This virtually flat trail traces the Slocan Lake shore through the village of New Denver and then out of town to an abandoned mine on the water. Return the same way or make a loop back to New Denver using the Galena Trail.
Rating: ♦♦♦◊◊
Location: Along the shore of Slocan Lake through the village of New Denver and then north to an abandoned mine.
Difficulty: A1 easy.
Elevation Gain: minimal
Distance: 5kms one way. Longer return if by Galena Trail + elevation change walking up to the trail.
Time: 3-4 hours return
Season: March through November. Easy snowshoeing in the winter and may be clear of snow for much of the winter.
Access: Excellent in the village. Through private land at the end where only easy parking would be next to the entrance to the golf course and walk down the road.
Map: 82K/3
Drive: Access the trail virtually anywhere in the village along the lake shore. The optimal parking spots are the campground, marina at Bellevue Avenue and Bigelow Bay Beach.
Route/Trail: The trail is an easy 5 km hike along the waterfront of New Denver – about half in the town itself and half along the lake shore north to the mine.
Starting from the south, park at Centennial Campground and Garden.
The Kohan Reflection Garden (adjacent to the campground) is a beautiful public Japanese-style garden, established in 1989. The serene lakeside grounds honour the Japanese Canadians who relocated to the BC Interior in 1942. The Garden is not a children’s playground but a place for quiet contemplation and garden viewing.
Centennial Campground. At the very south end of the town and a good place to park. 43 sites. Rates $25-30. Showers $1. Restrooms, dump/sani station, BBQ grills, potable water, electricity, water. 250-358-2361 email: campground@newdenver.ca
Booked online. https://reserve.campgroundbooking.com/Centennial-Campground
Municipal Park. Next door to the campground. Features a playground, playing field, beach volleyball court and a cordoned-off beach for swimming.
The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre. (NIMC) – At 306 Josephine St, make a detour to see this very important place. A National Historic Site dedicated to telling the story of over 22,000 Japanese Canadians who were forcibly relocated in 1942 during World War II. 75% were Canadian citizens, were stripped of their rights, labelled enemy aliens, and forcibly removed from their coastal BC homes to interior BC relocation camps or sugar beet farms in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. Besides paying tribute to those relocated, the center pays tribute to the rich legacy of the issei (first generation) pioneers who first arrived in Canada in 1877.
The victims of racist legislation and dispersal policies resulted in some Nikkei returning after the war to Japan and areas east of the Rocky Mountains. That fractured community of 60,000 is still rebuilding today. The Kyowakai (working together peacefully”) Society created this project. Approximately 300 wood shacks were built in a flat area called the Orchards and three surrounding leased ranch acreages by the internees. 1505 Japanese Canadians were assigned to this area.
One of the benefits of the evacuation was that a tuberculosis sanitarium, called the “San” was constructed in March 1943 at New Denver in an ideal setting. Due to its setting and treatment later with miracle drugs, most patients made remarkable recoveries which may not have been possible before the war. This was to be the main hospital to serve the dental and medical needs of all internees in BC’s interior. The evacuees cultivated their own gardens as the climate and soil were highly conducive to growing.
Located on the site of “The Orchard” internment camp, the NIMC contains original buildings, period artifacts and interpretive displays as well as the Heiwa Teien Peace Garden, designed by the renowned Japanese Canadian gardener, Tomomichi (Roy) Sumi. $9.00/adult, $7.00/student or senior, $20/family
Marina. Walk along the creek or village streets to the main road, cross Carpenter Creek and turn left down Bellevue Avenue.
Mori Trail follows the shoreline from Carpenter Creek northwards to Bigelow Bay. Access by a stairway on Bellevue Ave. clearly marked Mori Trail Sign
Heritage Downtown: Visit the heritage main street, Sixth Avenue, the Silvery Slocan Museum and the Visitor Information Centre in the former Bank of Montreal building on Main Street. It has been a fixture in the community for over 100 years. The museum features exhibits about the area’s heritage, including its mining, logging and agricultural history, as well as the recently restored Lancet motor launch. Admission is by donation.
Bigelow Bay. The big beach is just at the north end of the village.
MOLLY HUGHES TRAIL
Elevation Gain: +55m -55m
Distance: 2.75kms
Time: 1 hr each way
Season: Close to the lake so is snow-free longer.
Access: Good at the south end.
Drive: From the highway, take Main Street one block west to Kildare Street, turn right, go 4 blocks to its apparent end then continue on when it becomes a meandering semi-paved laneway curving right into the woods to a parking spot 100m on.
Route/Trail: The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot for Bigelow Bay Park. Bigelow Bay swimming area is popular with the locals and directly below the parking area. The trail is well-used, narrow and somewhat rocky. Arrive at the old Molly Hughes mine workings and the old cabin that overlooks them. The rickety porch overlooks a significant drop-off and spectacular views of the lake and back to New Denver.
The trail meanders 3-400m gradually down towards the beach and easy access. There is some private property above the beach, but there’s public right-of-way on the beach itself. It’s usually deserted. For a person who prefers to swim or catch some sun in solitude, this is the perfect place.
The beach is full of smooth round stones in a variety of greys, whites, reds and coppery greens.
Mine and viewpoint. Either return the way you came or make a loop hike on the Galena Trail. Back to Bigelow Bay Park go for a swim
From the mine, a trail drops to a very old road that enters private property circling a large yellow Victorian house. Continue to the house’s access road, turn up it and walk up to where it crosses the Galena Trail. Turn right on the non-motorized rail trail and return to New Denver and your vehicle.
The access road comes down from the entrance to the New Denver Golf Course. Note that the entire beach and the large first bench of the first house are Crown land and can be used legally by anyone. You would however not be very popular if you suntanned on this beach, much less camped on the bench. I lived here for three years and know the property well.
