South of the west arm of Kootenay Lake, the Selkirk Mountains are distinctly lower but still rugged. The area is bounded by the west arm of Kootenay Lake (and its river) on the north, its south arm on the east, the U.S. border on the south and the Columbia River on the west. Geologically, the Selkirks extend south into the U.S.A. Relatively high summits exist a little north of the U.S. border on the eastern side northwest of Creston and in the center from north to south.
The highest, or more impressive, are listed and do not rise far above the tree line in the Nelson and Bonnington Ranges. Granite is common here.
DARKWOODS. This area now belongs to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, a non-profit organization. Because of road restrictions, Baldy, Wurttemberg and Reno Mtns. are permanently closed, and Topaz Towers, Hulme Peak, Kootenay Mtn, Mt. McGregor & Steeple Mtn. have a motorized vehicle ban. Only three roads are open (by permit), on Porcupine, Jersey and Blazed Creeks, the latter two in the far south. Hidden, Nugget, upper Sheep, upper Wildhorse (Ymir) and Seeman Creeks are closed to all access. (effective 2011).
Many roads will be allowed to deteriorate to protect wildlife and entry will not be practical for weekend trips. Contact the Kootenay Mountaineering Club, or telephone 250-342-5521 (Invermere; permit) or 250-479-3191 (Conservancy headquarters, Victoria).
West Arm Provincial Park lies just east of Nelson and south of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake.
Maps- 82F/2 Creston, 82F/6 Nelson, 82F/7 Boswell and 82F/3 Salmo
The crest of the north half of the Nelson Range runs on a north-south line from Lasca Mountain (18km due east of downtown Nelson) and extends 27 kilometres south to UN 2367 (82F/6 993-560), 15 kilometres east of Ymir. The mountains on the watershed are Mt Lasca, UN2350 (Larch Pk), Half Dome, Ymir Mt, Qua Peak, UN2360 (the high point just south of Qua), UN2240 (925-701), Wurttenberg Mt, Baldy Mt, and UN2367. All are on map 82F/6 Nelson. I will describe them for completeness’ sake. Maybe access will become possible in the future.
Shaw Creek FSR to Kootenay Mtn. (Permission to use this road must be obtained from Darkwoods Forestry, as is necessary with many roads in this area.
From Kootenay Pass (Stagleap Park) on Highway 3, drive east 32.6km::From Creston BC, drive west on Hwy 3, 10kms.
0.0 Just west of the Kootenay Flats, turn north on Topaz Creek Forest Service Road. But Topaz Creek is 8 km to the west. It is for high-clearance vehicles. Be sure to go straight where the Topaz Creek FSR goes sharply left near the beginning. Follow the road onto the southeast ridge of Wood Peak.
5.3km Go straight on Newington Road, stay on the high road; then left onto Topaz Creek FSR (goes to Hulme Peak).
8.4km Midgeley Creek, the road climbs, then descends.
12.0km Go straight; Midgeley Road goes left.
14.0km Go straight; the road turns up Shaw Creek.
23.0km Descend into Shaw Creek valley.
24.3km Straight
25.0 Cross Shaw Creek, go down the valley.
27.0km Go right uphill.
27.4km Go straight on Pioneer Road. Go straight on Chickadee Road.
28.4km Take a left up to 1900 meters (6230 feet) on the southeast ridge of Wood
Bayonne Creek FSR
0.0 Bayonne Creek FSR – Ten kilometres east of Stagleap Park on Highway 3. Follow the signs on the Bayonne Creek Forest Service Road for Arkansas Lake until the sharp junction at km
7.8 (4.8 miles). Go left for Arkansas Lake (high clearance, 4WD, LR). Right goes to John Bull Mountain at 2kms (via its north ridge in 0.5; high-clearance, 4WD). Impressive mine workings.
10.8km Lake. Descend into the drainage of Next Creek
13.4km (alder, but passable) Junction with a much better road. (This is the Blazed Creek road, from Highway 3, a better approach: 20 km (12.4 miles) east of Stagleap Park, and 22 km (13.7 miles) west of Creston)
14.4km Go left at the bridge over Next Creek on the Blazed Creek road
15 km Go left. One needs permission from Darkwoods Forestry to use this road crossing the bridge.
16km Park directly across from the main part of Wall Mountain’s south face (open meadow).