This drive starts in Nelson, the Queen City of the Kootenays. From Nelson you’ll head north along Kootenay Lake to Kaslo, then over a pass to New Denver and back south along Slocan Lake to Nelson. It’s a lovely drive heading either direction, and will take you about 3.5 hours to cover the 216 km – but if you have the time, you could easily spend a couple of weeks exploring all the area has to offer along the way. This drive has the grandeur of two magnificent clear lakes as well as towering peaks all around. The road is winding and fun to drive, and is known as one of the premier motorcycling routes in this part of the world. You will have the opportunity to see wildlife such as bears and deer along the way.

Scenic Drive Tips

Nelson is a vibrant town with lots of shops and restaurants as well as micro-breweries. Kaslo is a quaint mountain village that started as a logging settlement – if you time it right, you can enjoy the Kaslo Jazz Festival! Near New Denver, check out Silverton, a ghost town that had its heyday during silver mining days. Hike Idaho Peak for amazing views. In New Denver, visit The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre to learn about the history of the Japanese internment camp. Kayaks are available to paddle Slocan Lake. Look for the logging competitions at South Slocan. Try your hand at catching a giant Gerrard trout in Kootenay Lake.  

Submitted By

Harold Mayer

Photo Source

Discover Nelson, Visit Kaslo, Village of New Denver

Important Note

As indicated above, this scenic drive was submitted by an independent third party and has not been verified by Triple E Recreational Vehicles. Please do your own research on suitability, road conditions and road safety before attempting to drive this route.