Silvery Slocan
Step into “Kootenay Time” when you turn north up the Slocan Valley on Highway #6 and experience life at a different pace. Take the relaxing and winding highway north and enjoy stopping at any one of the small towns and villages along the way. For the trail enthusiast, the Slocan Valley Rail Trail follows the highway to Slocan City where in days gone past, steam wheelers connected to New Denver further up #6 along Slocan Lake.
With no cell service past the first few kilometres, the folk that live in the valley maintain a connected community lifestyle, where visits, gatherings and direct communication are much more a way of life.
Valhalla Provincial Park is a magnificent world-class wilderness, encompassing 49,893 hectares of natural landscape and 30 kms of pristine shoreline along Slocan Lake.
Valhalla Provincial Park has several hiking trails.
This park was created to protect the diverse topography, majestic peaks and unique vegetation typical of the Selkirk Mountains. There are many opportunities here for the back-country adventurer. Several beaches for boaters, some for water skiers and others for canoeists.
The Village of Slocan is a very friendly and welcoming community of about 350 people, located at the southern end of Slocan Lake. The village changed focus after the 2011 closure of the the Springer Creek Forest Products mill. There was a community movement toward eco-tourism that attracted an array of new residents and entrepreneurs who recognize the potential of this hidden gem. There is a strong sense of community in Slocan City with a fitness center, youth center, library and more, an attractive option to the bustle of the larger centres.
While visiting enjoy the 35 site campground within a 10 minute walk to the beach, boat launch, lake, hiking & biking trails.
Rock climbing on the Slocan Bluffs, located on the “old highway” (enter from the corner of Slocan Street and Delany Avenue in Slocan, past the sawmill).
Experience kayaking on the Slocan River with your own adventure or enjoy a guided tour available through local adventure tour guides.
Driving north on #6, get ready for spectacular views of Slocan Lake as the road takes you high along the mountain sides before bringing you down to the shore line and to the picturesque village of Silverton.
Stop by the Silverton Village office to pick up a pamphlet that will guide you through a historic walking tour. Visit Frank Mills Outdoor Mining Museum or Fingland Cabin & Blacksmith Shop originally built in 1896.
The Silverton Historical Society has cleared heritage mining trails in the Silverton Creek drainage. These trails were used for travel between the mining camps and Silverton. You can still find abandoned mining and camping gear, some of it a century old.
There’s a lakeshore campground with 15 treed sites, picnic tables & fire pits; a washroom building; several water taps serve the campsites and firewood can be purchased from the campground attendant.
There are also 20 sites along Silverton Creek, which is where group reservations are placed. Reservations are for groups requiring a minimum of six sites. This area of the campground is located next to the children’s playground, tennis court, bocce pit and Dewis Park baseball field.
A boat launch is located next to the lakeside campground at the foot of Leadville Street with parking for vehicles and trailers. Please ensure to use the boat washing station before entering the lake with your boat.
Find out more info at the village office.