The Southern Valhallas lie within Slocan Lake and the Slocan River Valley on the east and south, and Bannock Burn and upper Hoder Creeks on the west. The northern border is Evans Lake and Evans Creek.
Mountains in the Southern Valhallas are more easily classified into groups than in the north. The steep summits of gneiss (pronounced “nice”) produce solid walls offering excellent rock climbing. The Mulvey Basin, or cirque, especially endowed, is a region of unusual beauty and is in Valhalla Provincial Park.
The maximum vertical relief of 2280 meters above Slocan Lake is a little greater than in the north, and the access is as difficult. Northern exposures still protect a few small glaciers.
Three groups comprise the Southern Valhallas: the Devil’s Range, the Prestley Group, and the Mulvey Group.
Maps: 82F/13 Burton, 82F/12 Passmore and 82F/14 Slocan, 82F/11 Kokanee Peak; B. C. Forests brochure, Arrow and Kootenay Lake Forest Districts; B. C. Forests brochure, Kokanee Glacier and Valhalla Provincial Parks;
ACCESS
All three of the major groups can be reached by a major logging road that extends from Passmore to Slocan City, northwest of and parallel to Highway 6, along the valley of the Little Slocan River. The Devil’s Range is served by the Hoder Creek road, and the Prestley and Mulvey Groups by the road on the north fork of Bannock Burn Creek. A major road on Koch Creek branches off 12.4 km (7.7 miles) from Passmore, and the Hoder Creek road 25.4 km (15.8 miles) from Passmore. The following is a table of distances and turns along this system to near the end of Hoder Creek and up Drinnon Creek, which gives access to all three groups. The Mulvey Group access by this route is unfortunately lengthy.
To access the southern Valhallas, drive south from New Denver or north from Playmor Junction (between Nelson and Castlegar).
From New Denver. Start at the Petro Canada Station at the junction of Hwys 6 and 31A in New Denver. Drive Hwy 6 south, along Slocan Lake’s east shore, 32.5km (20.2mi) to the village of Slocan. Near the village, ignore the signed turnoff for Drinnon Pass, but turn right (west) onto Gravel Pit Road. Zero odometer 0.0
0.0 Start west on Gravel Pit Road. Go straight and cross the bridge over the Slocan River.
.8km (.5mi) Stay left on Slocan West FSR.
1.2km (.7mi) Cross a bridge over Gwillim Creek.
Gwillim Lakes Trail (old). This is mentioned in Whipple’s accounts. I am including it only to discourage anyone from even considering this as an access route to anywhere useful. I have no idea of its actual condition but can only imagine that it would be totally overgrown and an impossible bushwhack. As the crow flies, it is at least 8 kilometres before you could even consider not bushwhacking.
A logging road went up the south side of Gwillim Creek, branching from the Little Slocan River road 0.6 km south of the bridge over Gwillim Creek. There were several bridges over Gwillim Creek. An old trail also went up the north side of Gwillim Creek, accessed from the bridge over the creek.
For most purposes, these ancient roads/routes were outmoded by the road up Hoder Creek and the trail past Drinnon Lake to Gwillim Lakes. This route was used to reach the Humps and Molars in 1953 and on the first ascent of Devil’s Couch.
2.3km (1.4mi) Go right on Little Slocan FSR.
13.2km (8.1mi) Right is Bannock Burn FSR to Gimli Ridge / Mulvey Basin TH.
Bear left SW on the main road for the rest of the Valhallas.
20.3km (12.6mi) Right is Hoder Creek FSR to Drinnon and Gwillim lakes. Left continues south west on Little Slocan FSR. Reach Little Slocan Lakes FS campground in 200m.
From Nelson or Castlegar. Start at the Playmore Junction, the junction of Highways 6 and 3A between Nelson and Castlegar. Turn north on Hwy 6 up the Slocan Valley.
The southern Valhallas are accessed from the Passmore Road, 15.6kms from Playmore. there is a large transformer station at the turn. This is 12.1kms south of Winlaw on Hyw 6. Turn left (west). Zero odometer.
0.0 Start NW on Passmore Upper Road.
.3km (0.2mi) Cross the Passmore Bridge over the Slocan River.
3.1km (1.9mi) Pavement ends
3.6km (2.3mi) Left on Little Slocan FSR. Red 44 KM sign.
5.2km (3.3mi) Right.
7.5km (4.7mi) Go straight on main road.
9km (5.6mi) Stay right, following a sign for Valhalla Provincial Park.
13.2km 8.2mi Straight on Little Slocan FSR. Left is Koch Creek FSR to McKean Lakes.
16.1km (10mi) and 23km (14.3mi) Proceed straight.
25km (15.5mi) Go straight. Turn off to right for Little Slocan Lakes campground.
25.2km (15.6mi) Junction for Hoder Creek FSR – left to Drinnon/Gwillim Lakes. This is 20.3km from Slocan City.
For Bannock Burn FSR to Gimly Ridge and Mulvey Basin. This junction is 13.2km from Slocan City and 32.3km from Passmore.
0.0 Start NW on Bannock Burn FSR.
8.4km (5.2mi) Go straight.
10.5km (6.5mi) Curve right on main road and ascend steeply.
12.5km (7.8mi) Bear left
12.7km (7.9mi) Curve sharply back, heading toward jagged peaks.
12.9km (8mi) Parking for Gimli Ridge / Mulvey Basin Trailhead. 1750m (5740′)
For Koch Creek FSR to McKean Lakes
0.0 Start on Koch Creek FSR. Turn left off Little Slocan Forest Rd 13.2 from Passmore Rd/Hwy 6 junction.
9km Stay right. Left goes to Grizzly Creek Recreation Site (2 tables, above creek gorge, no flat parking)
11km Go straight. Right is Marioka Road.
16km Stay straight and level. Then pass two ascending right forks (second one has 51km sign).
17km Cross bridge over creek. Go straight where rough road ascends right.
21km At a huge boulder, go right on the higher road.
22.6km Stay left on lower road. Upper road signed Branch 1.
25.8km Cross a bridged tributary of Koch Creek
30.5km Pass a 65km sign just before reaching the bridge over McKean Creek. Park in the landing 1445m (4740′)
For Drinnon/Gwillim Lakes (Hoder Creek FSR). This junction is 20.3km from Slocan City and 25.2km from Passmore.
0.0 Start SW on Hoder Creek FSR
6.5km (4mi) and 10.3km (6.4mi). Bear right.
10.6km (6.6mi) Bear right and descend. Notice the huge cedar just before the granite wall.
18.5km (11.5mi) Stay left. Do not ascend right.
18.8km (11.7mi) Stay right. The road becomes very rough at this point, requiring at least high-clearance.
21.3 km (13.2mi) TH for Drinnon Lakes / Gwillim Lakes Trail. 1615m (5300ft).
For Bannock Burn (Mulvey Basin) and Slocan City, turn left. 0.0
0.0 Turning left NE from Hoder Creek FSR onto Little Slocan FSR,
7.1km (4.4mi) Junction for Bannock Burn FSR – left to Gimli Ridge / Mulvey Basin. This junction is 32.3km (20mi) from Slocan City.
18km (11.2mi) Bear left
19.1km (11.8mi) Cross bridge over Gwillim Creek.
19.4km (12mi) Go right and cross the bridge over Slocan River
20.3km (12.6mi) The village of Slocan and Hwy 6. Go left to New Denver, right to reach Hwy 3A at Playmor Junction, between Nelson and Castlegar.