Castlegar:
Situated on the banks of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers in Kootenay
Country, 170 km (105 miles) from Rock
Creek is Castlegar and the junction of Hwy
3 which runs east-west, Hwy 22 south to Trail
and Hwy 3a north to Nelson
Doukhobor
Museum:
Be guided through an early 100's communal village by a descendant of the
Doukhobor settlers of the area.
Zuckerberg
Island Heritage Park:
Named after the Zyckerberg's, who in 1931 came to teach the Doukhobor
children and settled on the island, it is now a park with historical attractions.
Further
along Highway 3 is Salmo,
then onto Stagleap Provincial Park and Kootenay Pass, the highest paved
road in Canada at 1774m (5819 feet).
The
final town in the Kootenays is Creston before entering British Columbia's
Rockies.
Creston:
Overlooking the lush Kootenay River Valley between the Selkirk and Purcell
Mountains is Creston.
With
its mild climate, Crestons main industries include agriculture, dairy
and orchards. Flat fields
and grain elevators
give it a prairie-like feeling.
Creston Valley Museum:
Constructed of local stones, this museum displays such artifacts as the
Kutenai Canoe which points down under the water at either end.
Creston
Valley Wildlife Management Area:
This wetland has been preserved as a bird and water-fowl refuge with over
250 bird
species including swans and geese. There are guided canoe trips, hikes
and lectures.
From
Creston take Hwy 3A to Crawford, where a free car-and-passenger ferry
makes a 40-minute trip across Kootenay Lake to Balfour.
The
route from Creston to Crawford is scenic but twisting as it travels along
Kootenay Lake shoreline.
From
Balfour Hwy 3A heads to Nelson.
Hwy 31 will take you to Kaslo.
Continue
on Hwy 31 to Galena Bay a rougher and more isolated route. Or follow Hwy
31A to New Denver,
Hwy 6 to Nakusp and 23
to Galena Bay across to Shelter Bay and on to Revelstoke
in the High Country.
The following BC Adventure members would like to serve you:
See The Rockies: Travel Guide to the Canadian Rockies. Map driving routes, explore Canada's Rocky Mountain National Parks, including Banff and jasper. Book lodging at hotels, resorts, guest ranches, and lodges. Plan sightseeing tours, outdoor adventures and more! more