Category: Recreation Sites and Trails

Copper Mountain hut

Lying in a thicket of large trees near 2000 metres in a basin on the southwest side of Copper Mountain, the cabin is surrounded by a two hectare area for non-motorized use only. The Copper Mountain cabin is equipped with three bunks (can sleep two each top to tail, no foam mattresses), a wood stove, seating bench and table. Basic cooking utensils (pots, pans, cups, bowls, plates, cutlery, etc.) are stored in small kitchen cabinet. 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 Copper Mountain Cabin in either summer or winter.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 summer, the normal access is via an old logging road in 49 Creek. This road leaves the small community of Blewett west of Nelson and is signed �May and Jenny Road� off Blewett Road (exits to your left as you head west). A high clearance four wheel drive is necessary. Follow May and Jenny Road (becomes Copper Mountain Road) for about 12 km to a pass between Red Mountain and Copper Mountain. Either park at the pass (limited) or continue a further 150 metres along the road to a slightly larger parking area. There are no signs. Follow the old road on foot to reach the ridge south of Copper Mountain. An ATV track leads down to the cabin. Allow one to three hours walking time. Winter access is more difficult as the summer route crosses extensive avalanche paths and is unsafe for most of the winter. It is possible to access the Copper Mountain Cabin from roads in the Snowwater Creek drainage. Route finding skill is necessary. Most winter visitors to the cabin are staying at the cabin as part of the Bonnington Range traverse and will have skied across from the Steed Cabin.

Crusader Cabin Rec Site

This site offers an excellent snowmobiling in the winter. The cabin sleeps 6 comfortably . The Crusader is managed under partnership agreement by the Nelson Sno-Goers and bookings can be made by going to http://nelsonsno-goers.webs.com/ There is a $10 fee per person for overnight use of the cabin. The Fees collected will go directly back into the cabin for maintenance and up-keep.

Driving Directions:Travel north from Nelson on highway #3A for 8.0 km to Six Mile Lakes Road (left hand turn off hwy). Follow Six Miles Lakes main road for 10.0 km to a fork in the road, take the right fork. At 13Km you will find the lakes and the Six Mile Lakes Recreation Site. At 18.5 KM you will reach a major junction in the road, proceed straight; the sharp left will take you down lemon Creek FSR). Stay on the main line until 26.5 Km Reach a junction, where you take the left fork. At 29.5 Km there is a junction, from here there is off road snowmobile trails that lead to the cabin. Cabin GPS Coordinate is 49�46.203 X 117�19.893.

Deer Creek Falls Rec Trail

Deer Creek Falls is an easy walk on a good trail. This trail is suitable for all ages and abilities. Along the trail, are some unusually large white pine and Ponderosa pine trees. As the trail descends gently into the creek draw, the temperature drops, making this a good trail for a hot day. The Deer Creek Falls cascade in two tiers through the gorge. The upper fall is narrow and drops into a pool before cascading over the lower fall. The crystal clear pool at the foot of the lower fall invites dabbling. The entire scene is framed by a lush cedar forest. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the table, while you cool off by the falls. In the autumn, look for mushrooms on the lower portions of the trail. At other times of the year, shade loving plants such as Indian Pipe can be found. On your way up the trail, rest on the bench and take in the peace and quiet of the forest. The only sounds you will hear will be the birds in the forest.

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 for approximately 13.5 km. Turn right onto the “Deer Creek Forest Service Road”. Follow this road for 3.5 km. Turn off to the left, onto a dirt track. Park at the trailhead.

( source: rec sites and trails )

Erie Creek Rec Site

The Erie Creek Recreation Site is one of the few recreation sites large enough to accommodate groups of 3 or 4 vehicles. The sites are in a semi-open forest, offering shade in the hottest part of the day. Located beside crystal clear Erie Creek

Driving Directions:From the junction of Highway 3B and 3/6 in Salmo, travel 3.6 km west towards Trail, on Highway 3. Just before a small bridge over Erie Creek, turn right onto the “Second Relief Road”. This road is paved for the first 200 meters, then turns into a good 2 wheel drive gravel road. Within 1 km you will see the “Erie Creek Forest Service Road” sign. Continue up this road. The road forks at 7 km, stay straight ahead (to the left). The road forks again at 8.5 km, again stay left, descending into the valley. Cross over the bridge, at 10 km. The recreation site is on your right.

