tent sites (on the lake).

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 3.0 km to the site. The road is suitable for 2wd vehicles.

 

Steed Hut

At 2320 metres, Siwash Mountain is the highest peak in the Bonnington Range, and the Steed Cabin, a snug wood cabin built by the KMC in 1995, lies due south of the summit of Siwash Mountain by a small tarn at 2100 metres. A loft in the cabin can sleep four (no foam mattresses), while the downstairs is equipped with table, bench seats and a wood stove. Basic cooking utensils (pots, pans, cups, bowls, plates, cutlery, etc.) are stored in a plastic bin. There is also a two burner white gas Coleman Stove and Coleman Lantern (take spare mantels). You will need to bring your own white gas for the stove and lantern. There is NO water at the Steed Cabin in either summer or winter. The area around the Steed Cabin is popular with snowmobilers, so expect to see snowmobilers when you are staying at the cabin.The cabin is maintained under partnership agreement with Kootenay Mountaineering Club. For detailed information and driving directions please visit: http://www.kootenaymountaineering.bc.ca

Driving Directions: In winter, it takes two days to reach the cabin via the Bonnington Traverse route. In the summer, a four wheel drive vehicle is not necessary. It is possible to drive to the head of Glade Creek, from here, it is between one and three hours of bushwhacking (thick bush with many black and grizzly bears in the area) to reach the cabin. Follow the following driving directions for summer access. Set your odometer to 0 on Highway 3 at Bombi Summit. 0 km = Munson Road and Highway 3, 2.6 km = powerline spur to (R) 3.7 km = Lower Munson to (L), stay (R), 3.9 km = West Munson to (L), stay (R), 5.4 km = East Munson to (R), stay (L), 6.3 km = spur to R, stay on mainline, 6.4 km = spur to (R) is Grassy access, 10.8 km = small pass, road enters from behind and (L), stay straight down the hill, 11.0 km = road forks, go (R) to stay on Munson Road, (L) fork is North Munson, 15.1 km = pass below Twin Peaks, 18.9 km = fork in road, go (L), 22.6 km, = park here and walk the rest of the way.

( source: rec sites and trails )

Mt Buchanan Fire Lookout

This is a high elevation day-use site which is located at an refurbished fire lookout building. This is a great spot for family oriented outings; views are spectacular and flowers are lovely in season. There is also a 2 km loop trail below the lookout that provides access to viewpoints on the rock bluffs. Interpretive displays on fire lookouts in the tower.

Mountain Bike trails start from here ( AKA The Monster )

Driving Directions: From Kaslo, head west on highway #31A for 11 km to the Blue Ridge Forest Services Road, then follow signs. Follow the main road for 11.9 km to the lookout, staying right at the 7.0 km junction. This road is suitable for 2wd vehicles.

(source: rec sites and trails )

Cooley Lake Rec Site

The drive up to Cooley Lake is a good outing, even if you are not a fisherman. The Goose Creek swimming holes by the bridge (at km 1.5) are worth stopping at on a hot day. Near the 10 km sign on the “Goose Creek Road”, the road traverses an open ridge giving panoramic views of the Bonnington Range, the Valhallas, Shoreacres, Crescent Valley and Krestova. Cooley Lake is a very popular fishing lake that is stocked with rainbow trout. Access to the lake shore is on a short hiking trail through a dense sub-alpine forest. Fishing is done from logs jutting out from the shoreline. There are no tent sites at the lake. Campers stay at the trailhead, just off the road.

Driving Directions:From the junction of Highway 3 and 22, at the overpass in Castlegar, travel east on Highway 3 and Highway 3A towards Nelson for 5.1 km. Turn right at the “Syringa Creek Turn Off” sign onto the “Robson Access Road”. Follow this road for 2.8 km. Turn right onto the “Pass Creek” road. Follow this winding paved road for 11.5 km. Turn left onto the “Goose Creek Road”. The pavement soon gives way to a good 2 wheel drive gravel road that climbs steadily. At 7 km stay right, crossing over Gander Creek. At 9 km stay right, crossing over another small bridge. At 9.3 km stay left, following the main road. At 13.3 km you will get glimpses of Cooley Lake on your right. The parking area for the trail to Cooley Lake is at 13.6 km.