Fire Fighters BC Style by Heli

Mountain Biking on Idaho Peak

This website has a good overview of the trails including gps and altitude drops on the trails. http://www.bikepirate.com/tails-from-the-trails/

Roseberry Regatta 2012

Billed as the highlight of the Slocan Lake summer social scene. Every Monday of the Labour day weekend in September the young and old get together as the Roseberry beach at attend to the serious matter of pirates and racing home-built boats on the Slocan Lake. There was fundraising, walking the plank, youth races, vegetable boat races, and assorted silliness. I attended although did not bring my camera and although I scoured the web for photos of high society you will have to see the Valley Voice for photos.

History of Sandon video

Leland Hotel

We always recommend our guests to visit this charming restaurant and cafe when visiting Nakusp. The view from the deck down the Arrow Lakes is simply stunning. The dining room is elegant. The food is perfect.
The West Kootenays is not the center of fancy dining but this is a welcome surprise with a friendly casual small town feel. Enjoy and relax.

Selkirk Loop posts top 10 things to do in New Denver

New Denver is located within the International Selkirk Loop which promotes the communities of the southern selkirks as a destination. Check out the site for more information about other communities in the West Kootenays and below in the United States.

1. Mining ghost town of Sandon
2. Drive to Idaho Peak
3. Hike or Bike Galena Trail
4. Rosebery Provincial Park
5. Water taxi to Valhalla Provincial Park
6. Nikkei Memorial Internment Centre
7. Wilson Creek Falls
8. Silverton Outdoor Mining Museum & Interpretive Centre
9. Mori Lakeside Trail & Kohan Reflection Garden
10. Cycle the Slocan Valley Rail Trail

New Denver Campground

The New Denver campground has tent sites, unpowered sites and powered sites. Some sites are located right on the Slocan Lake and others are tucked in the trees. There are no reservations - it is first come first served. It is perhaps the best campground in British Columbia. The campground surrounds Centennial Park with a ball diamond and childrens playground and the Kohan Reflection Garden.

Other campgrounds in the area include Roseberry Provincial campground, Springer Creek campground ( Slocan city ), Wragge Beach and Summit Lake.

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.

Slocan Lake Golf Club

Many people in the area live here because of the Slocan Lake Golf Club. Many people visit the Slocan Lake to play golf at this relaxed 18 hole course. Majestic views of the Valhalla Mountains frame most of the fairways. The course is fairly flat with a few waterholes and sandtraps to throw a curve in your game. The back nine are variations of the first nine holes. Golf carts and clubs are available for rent. Check out the restaurant at the Clubhouse.

Bigelow Bay

Bigelow Bay from the helmet cam on my paraglider

One of the best beaches in New Denver. The other beaches include - Centennial Park ( Campground ), Becker Beach ( off Becker Lane at the bottom of 6th Ave, past the Visitors Center ), and Carpenter Creek beach ( in front of Sweet Dreams Guesthouse and Oldham's Cabins ). There are numerous other small rocky beaches all along Bellevue St in New Denver, following signs for the Mori Trail. Bigelow Bay is accessed on the north side of Carpenter creek by following Kildare St north until it turns into one lane with only half the lane paved and ends in a small parking lot. The trail to Molly Hughes Cabin and the beach below the Slocan Lake Golf Course start from this parking lot.

Restaurant - Rory's on Main

Rory's is The place to dine in New Denver. It could be a jazz club or a wine bar - it feels that way. The food is great - big city dining on the Slocan Lake. Located on Main Street ( 6th Ave ). I'll see you there.

Silvery Slocan Museum

Located at 202 - 6th Ave. - that's the bottom of main street sharing the same address as the Visitor's Center. 358-2201. Well worth a visit for a glimpse of some of the history of New Denver. 
Weekends starting the long weekend in May, through the Thanksgiving weekend in October.
Daily in July and August
from 9 am to 5 pm.
Adult $2, Student $1
Family $5
Children (under 6) Free

Glacier View Cabins

 6 small self-contained kitchenette cabins with lots of garden and lawn for sitting and watching Idaho Peak and the New Denver Glacier. Located on the corner of 8th Ave and Hwy 6 Glacier View Cabins is 2 blocks from downtown New Denver and 2 blocks away from the Slocan Lake.
http://www.glaciercabins.com/

Sweet Dreams Guesthouse

 Located on Bellevue St facing Greer Park, Slocan Lake and the Valhalla Mountains. 5 guest rooms in a turn of the century historic home with a beautiful garden and setting. http://www.newdenverbc.com/

Appletree Cafe

This one has been here forever. Casual - eat in or outside under the trees. Hot and cold sandwich options or breakfast snacks. Down on main street - 6th Ave just before the Visitors's Center - New Denver Museum and the Home Hardware store.

Restaurant - Wild Rose

The Wild Rose Mexican Restaurant is an institution in the north end of Slocan Lake. One of the oldest restaurants in the Valley. The portions are generous and so are the margaritas. Located just off Highway 6 in the small community of Roseberry - signposted with the little blue signs. When you pull in at the front door you know that you have found an oasis. I remember years ago driving down from Revelstoke to Nelson and planning the trip around having dinner at the Wild Rose an hour down from the Arrow Lakes Ferry. Lots of variety and options as long as its Mexican. Stay for desert.

OPEN during spring/summer/fall - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Think about reservations particularly larger groups and those big weekends. Call 250 358 7744

Restaurant at the Slocan Lake Golf Club

This Restaurant is located at the Slocan Lake Golf Club. Beer and wine available. The view out the clubhouse windows is incredible - on one side the Slocan Lake and on the other the 9th hole. It is casual dining with a scrumptious taste.

Silverton Canada Day Parade