( source : Rec sites and trails )

Fletcher Lake Rec Site

This is a steep rustic trail into an alpine lake area. The trail starts on a skid road in a cutblock, and winds its way through dense sub-alpine forest and creekside vegetation to the east end of the lake. The area is heavily used by grizzly bears and site users should take care to make noise when hiking. Hike in groups, and store food out of bear-reach and well away from campsites. The site provides good backcountry camping and fishing. Please pack “ALL” your garbage out with you so bears are not attracted to the area.

Driving Directions:From Balfour, drive 23.0 KM along highway 31 towards Kaslo, and turn left onto a dirt road (4.2 KM north of the Woodbury Creek Resort). Zero your odometer at the start of the Woodbury-Fletcher FSR. At 1.1 KM (the crest of the hill) turn right on to Fletcher Creek Road. At 2.8 KM take the left fork. At 3.7 KM bear right. At 7.3 Km stay left. At 11.5 go right and begin to drive though recent logging. Road is very rough from here (high clearance 4×4) with deep water bars. At 12.5 KM park at the old logging landing. From here walk a few hundred feet along an old de-activated road to find the trail head going off up to the left.

(source: rec sites and trails)

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 )

Giveout Creek Cabin

The cabin overlooks the Nelson Valley at an elevation of 1730 Meters. The cabin is primarily used for a warming hut for snowmobilers. There are a few bunks in the cabin for overnight use. There is good snowmobiling in the cut blocks surrounding the cabin and in and around the old mining sites.

Driving Directions:The cabin can be accessed off of Hwy 8 to Ymir out off Nelson. Turn east onto Giveout Creek FSR for +/- 1.6 km and then onto Gold Creek FSR for +/- 5 Km, then bear right at the junction. Follow this road for 3 more KM . At this point there is an old logging skid road for 300 meters up to the cabin. There is usually lots of snowmobile tracks leading to the cabin. The trail in is occasionally groomed by the nelson sno-goers club. Cabin Location is N49�25.602 W117�17.722

more information at http://nelsonsno-goers.webs.com/

Grassy Mountain Hut

Grassy Hut lies in the middle of the horseshoe just below the pass between Grassy and south Grassy Mountains. The cabin was built by the KMC in 1985, has four bunks (no foam mattresses), a bench table and seating, 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 Grassy Cabin in either summer or winter. A two hectare area around the cabin is designated for non-motorized use only.The cabin is maintained under partnership agreement with Kootenay Mountaineering Club. For detailed information and driving directions please visit: http://www.kootenaymountaineering.bc.ca/grassy.html

Driving Directions: Access in summer and winter is via logging roads out of Bombi Summit. 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 = power line 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. Drive a short distance up this road (about 100 metres) and then park. If you have a two wheel drive vehicle, you will have to park off the main road and walk from there. On foot, follow the old road that leads up to the ridge south of Grassy Mountain. Hike downhill (sketchy trail) to find the cabin. Allow one to three hours hiking time. In winter, follow the same directions but ski directly from the highway. Allow four to six hours.

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 )

Huckleberry Hut

Huckleberry Hut is a cosy log cabin situated at around 1600 metres in the valley below Midday and Cabin Peaks. It is a small hut with two bunks (no foam mattresses) which will each sleep two. There is also a fold-down table, wood stove and outhouse, and basic cooking utensils (pots, pans, cups, bowls, plates, cutlery, etc.) There is a two burner white gas Coleman Stove and Coleman Lantern, bring spare mantels and white gas. 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: Access to the Huckleberry Hut is via Porto Rico Road, 15 km south of Nelson off Highway 6. In summer, with a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle you can drive for six kilometres to a junction where an old road leads off to the left. Park here, and walk the remaining two kilometres to the cabin. In winter a combination of snowmobiles and ski touring gear may be required. The cabin is maintained under partnership agreement with Kootenay Mountaineering Club. For detailed information and drining directions please visit: http://www.kootenaymountaineering.bc.ca/huckleberry.html