Bannock Point Campground

Very popular hike or boat in campsite located just south of Silverton. Access is not marked from the highway but is 2.4 km from Silverton or .6 km from the top of the Silverton hill lookout. The only turn off on the road heading west and goes down 1km to the gravel pit. Drive through gravel pit into the forest 100m where you will find parking area and map and further information. Trails from here go to Bannock Point campground and Bannock Lookout Trail. 20 or so campgrounds and picnic area. Also accessible from the water by boat. Very popular campsite and picnic area on the shores of slocan lake. 15 minutes or so fairly steep trail to campground and the lake. Awesome spot. No bear proof food storage facilities.

Mt Carlyle Lodge

If you like Backcountry hiking then you will love this place. Access from New Denver and booking at www.skihikebc.com. Available for hiking from the lodge or for the famous Sourdough Traverse which connects to Idaho Peak. The hike to get to the lodge passes through historical mining claims.

Wee Sandy Creek in the Valhalla Provincial Park

A popular rocky beach on the other side of the Slocan Lake in the Valhalla Provincial Park just north of New Denver. A 10 minute power boat ride from New Denver or a 45 minute canoe trip. There is a waterfall right at the campsite beside the beach along with picnic tables, outhouse and bear proof food lockers. A short trail 20-30 minutes on the south side of the beach leads up to a scenic overlook. Another trail continues up the creek valley for 15 km to Wee Sandy Lake. Great beach for skipping rocks, just don't throw them all away we are running out.

Nemo Creek in the Valhalla Provincial Park

Nemo Creek is one of the more popular beaches on the Valhalla Provincial Park side of the Slocan Lake. 20-30 minutes from New Denver by power boat or almost an 1 hour from Silverton by Canoe. The beach is right at the mouth of the creek and is sandy and that water shallow so it gets warmer than many spots. There is a short 5 minute walk up the creek to a small 5m waterfall or a half hour walk along the loop trail which travels through the forest before traversing into a small canyon and a narrow 10 meter waterfall and a descent along the edge of the canyon. There is 3 or 4 campsites with an outhouse and bear proof food storage lockers.

Best Shorts Walks around New Denver

These walks or hikes are about than an hour each way. They are all "must do" trails.

1. Idaho Peak.
Incredible alpine walk to the old fire lookout overlooking the Slocan Lake above New Denver, Silverton and Sandon. Open from late July/early August until the first snow in the mountains. Plan on at least an hour drive each way, 2 hours for the walk and visit the Sandon Museum for another hour on your way.

2. Molly Hughes Cabin
Old mine trail follows Slocan lakeshore departing from Bigelow Bay in New Denver. Pleasant walk about 20 meters above the lakeshore for about 30 minutes. Great views of Lake and Valhalla mountains from vicinity of Molly Hughes Cabin. Beach accessible at end of walk. Easily accessible for a quick morning or evening walk.

3. Bannock Point Trail
A beautiful walk through the forests above Slocan Lake and ending after 40 minutes or so on a steep rocky bluff 200m overlooking the Slocan Lake. 2km south of Silverton an unmarked dirt road turns right and goes downhill to the gravel pit. Below the gravel pit there is Forestry signs and display maps of the trail and camping area at popular Bannock Pt.

4. Galena Trail
This might be the most famous trail in New Denver and popular with all ages for hiking, running and biking. Drive to the top of the Galena trail at the junction of Hwy 31a and Sandon Rd. Walk the wide and well maintained Galena Trail about 2km to the well photographed Cable Car crossing. Ride the cable car and return to your car. A more adventurous return trip involves a short steep hike through the  ruins of the Alamo Mine at the cable car site to the old Sandon Rd and continuing left back to the car.

5. New Denver - Mori Trail, Bellevue St and Carpenter Creek.
Everyone walks around New Denver looking at the shops, houses and the views of the Valhallas, Slocan Lake and Idaho Peak. A nice loop can be made by parking on 6th Ave ( Main St ) and walking Kildare St to Bellevue and dropping onto the Mori Lakeside Trail and then back up again whenever the mood takes you. Continue along the lakeshore until blocked by Carpenter Creek and follow the trail along the creek and return to your car.

