These are all small subalpine lakes in the Nelson Range; most are on the Salmo-Creston Highway. Most have been made accessible because of logging roads being constructed further and further up valleys and closer to the alpine. Some of the trails are more fisherman’s trails, steep and rough, while others have some degree of good grade to them.
These lakes now are mainly used by ATVers and fishers. Hikers go less and less often as there are nicer places less frequented by motorized vehicles. All are stocked with rainbow trout. The lakes are all subalpine, surrounded by forest, and the scenery is dependent on the mountains forming their backdrops. All will have scrambling possibilities.
Maps: 82F/3 Salmo, 82F/2 Creston
The Forest Service Roads leading to the lakes are given a distance from Kootenay Summit on Highway 3- (Stagleap Provincial Park – Brake check area opposite Bridal Lake) and from Creston (Junction of Hwy 3A and 3 in north Creston).
FROM SALMO
Sheep Creek FSR (Airport Rd 2.3km SE of Salmo)
10.5km WULF LAKE TRAIL. Easy 2km long, sometimes wet trail leading to a popular lake with good fishing.
14km CURTIS LAKE TRAIL. Short 1km trail from the end of a logged area. Good fishing. Road passable by high clearance vehicles only.
15.3km PANTHER LAKE TRAIL.
FROM KOOTENAY PASS on Salmo-Creston Highway 3 (the second distance is from Creston junction Hwy 3A and 3 north of Creston)
7km Char Creek Rd (south) 37km
HEATHER LAKE. From Hwy 3, go south on Char Ck Rd (opposite Jordan Cabin). Easy 2km long trail to a small subalpine lake in a picturesque alpine basin. Fishing for cutthroat trout.
11km Bayonne Creek FSR. (north) 33km
Drive 10 and 11kms to lakes (high clearance, 4WD, LR after 7.8km).
BAYONNE LAKES. Easy 2km long day-use trail connecting 2 small subalpine lakes.
ARKANSAS LAKE. BC Recreation Site at a subalpine lake. Nature trail around lake. Wall Mountain backs the lake.
15.5km. Placer Road (unsigned north) 28.8km
Drive 6km to TH at 1600m (5248′).
PLACER LAKES. Trail 3km Elevation gain 250m. Two small lakes with few redeeming values. Upper Lake prettier. John Bull Mountain backs the Upper Lake.
15.6km Maryland FSR (south) 28.7km
Priest River Falls, North Star Mountain.
Drive 19.5kms to TH at 1442m (4730′)
NUN LAKE. Trail 3km. Elevation gain 368m. Lake at 1770m (5806′). Short, steep ridge above the lake’s west shore.
Boundary Lake Campground: Drive from Hwy 3 18.2km. 11 sites at 4280′
20km Blazed Creek FSR (north) 23km
Drive ~11km to TH.
BLUEBIRD LAKE. Moderate 3km long trail leads through a logged area to a shallow subalpine lake. Caribou may be seen in the area.
John Bull Mountain backs the mountain – approached from the east.