Things to do
Dancing Bear Inn Hostel has a great listing of destinations and things to do in Nelson and area. Why not stay there and check some of it out!
Scenic Destinations - In Nelson
Scenic Destinations - Kootenay Region
Historic & Cultural Destinations - Kootenay Region
Here are a few of the ones we recommend:
Scenic Destinations - In Nelson
Scenic Destinations - Kootenay Region
Historic & Cultural Destinations - Kootenay Region
Here are a few of the ones we recommend:
Market Fest
Join us the evening of Friday July 28th for Nelson's Market Fest.
Join us the evening of Friday July 28th for Nelson's Market Fest.
- Bands on two stages playing music for all ages
- Dance performances throughout the evening
- Kids’ entertainment
- 100 vendors with hand-made, home-grown or prepared goods and food
Hot Springs
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort is just a 45 minute drive towards Kaslo from Nelson and features three odourless pools, a 150 foot horseshoe cave, a main lounging pool, and a stream-fed cold plunge. The pools provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay’s majestic scenery – Purcell Mountains and Kootenay Lake. If you are more ambitious ask a local about the natural hot springs (St. Leon's or Halfway Hot Springs) north of Nakusp!
Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort is just a 45 minute drive towards Kaslo from Nelson and features three odourless pools, a 150 foot horseshoe cave, a main lounging pool, and a stream-fed cold plunge. The pools provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of West Kootenay’s majestic scenery – Purcell Mountains and Kootenay Lake. If you are more ambitious ask a local about the natural hot springs (St. Leon's or Halfway Hot Springs) north of Nakusp!
River Rafting and Tubing
The Slocan River also offers fishing, kayaking, canoeing but most importantly perhaps some of BC's best tubing as it gently meanders towards the Kootenay River near Crescent Valley and later Shoreacres. Access to the west side of Slocan River is available at Winlaw by turning at the Cedar Creek Café located on Hwy 3 and using Winlaw Bridge Road to get to the river.
The Slocan River also offers fishing, kayaking, canoeing but most importantly perhaps some of BC's best tubing as it gently meanders towards the Kootenay River near Crescent Valley and later Shoreacres. Access to the west side of Slocan River is available at Winlaw by turning at the Cedar Creek Café located on Hwy 3 and using Winlaw Bridge Road to get to the river.
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in Nelson is the stuff of legend. Showcased in many mountain bike films, Nelson trails offer everything from gentle railway grades to steep, rooty technical tracks. For the hard core freestylers there are enough stunts, ladders and big drops to keep the adrenalin pumping long after the last epic ride of the day. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson’s rides take the West Coast style and crank it up a notch.
There are many great rides within 15 minutes drive from Nelson including Sproule Creek or the Kootenay Canal (beginner/intermediate) to the west of Nelson and Ledges (intermediate) near Kokanee Creek Park. For those looking for a serious workout, most trails are accessible by bike right from town, otherwise you may want to park at Mountain Station and start your climb from there. If the only climbing you like to do is out of bed in the morning, consider a vehicle drop or ask a local bike shop about shuttles. (from discovernelson.ca)
Nelson has some great local bike shops (Gericks and Sacred Ride) to provide support and friendly advice on where to ride.
Suggested Local Rides:
Beginner: Stanley Loop, SilverKing Loop, BNR railway bed, CIC Loop, Sproule Creek, Slocan Valley Rail Trail
Intermediate: Shasta, Espresso, Honey, Gravel Pit, Placenta Decenta, Smiling Buddah, Ledges, Middle Earth, Eli Sim, Log Jam, Frog Jam
Advanced: The Vein, Paperbag, The Gimp, 13 Steps to Doom
Many of Nelson’s best rides are unmarked and some traverse private property. Stop in at the local bike shops to be sure you don't end up in someone's back yard or miss out on all Nelson mountain biking has to offer.
The Nelson Cycling Club has completed a trail map guide which can be purchased in local bike shops. The Club has also posted a large trail map at the Mountain Station parking lot.
Mountain biking in Nelson is the stuff of legend. Showcased in many mountain bike films, Nelson trails offer everything from gentle railway grades to steep, rooty technical tracks. For the hard core freestylers there are enough stunts, ladders and big drops to keep the adrenalin pumping long after the last epic ride of the day. With the breathtaking backdrop of the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson’s rides take the West Coast style and crank it up a notch.
There are many great rides within 15 minutes drive from Nelson including Sproule Creek or the Kootenay Canal (beginner/intermediate) to the west of Nelson and Ledges (intermediate) near Kokanee Creek Park. For those looking for a serious workout, most trails are accessible by bike right from town, otherwise you may want to park at Mountain Station and start your climb from there. If the only climbing you like to do is out of bed in the morning, consider a vehicle drop or ask a local bike shop about shuttles. (from discovernelson.ca)
Nelson has some great local bike shops (Gericks and Sacred Ride) to provide support and friendly advice on where to ride.
Suggested Local Rides:
Beginner: Stanley Loop, SilverKing Loop, BNR railway bed, CIC Loop, Sproule Creek, Slocan Valley Rail Trail
Intermediate: Shasta, Espresso, Honey, Gravel Pit, Placenta Decenta, Smiling Buddah, Ledges, Middle Earth, Eli Sim, Log Jam, Frog Jam
Advanced: The Vein, Paperbag, The Gimp, 13 Steps to Doom
Many of Nelson’s best rides are unmarked and some traverse private property. Stop in at the local bike shops to be sure you don't end up in someone's back yard or miss out on all Nelson mountain biking has to offer.