6. Wilson Creek Falls
Hidden in the thick forest and canyons crashes this 30 meter waterfall. A large volume of water is always flowing down the Wilson Creek sending lots of mist into air keeping the area cool even on the hottest days. Follow East Wilson Creek FSR 10km and stopping before the bridge over Wilson Ck. The road is signposted on the right and gets a bit rougher and steeper to the trailhead 1 km away. Plan on 45 minutes each way.

7. Nemo Creek or Wee Sandy Creek Waterfalls
You need a boat for these ones as they are located on the other side of the Slocan Lake in the Valhalla Provincial Park. 30-40 minutes in a canoe or 10-20 minutes in a motor boat will get you there. The walks are as short as 5 minutes. Wee Sandy is a rocky beach perfect for skipping stones and Nemo Creek is a beautiful sandy beach. A 30 minute loop at Nemo gets to the upper falls which is well worth it. A 20 minute trail at Wee Sandy on the south end of the beach gets to a scenic overlook.

Kohan Reflection Gardens

Located at the south end of New Denver adjacent to the Municipal Campground, Centennial Park and the boat launch. Created and maintained by volunteers this beautiful garden reflects some of the Japanese history in New Denver. Surrounded by the mountains and bordered by the Slocan Lake this one block garden rejoices in the beauty surrounding with beautiful plants, trees and landscaping that change throughout the four seasons. Worth a visit of 10-20 minutes every time in New Denver.
Perfect place for a wedding - see http://kootenayweddings.blogspot.ca/

Mori LakeShore Walk

With the lake levels high and a little two year old who loves to throw rocks I've been walking the Mori Lakeshore walk very frequently this spring. There are so many combinations of this lovely trail located right within New Denver that it can be done as a half day hike or just a quick jaunt down to a beach.

There are a series of marked and unmarked access points all along the foreshore from Bellevue St on the north end of town. Some of the trails are quite steep or have steep stairs although the trail access closer to Carpenter creek are very easy. The trail essentially walks along the shore of the lake within the town of New Denver. For a longer walk continue up the creek to cross the bridge and walk back down the creek and continue to the marine, campground, dock, Kohan Garden and perhaps visit the Nikkei Memorial Center on your way back.

Bannock Point Trail to Lookout

We took advantage of the rare days of sunshine this spring to enjoy the recently improved Bannock Point campsite. The trail through the enchanted forest to the Bannock Point lookout is one of the best early season trails in the Slocan Valley with spectactular views of the lake and a beautiful trail through the forest. There is a good map at the trailhead which is on the gravel pit road 4.5 km south of Silverton.

Idaho Peak 360 video

Link to my Photo Gallery

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park

Access from New Denver via the Enterprise Creek trail. Road closed to vehicles at 5km.

Trails from New Denver area
Paupo Basin
Enterprise Creek

Other trails best accessed from Kaslo or Nelson

BC Parks - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kokanee_gl/
Trail Report - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kokanee_gl/trail_report.pdf

Valhalla Provincial Park

An incredible assortment of terrain from the valley bottom at the Slocan Lake to the steep peaks and glaciers of the mountains.

Campsites
on the lake from north to south
Wee Sandy Beach
Sharp Creek
Sandy Beach
Nemo Creek
Cove Creek
Evans Beach

Alpine Campsites
Gwillim Lakes
Gimli and Mulvey Basin

Trails
Wee Sandy Lake
Sharp Creek to New Denver Glacier
Nemo Creek
Slocan to Evans Creek
Drinnon Pass to Gwillim Lakes
Gimli and Mulvey Basin

Created in 1983 after lobbying by the Valhalla Society.

BC Parks Page - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/valhalla/
Trail Report - http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/valhalla/trail_report.pdf

Retallack - Cedar Groves Trail

Located right on the access road to the Retallack catskiing lodge at the top of the pass between Kaslo and New Denver on Highway 31A. A beautiful short trail that winds itself in a circuit around some old growth cedar. Great trip when passing through, with kids, or on a hot day combined with a trip to Fish and Bear Lakes.

