Nelson Kootenays Multi-sport: About the Region

British Columbia’s massive interior freshwater lakes and mountain systems provide an awe-inspiring opportunity for biking, trekking, river rafting and kayaking.  A dry climate and warm temperatures combine with endless freshwater and make the lake and river systems ideal for exploring. Kootenay Lake is surrounded by glacial peaks and offers a myriad of secluded beaches along with impressive side hikes and first class scenery.

Nelson grew quickly as a result of the frantic mining activity started in 1867 when gold and silver were found in the area. By 1910, Nelson had its own hydro generating station, streetcars, sewer system, and police force. Englishmen came to plant lakeside orchards, and Russian Doukhobors, sponsored by Tolstoy and the Quakers, tilled the valley bench lands. Nelson's heritage potential was realized in 1977 with the designation of over 350 heritage buildings.

The Terrain

Kokanee Glacier Park: 32,035 hectares of wilderness in the Selkirk Mountains. Protection of grizzly bear habitat was the main reason for an expansion of the park in 1995. The glacier, for which the park is named, clings to the slopes of the 2,774-metre Kokanee Peak and is one of three glaciers within park boundaries.

Kokanee Creek: A 235-hectare park situated on the north shore of the west arm of Kootenay Lake. Its huge sandy beach and delta area is backed by a gently rising upland, giving way to the forested slopes of the Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains. There is a spawning channel where visitors can observe the remarkable transformation that spawning kokanee undergo in late summer.

Ainsworth Hot Springs: Natural hot springs featuring a unique horseshoe-shaped cave where the darkness, the mineral deposits and the humidity all combine to offer an exhilarating experience. The hot steamy, odorless shower of mineralized water falls from the cave's roof and forms a waist-deep pool, providing a rejuvenating natural steam bath.  The main pool provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay's majestic scenery.

Kaslo enjoys the distinction of being called British Columbia's Prettiest Town and the Switzerland of the Americas...and justifiably so. Elegant Victorian-era buildings, tree-lined streets and magnificent lake and mountain views give credence to these titles.  This quaint little hamlet is nestled on the shores of Kootenay Lake, between the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains.  Jazz-lovers can enhance their experience of the charm of Kaslo during the Kaslo Jazz Festival over the August long weekend. Great acoustics, superb musicians, the unique floating stage set just offshore from the sandy beach, and the great views all combine to make the festival a fabulous annual event.

Valhalla Provincial Park: Encompassing 49,600 hectares of wilderness and 30 kilometers of the pristine shoreline along Slocan Lake. The Valhalla Range is a dramatically diverse area in the Selkirks. Deep river valleys, large sub-alpine lakes and granite peaks of up to 2,827 meters grace this park.  In the northwest, New Denver Glacier at 2,758 meters dominates the landscape, while the block-shaped Devil’s Couch at 2,667 meters and Hela Peak at 2,717 meters define the central area. Along the southwestern boundary is an outstanding group of spires including Mount Dag, the Wolfs Ears, Gimli, Asgard and Gladsheim – all over 2,660 meters. Numerous cirque basins, several larger deep lakes and chains of small lakes surround the ridges. Slocan Lake sits at 537 meters, well below most of the park, forcing waterways to cut deeply in the landscape as it descends some 2,000 meters before reaching the lake - numerous cascades and waterfalls are scattered throughout the park.

Wildlife and Flora

British Columbia is one of the richest wildlife viewing areas in Canada. The alpine slopes in the Kootenays are the summer home for a wide variety of wildlife, including mountain goats, cougar, coyote, wolf, deer, black bears and grizzlies. More frequently observed, however, are smaller mammals like the hoary marmot, marten, ground squirrel and pika. Blue and Franklin grouse inhabit the forests while ptarmigans can often be seen in the open areas and dippers can be found around the many lakes. Sharp-shinned hawks and golden eagles are sometimes seen soaring through the open skies overhead.

British Columbia is truly a birder's haven. More than a million birds migrate on the Pacific Flyway, and thousands stop over or stay through the year. The diverse and extraordinary creatures range from Aise Swallowtails and Green Herons to Trumpeter Swans. This region is also noted for having one of the highest osprey concentrations in North America. At the south end of Kootenay Lake lies the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, a showplace of migratory waterfowl, with up to 265 species.

Also to the south of Kootenay Lake, is Stagleap Park. Situated 21 miles (34 kilometers) west of Creston at the Kootenay Pass, the pass, commonly called the Mile High Pass, is at an elevation of 5,820 feet (1774 meters), the highest paved road in Canada. The park is named for the woodland caribou that migrate through this area. These large, majestic animals are related to reindeer and other members of the deer family.

At the north end of the lake lies Purcell Wilderness Provincial Conservancy. Early in this century, Earl Grey, then Governor-General of Canada, crossed the Purcell Mountains from Invermere in the Columbia Valley to Argenta on Kootenay Lake. His route followed a trail up Toby Creek and down Hamill Creek over a 7,401-foot (2257 meter) pass. This route, later named the Earl Grey Pass Trail, had already been well defined by the Shuswap Indians. Despite Grey's urging to set aside this magnificently scenic area as a park, not much was done until the 1970s, when the area was designated as a roadless tract in which the natural environment would remain undisturbed by any development. Consequently, there's no road access, and all forms of mechanized access are prohibited, including helicopters. Over 85 miles (137 kilometers) of hiking trails, challenging mountaineering, horse riding, and winter recreation await backpackers in the five biogeoclimatic zones spread throughout this central portion of the Purcell Mountains.

Three biogeoclimatic zones are found in the Kokanee Glacier Park region, although it is primarily in the Engelmann spruce/sub alpine fir zone. At higher elevations, forests give way to alpine communities of dwarf blueberry, white rhododendron and heather interspersed with open grassy areas, wildflower meadows and moss and lichen covered boulders. At lower elevations, forests consist of a mix of Engelman spruce, alpine fir, lodgepole pine, hemlock and western red cedar. The numerous steep slopes and avalanche paths support slide alder and huckleberry.