RECREATIONRECREATIONSUMMER
New Denver is IN the mountains. The new Goat Range Wilderness Area is
directly
adjacent to town. Valhalla Wilderness Park is across Slocan Lake, and
Kokanee
Glacier Park is a 15-minute drive away. These areas all offer
incredible
mountain scenery with many access points, mountain biking routes,
camping
sites and high-traverse routes available.
Slocan Lake is 128 sq. km. (50 sq. mi.) of crystal clear water for
swimming,
boating and fishing.
And not all the recreational opportunities involve extreme
conditions.
Over 100 km (65 miles) of abandoned railbed, like the Galena
Trail and the Slocan Valley Rail Trail offer walking trails and cycling trails for the whole
family.
This Recreation Map is published by our Chamber of Commerce.
| WINTER The mountains around us are incredible snow factories. Back-country skiing is legendary here, and a small community ski hill offers lift service within a half-hour drive. Cross-country skiing is mostly on ski-doo trails, but several months every winter allow for skiing along the creek and on the railbeds. |
Home, Guesthouse, New
Denver, Retirement, Water, Map |
Slocan Lake is at 565 m (1750 ft.) above sea
level.
It never freezes over (or at least not in recent memory), because it is
300 m (1000 ft.) deep. It can be very moody, and but because it is only
2.5
km
(1.5 miles) wide, the shore is never too far away. Rainbow trout,
kokanee,
and dolly varden are caught in the lake, and where the creeks empty
into
the lake are where most fish are caught.
The west side of the lake is mostly undeveloped since Valhalla Provincial Park was established there in by the Valhalla Wilderness Society and BC Parks
maintains 9 lakeshore campsites with outhouses, tent pads, picnic
tables, fire rings and food caches.
The Mountains around Slocan Lake average 2700 m. (8,000 ft.) and there are some spectacular ones in the Valhalla Range. Mount Dag, Asgard Peak and Gimli Peak are among the peaks named for Norse mythology (named by the surveyor who first mapped the area who was a Wagner opera fan). On the east side of the lake the mountains aren't quite as visible, but there is the advantage that you can drive to the top of one of them, Idaho Peak is famous for wildflower displays in early summer.