Road Trip Nelson to Kaslo – Kootenay Lake

Nelson Kaslo
70
km
1h
drive
Summer
season

The Itinerary

Nelson, dubbed "Queen of the Kootenays," is one of Canada's prettiest heritage towns: 350 heritage buildings downtown, an artisan vibe and Kootenay Lake beach.

Hwy 31 follows the west shore of Kootenay Lake to Kaslo. Kaslo, founded during the 1893 silver rush, hosts the SS Moyie — the world's oldest intact paddlewheel steamer (1898). Mountain trails, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Balfour beach. The Balfour–Kootenay Bay ferry is the world's longest free freshwater ferry.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Centre-ville de Nelson
    350 édifices patrimoniaux, ambiance artistique.
  • ✦
    SS Moyie (Kaslo)
    Plus vieux bateau à aubes intact au monde, 1898.
  • ✦
    Ainsworth Hot Springs
    Sources chaudes avec grotte sous-terraine.
  • ✦
    Lac Kootenay
    Lac de 100 km, ferry, plages et croisières.

Fishing Spots Along the Route

🎣
Active Creek
Stream
🎣
Akokli Creek
Stream
🎣
Algiers Creek
Stream
🎣
Allen Creek
Stream
🎣
Alpine Creek
Stream
🎣
Alyeo Creek
Stream
🎣
Anderson Creek
Stream
🎣
Apex Creek
Stream

Protected areas along the route

🌿
Mountain Station
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🌿
CODY CAVES PARK
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🌿
Cody Point
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🌿
GROHMAN NARROWS PARK
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🌿
Giveout Creek (Morning Mountain)
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🌿
KOOTENAY LAKE PARK - COFFEE CREEK SITE
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🌿
Krao Cabin
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🌿
Krao Area
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🌿
Giveout Creek Snowcat Shelter
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🌿
Giveout Recreation Area
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🌿
O'Shanter
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🌿
GIVEOUT CREEK
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Take this route offline

Cell coverage thins out fast once you leave Nelson. Export the map as a geo-referenced PDF before you go and open it in BorealMaps — your GPS position shows on the map with no signal at all.

Try PDF Export How geo-referenced PDF maps work
Practical info
  • Departure Nelson
  • Destination Kaslo
  • Distance 70 km
  • Duration 1h
  • Category Short (< 100 km)
  • Best season Summer
Themes
heritage lake Summer Spa Family Mining ferry

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