A short distance west of Nelson, Sproule Creek drains into the Kootenay River. During the early 1900s, a trail and wagon road traversed the valley bottom with the trail continuing over the height of land into Pedro and Winlaw creeks. A small narrow gauge logging railway was constructed to haul logs to a small mill set up in the valley. A flume enabled the loggers to get the rough-cut lumber to a planer mill near the Kootenay River. Settlers living along the flume were allowed to take irrigation water from the flume during the night by way of small gates. During the day all the water would be needed for fluming the lumber. Wildfires devastated it in the 1930s.
It is hikeable most of the year and very convenient if you live in Nelson.
Difficulty: A1 easy
Elevation gain: 262m (860′)
Distance: 4.9 km one-way
Time: 3-4 hours round trip
Season: April through November
Access: Easy
Map: 82F/11 Kokanee. Kootenay Lake FS Brochure.
Drive. From Nelson (junction of Hwys 6 and 3A), drive west on 3A for 8.5km. Turn right (NE) onto Taghum Frontage Road (100m east of the Shell station).
0.0 Start NE on Taghum Frontage Rd.
7 km. Near the end of the road, as pavement turns to gravel, park on your left. Cross the vehicle bridge over Sproule Creek on foot and go right to a trailhead map. 774m (2540′)
Trail. Soon cross the first bridge.
1 km. Junction with the West Side Loop. Cross the second bridge. The Mill Site Trail continues up along the east bank of Sproule Creek and ascends gently.
2 km. Junction with the East Fork Trail. You can make a loop by returning to this trail. Cross Sproule Creek again.
2.4 km. Cross a forest service road and continue up the west bank of Sproule Creek briefly crossing the creek on 2 short bridges to bypass cliffs.
4.9 km. Reach the end of the Mill Site Trail at a spot where old saw blades and equipment are embedded in the forest floor. The final bridge has been washed out for years.
Return the same way or make a small loop with the Forest Service Road and East Fork Trail.
Reference: https://westkootenayhiking.ca/?s=sproule+Creek+