This gem of a lake provides the best kayaking in the WK. It is 39 km long and up to 2 km wide. Because it is very deep, up to 970 feet, it rarely freezes in the winter. Swimming is still good especially when there is little wind to disturb the thermocline. Its water must be the most pure of any lake in BC and I routinely drink it anywhere except possibly around New Denver and Roseberry. Its clarity is superb, up to 70 feet down in the winter. Set in a relatively steep walled valley, there are great views of the surrounding Selkirk Mountains in all directions especially from the middle. The west side is roadless and the southern ¾’s is in Valhalla Provincial Park. Most people in kayaks or canoes stay on this side. It has a relatively poor fishery and the record 26 pound lake trout was very much an exception. I have taken four days for this trip each of the five times I have done it. I have also made several day trips to various beaches over the years.
I have always launched on the north end and taken out at the south end (obviously one can start at either end). Both have good road access and parking. Except for the locals camping for a weekend on one of the beaches, one usually sees no one else doing this trip (which I always find amazing). Most large creeks on the west side have big waterfalls near the shore and sandy beaches. There are ten established campsites with picnic tables and pit toilets on this side of the lake.
WEST SHORELINE (from north to south with mileages from the north end).
The put in at the north end of the lake is accessed by Bonanza Creek Road at the south end of the tiny village of Hills, a sparse collection of houses lining Highway 6. The land adjacent to the beach here is private with several homes on the site of an old resort. After launching, move your vehicle back away from the beach and park along the road.
Wragge Creek Rec. Site. This road accessible campground is only 5 km from the put in. The vehicle accessible sites occupy a small peninsula with a few tiny islands off the SE corner. The main beach faces south. There is almost always a caretaker present who collects a camping fee. There are 4 attractive walk in/boat accessible campsites in the trees at the south end. I almost always stay here my first night making for a short paddle that day.
Valhalla PP boundary. 10 km
Wee Sandy Creek. 10.5 km. This has a very nice beach and camping area. There is a trail to a lookout which continues for 13 miles to Wee Sandy Lake and Mt Nord. The trail is not used much and has a steep headwall at the end. The Holt Cabin is at about 9 miles.
Sharp Creek. 12.5 km. Beach and trailhead for New Denver Glacier Trail. This trail eventually turns into a bushwhack. The glacier is very small.
Nemo Creek. 19.5 km. This is the premier stopping point on the entire lake because of its multiple beautiful waterfalls close to the lake accessible by a good trail. There are campsites on the beach and on top of the bench. The trail continues for 5 km up to some large rocks called the Rock Castles and a cabin. .
Coreys Ranch Beach. 22km. Another nice beach and campsite.
Cove Creek. 25 km. Beach, campsite and usable cabin. Also a short 3’5km trail.
Indian Point Beach. 27 km.
Ben Brown Beach. 28 km.
Evans Creek. 32 km. A large campsite is on the beach and in the trees. The trailhead for Cahill/Beatrice Lakes Trail is here and crosses the creek on a bridge above a large waterfall close to the lake. Little Cahill Lake is 4 km, Cahill Lake 6 km, and Beatrice 10 km from the lake on a good trail. The trail ends at Beatrice.
Pebble Beach, at 35 km, is privately owned with several houses. There is a good pictograph at 36km.
Slocan. 39 km. (pop. 296) This is the end of the lake and the start of the Slocan River that runs 156km to join the Kootenay River. A large sawmill occupies the east side of the beach. Take out more to the west at the boat ramp. Parking is free and ample. It takes 15 minutes to walk out to Highway 6 to hitchhike back to Bonanza Creek and your car. The last time I did this, I caught the first car and got a ride right to my vehicle. Slocan has a grocery store, restaurants and a kayak rental company, Smiling Otter. This is also the trailhead for the Slocan Lake Trail that goes 9 kms to Evans Creek. Free of snow earlier than any other trail in the spring, it is an early season favourite with locals. The southern end of Valhalla PP is accessed from the Little Slocan Lakes Forest Service Road. There are world class hikes to Mulvey Basin (Bannock Burn Creek Road), Drinnon and Gwillim Lakes under the Devils Range (Hoder Creek Road) and McKean Lakes (outside the park up Koch Creek).
EAST SIDE.
There are few campsites or public beaches, the highway follows the entire side and most of the land is private.
Roseberry. 8 km. This is a small residential community with a good Mexican Restaurant. This is one of the few places on the lake (the other is near the hospital in New Denver) with detectable fecal organisms. It is built on the delta of Wilson Creek with a very superficial water table that requires expensive septic systems. Few homes deal with the special situation.
New Denver. 16 km. With 560 people, it is the largest town on the lake and has all services including a marina and campground with a good beach on the south end of town. New Denver was the largest Japanese internment camp during WW2 and its Nikkei Centre is a great museum commemorating that terrible time. Some residents from the camp still live in ND today. This area is very popular motorcycle touring country. The Galena Trail, a rail line now converted into a non motorized trail runs from Three Forks above New Denver and then along the east side of the lake ending in Nakusp. The famous Garlic Festival is held in September.
Silverton. 21 km. (pop.196) Another small community with a store, building supply, small restaurant and a good launching site at the south end of town. This would be the best launch site to get to Nemo Creek.
Bannock Point. 25km. Accessed by a 1.5km road and a short walk, or by water, this is a great summer beach hangout on the rocks. Campsites.