The Nelson Cycling Club has completed a trail map guide which can be purchased in local bike shops. The Club has also posted a large trail map at the Mountain Station parking lot.
Rock Climbing
The Nelson region is abundant with great climbing opportunities. The West Kootenay Rock Guide Book (available at the Visitor Centre & local retailers) has over 400 listed routes (with another 100 routes established since), putting us clearly on the map as a destination climbing area. The weather is overall drier than Squamish and cooler than Skaha. The mild climate makes for a long season too, typically April to October. Many areas are close to water for a quick après-climb dip in the heat of summer. The climbing is mostly on good quality granite and gneiss and both traditional as well as bolted sport climbs can be found on routes ranging from 1 to 8 pitches long.
Recommended local areas include the Squatter’s Bluff, CIC, Kootenay Crag & Hall Siding, but fantastic climbing can also be found at the Waterline and Kinnard Bluffs in Castlegar as well as the Slocan Bluffs by the lake in Slocan City. For some great multi-pitch climbing try Pulpit Peak in Nelson and the Brilliant Wall in Castlegar. For alpine rock climbing, the Valhallas are exceptional. The Gimli parking lot lies 1.5 hrs. from Nelson and gives access to the classic South Ridge of Gimli Peak along with many other excellent climbs on Gimli, Niselheim, Gladsheim, Asgard and others. (from discovernelson.com)
The Nelson region is abundant with great climbing opportunities. The West Kootenay Rock Guide Book (available at the Visitor Centre & local retailers) has over 400 listed routes (with another 100 routes established since), putting us clearly on the map as a destination climbing area. The weather is overall drier than Squamish and cooler than Skaha. The mild climate makes for a long season too, typically April to October. Many areas are close to water for a quick après-climb dip in the heat of summer. The climbing is mostly on good quality granite and gneiss and both traditional as well as bolted sport climbs can be found on routes ranging from 1 to 8 pitches long.
Recommended local areas include the Squatter’s Bluff, CIC, Kootenay Crag & Hall Siding, but fantastic climbing can also be found at the Waterline and Kinnard Bluffs in Castlegar as well as the Slocan Bluffs by the lake in Slocan City. For some great multi-pitch climbing try Pulpit Peak in Nelson and the Brilliant Wall in Castlegar. For alpine rock climbing, the Valhallas are exceptional. The Gimli parking lot lies 1.5 hrs. from Nelson and gives access to the classic South Ridge of Gimli Peak along with many other excellent climbs on Gimli, Niselheim, Gladsheim, Asgard and others. (from discovernelson.com)
Hiking
Nelson has both the terrain and the scenery that makes for fantastic hiking. Clear streams, large inland lakes, forest covered valleys, wildflowers, make this area a hiker’s paradise. Wildlife here thrives, so don't be surprised if you encounter deer, elk, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, both grizzly brown, black bears. Both bald eagles and golden eagles fly overhead. There are at least 10 trails close to the city for hiking, biking and snowshoeing.
For Family Hiking
8 hiking trails leave from the West Kootenay Visitor Centre and lead through the impressive Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. The park's sandy beach and delta area slopes gently upward to the base of the forested Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains. If you are visiting in late summer, be sure to see the remarkable spawning of the
Kokanee salmon.
For More Adventurous Hikers
Try taking on Kokanee Glacier Park. This rugged mountain area is open for hiking between July and October. Kokanee Glacier itself is the main attraction and sits an elevation of 2775 meters. Wilderness camping is permitted in designated areas. There are no developed campgrounds in the park. Various shelters are located throughout the park for overnight use. (from discovernelson.ca)
Nelson has both the terrain and the scenery that makes for fantastic hiking. Clear streams, large inland lakes, forest covered valleys, wildflowers, make this area a hiker’s paradise. Wildlife here thrives, so don't be surprised if you encounter deer, elk, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, both grizzly brown, black bears. Both bald eagles and golden eagles fly overhead. There are at least 10 trails close to the city for hiking, biking and snowshoeing.
For Family Hiking
8 hiking trails leave from the West Kootenay Visitor Centre and lead through the impressive Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. The park's sandy beach and delta area slopes gently upward to the base of the forested Slocan Range of the Selkirk Mountains. If you are visiting in late summer, be sure to see the remarkable spawning of the
Kokanee salmon.
For More Adventurous Hikers
Try taking on Kokanee Glacier Park. This rugged mountain area is open for hiking between July and October. Kokanee Glacier itself is the main attraction and sits an elevation of 2775 meters. Wilderness camping is permitted in designated areas. There are no developed campgrounds in the park. Various shelters are located throughout the park for overnight use. (from discovernelson.ca)
Festivals
Kaslo Jazz Fest is the weekend after Disc Break this year on August 4-6th just a short hour or so drive up Kootenay Lake and has a killer line up with Tribe Called Red and Sheepdogs headlining. Check out their website for info or tickets.
https://kaslojazzfest.com/
Kaslo Jazz Fest is the weekend after Disc Break this year on August 4-6th just a short hour or so drive up Kootenay Lake and has a killer line up with Tribe Called Red and Sheepdogs headlining. Check out their website for info or tickets.
https://kaslojazzfest.com/