Galena Trail from Roseberry to New Denver

Popular trail following the abandoned CPR railway line from Rosebery to just above New Denver on Hwy 6. The trail takes an hour or two by foot and is a quick but mostly flat bike ride. The railway line is mostly just above the Slocan Lake and so has beautiful views throughout and is very smooth.

Alamo Trail

Starting on the Queen Bess Road and ending at the cable car crossing on the Galena Trail. Perfect single track and wagon road. This is the old access road for the Alamo mine which is located in the alpine bowl at the top of the trail. The large ruined buildings on the Galena trail on the east side of the cable car crossing are the remains of the concentrator operations and the location of the intersection of the Alamo Trail and Galena Trail. Great as a mountain bike descent, long and steep for a bike climb and not so interesting as a hike.

Galena Trail - H Road - Queen Bess - Alamo - Old Sandon Rd

Galena Trail from New Denver to Three Forks

This is probably the most popular trail in New Denver. The trail follows the path of the old CPR Roseberry to Sandon railway line. There is a one-man cable car crossing across Carpenter Creek. It is popular with young and old, slow and fast, hikers and bikers and it the ending for numerous other trails coming down Idaho Peak including the Alamo Trail. Makes a nice loop with the Old Sandon Road located on the other side of the creek. 30-60 minutes up on a bike or 2-3 hours hike. Useful to have two cars to shuttle, or some people hike down from Three Forks to the cable car and then return, or some head uphill from the cable car crossing through the old Alamo Mine site to the Old Sandon Road and return to Three Forks that way. Lots and lots of fun options. Well signposted from highway and some signposts on trail. More information available from Visitors Center at the museum/old Bank of Montreal in New Denver

Molly Hughes Trail

Looking back at New Denver from beach at end of trail.

This short 20-40 minute trail is a must do for everyone visiting New Denver. Starting from the Bigelow Bay parking area at the end of Kildare St on the north side of town the trail follows an old mining trail to the Molly Hughes Mine. The trail is 20 meters or so above the lakeshore with beautiful views all the time. There must have been a couple of portals for the mine as there are mine tailings above the trail and also a portal down a the lake level where a dock was created for loading ore directly on to the paddlewheelers for transport to the Trail smelter. I believe the trail crosses private land in the vicinity of the Molly Hughes Cabin. After the mine the trail wanders down to the beach. It might appear that it could be private land however stay close to the beach and you will be on public land.

Old Sandon Road

This trail makes a great hike or bike. The Old Sandon Road is an old wagon road from Sandon to New Denver which passes by some old mines and also has spectacular views into Carpenter Creek, Payne Mtn, Slocan Lake, New Denver and the Valhalla's. The last 2km's or so into New Denver is a steep logging road which if hiking is best skipped by having a car at the end of the trail. The trail can be taken from Sandon or from Three Forks at the Galena trail.

Lyle Creek - Mt Brennan

From summit of Hwy 3A between Kaslo and New Denver the trail departs on the north side of the highway in a large pull-out, next to the old buildings. Follow signs on old mining roads to alpine basin with small lake with summit of Mt Brennan another 3 hours further up. Also a popular ski touring destination. Trail starts at bottom left of photo and traverses into drainage on right to summit on left. More photos

Whitewater Creek

Moderate hike to old mining claims and alpine basin. Popular destination for viewing bears as the trail climbs above the creek on one side of the valley with the meadows and bears on the other side of the creek - hopefully. It's about an hour to his point and then another hour to the alpine basin. Good to give another hour or two for wandering and exploring around alpine lakes, meadows and enjoying the spectacular views. Very rewarding hike with something to see all the time. Trail starts at summit of Hwy 3A - New Denver to Kaslo from the parking lot on the north side of the highway behind the old buildings about 200m east of the Retallack Lodge sign..

Wilson Creek Falls

A steep hike down to a cool, mossy waterfall. Wilson Creek Falls is considered on of the most spectacular waterfalls in British Columbia, plunging 207 feet. The hike is 2.2 km round trip.

Head 5.3 km north of New Denver on Highway 6. Turn east ( right ) on East Wilson Creek FSR 11.5 km ( rough gravel road ) and then turn right just before bridge over Wilson Creek at turnoff signed for Wilson Creek Falls. A 4X4 road climbs 1km to trailhead or high clearance 2wd in 2015.