BEST DAY HIKES
1. Gimli Ridge, Valhallas
2. Gwillim Basin, Valhallas
3. Silver Spray, Kokanee
4. Kokanee Glacier Cabin, Kokanee
5. Mt Jardine, Goat Range
6. Mt Loki, Purcells
7. Monica Meadows, Purcells
8. Jumbo Pass, Purcells
9. McBeth Icefields, Purcells
10. Alps Alturis, Goat Range
11. Dennis Creek, Goat Range
12. Old Glory, Rossland Range
13. Mt Brennan, Goat Range
BEST BACKPACKS
1. Gwillim Basin/Drinnon Lakes, Valhallas
2. Mulvey Basin, Valhallas
3. Earl Grey Pass, Purcells
4. Sapphire Lakes, Kokanee
5. Monica Meadows, Purcells
6, Silvercup Ridge, Goat Range
7. McBeth Icefields, Purcells
8. Valhalla Traverses, Valhallas
9. Sourdough Traverse (Silver Ridge), Kokanee
10. Silver Spray, Woodbury/Silver Spray Traverse, Kokanee
11. 7 Summits Trail, Rossland Range
BEST MOUNTAINS to CLIMB (all non-technical)
1. Gimli, Valhallas
2. Loki, Purcells
3. Brennan, Goat Range
4. Lucifer, Valhallas
5. Gray’s Peak, Kokanee
6. Old Glory, Rossland Range
7. Mt Kane, Kokanee
8. Mt Vingolf, Valhallas
9. Sphinx, Purcells
10. Mt Crawford, Purcells
11. Mt Roberts, Rossland
BEST SHOULDER SEASON HIKES
1. Mt Sentinel, Rialto Creek, Allendale Creek, Syringa Creek Trails, Deer Park Mountain, Robson Ramble – Castlegar
2. Columbia River Trail
3. Slocan Lake trail to Evans Creek, Slocan City
4. Pilot Peninsula hikes
5. Rail Trails – Slocan Valley, Three Forks to Nakusp, Great Northern to 5 Mile Beach,
6. Kayak/canoe any of the lakes
BEST VIEWPOINTS
Nelson
1. Pulpit Rock / Flagpole / Antennae Trail
2. Smallwood Lookout
3. Svoboda Road
4. Morning Mt / Toad Mt
Castlegar
1. Mt Sentinel – flowers April
2. Brilliant Overlook
3. Dove Hill
4. Deer Park Mountain
Trail
1. Antennae Trail Sunningdale
Rossland
1. Kootenay Columbia
Slocan Valley
1. Idaho Peak, Kokanee Range
2. Mt Denver, Valhallas
3. Slocan-Kootenay Overlook
4. Butter Trails. Goat Range
5. Lemon Creek Lookout, Kokanee Range
BEST FLOWERS
1. Dennis Creek, Goat Range
2. Idaho Lookout, Kokanee Range
3. Anywhere above 6000’ in the West Kootenay – one of the best wildflower displays in the world. Usually peaks mid-July to mid-August but as early as April on south-exposed slopes.
BEST LARCHES – Best starting mid-September when golden and drop needles
1. Silverspray, Kokanee
2. Monica Meadows, Glacier Creek, Purcells
3. Silver Ridge, Mt Cody, Mt Carlyle, Carpenter Pass – Kokanee
4. White Queen and all its ridges, Nelson Range, Selkirks
BEST OLD GROWTH FOREST
1. Kokanee Creek Old Growth Forest – Western red cedar.
2. 100 Acre Wood, Rossland
3. Cedar Grove Trail, Nakusp – Western red cedar
4. Retallack Cedars – Between Kaslo and New Denver – cedar and spruce
5. Davis Creek Trail – North of Kaslo – cedar
6. Ka Papa Cedars – Kootenay Pass
7. Corn Creek Giant Cedar – Creston
8. Incomappleux Ancient Forest – North of Trout Lake. Since a landslide in 2003, the road has been closed. Much was logged but 17 km along the Incomappleux River were not logged leaving the largest stand of complete forest in southern BC. There are trees up to 1800 years old.
9. Cai Creek, above Castlegar on the Bombi. Has Lieutenant Dan, the largest ponderosa pine in BC.