Nelson

This local trail starting from Johnstone Road is locally famous and really well maintained. Located off the other shore of Kootenay Lake, this hike reveals a beautiful view of the town of Nelson and the surrounding mountains.This trail is doable in all seasons and although it can be steep at some sections, the short distance and well maintained trail make it friendly for all ages and abilities....

Ask most people about the mountains of eastern British Columbia and they'll likely think you mean the Canadian Rockies. But mention the Purcell Mountains and you're more than likely to get a blank stare back at you. And that's a good thing.The Purcell Mountains in British Columbia run parallel to the Canadian Rockies to the west. They are little known outside of the Northwest. But it is a huge ...

Please note, the path to this waterfall crosses private property. The early portion of this trail passes through the Marsden Face Conservation Property, which is privately owned conservation land. Visitors to this property are asked to respect the ecological values of the property. Please follow the designated trail and keep dogs on leash. The trail continues onto a separate, privately-owned pa...

The hike up Toad Mountain provides a great view over Nelson and it's surrounding mountain peaks. From the summit, a 360 degree view gives you a great spot to look at the distant Valhallas, Kokanee Glacier, Purcells and lower Selkirks.The main challenge to hiking Toad Mountain is access. The road to the trailhead is quite steep and challenging - 4wd or clearance is recommended. To get to the par...

Hiking to the summit of Half Dome is a rewarding backcountry ski trip that can be done with ease of access from Whitewater Ski Resort.After riding the Silver King Lift (no inbounds ascent on foot allowed), exit the resort through the backcountry gate to the right of the lift. Follow the trail out of the resort that ascends rapidly toward the saddle between White Queen and Half Dome. Once you re...

Whitewater is a short 20 minute drive from downtown Nelson. There are only 3 lifts here, but a surprising amount of terrain — most of which will satisfy even the strongest of skiers. Our favorite runs were the Trash Glades, accessed via a short traverse off the backside of the Motherlode Chair (and the boot-pack above the traverse that’ll get you a few more creamy turns).  This isn’t a resort t...

Kootenay Lake is one of BC's biggest lakes at 104km long, and between 3-5km wide. At nearly 500ft deep, this lake stays cold all summer long with the most perfectly clear and clean water you can imagine. Hiking the Pilot Bay Trail is a great way to experience this incredible place.All of BC's inland ferries are part of the highway system, and are free of charge, unlike the ocean ferries on the ...

The hike to Gimli Ridge is one of only two hikes in the Valhallas that reach up to the alpine area. It provides stunning scenery of the surrounding range, and an intimate experience with the huge monolith that is Gimli Peak.The trail steadily climbs elevation. From the trailhead, Gimli seems deceptively close, but it will take about 2 hours walking uphill through a beautiful forest to reach the...

Silver Spray Cabin is a beautiful cabin nestled high in the Alpine of Kokanee Provincial Park - a perfect spot to spend a clear summer night.The hike to the cabin is strenuous - there is no hiding that. 6km of pretty much straight uphill gets you from the valley bottom to the Alpine, where the hut is nestled in against Sunrise Mountain.The reward is what makes it all worth it. The hut, when boo...