Nelson, B.C. & Slocan Valley
Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada

Nelson, BC, Canada is situated on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The community is surrounded by adventure - both lake and alpine - including glaciers, natural hot springs, lush forests and the Selkirk, Monashee and Purcell Mountains.

Nelson, British Columbia is a retail and commercial hub for some of the neighbouring tourism villages including Crawford Bay, Balfour and the Slocan Valley communities.

Some of the services provided in the region which are important to travelers include accommodations, campgrounds, banks, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, laundromat, internet, coffee shops, pubs, liquor stores, gift stores, tours, guides, spa, marina and transportation (taxi, ferry, rental cars, air strip).

While shopping in Nelson take the time to appreciate history through the the heritage buildings in town - Bank of Commerce (1907), Capitol Theatre (1924), Bank of Montreal (1899), Post office (1902) and the Nelson Daily News (1899).

The beautiful landscapes and waterscapes of the region provide visitors with an ideal setting for day trips and for year round adventures and activities.

During the summer months many enjoy water activities on the very popular Kootenay Lake, Slocan Lake and Slocan River while others enjoy the wilderness backcountry adventures in the surrounding Selkirk, Monashee and Purcell Mountains.

Some of the more popular summer activities enjoyed in the region include hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, cycling, birdwatching, kayaking, river rafting, flightseeing, rock climbing, boating, sailing, swimming and golfing.

During the winter snow and ice season the landscape and the adventures change to accommodate downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowboarding, heli skiing, cat skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing.

Some of the year round adventures are enjoyed in the wilderness backcountry parks located in the region like the Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park, Valhalla Provincial Park and the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.

Sightseeing, biking, walking, jogging, picnicking and birding can all be enjoyed from the waterfront in Nelson in Lakeside Park. The park rests on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake and includes a waterfront walkway, beautiful sandy beach, large grass lawns, statues, playing fields, wharf and flower gardens. The waterfront walkway is an excellent way to explore the community.

Other easy access local parks to sightsee in Nelson include the waterfall and Japanese Gardens in the Cottonwood Falls Park and the Painted Turtles in the Grohman Narrows Park.

For the winter enthusiasts Whitewater Ski Resort is the ski and snowboard destination serving the region around Nelson. In the backcountry near Nelson there are designated areas for snowmobiling (Kokanee Snowmobile Trails) and cross country skiing (Apex Busk and Clearwater Creek XC Ski Trails).