Go & Do Summer 2019

Touchstones Museum
of Art and History
Located in the heart of Nelson in
the former post offi ce and City
Hall, Touchstones is a state-ofthe-art
facility.
Permanent exhibitions include
First Nations, European exploration,
mining, transportation,
settlers and industry, and it
celebrates the culture and history
of Nelson and area.
Visit the website www.
touchstonesnelson.ca to see
what is happening when you
come to Nelson!
Climb, Bike, Hike
Kootenay kids are not born with
an appreciation of their mountain
landscape, it’s something that
evolves. When children hear
visitors talk at length about the
scenery, they get impatient. What
does scenery matter? But as they
begin to explore beyond their
back yards, so does their sense
of being of the mountains. The
craggy range across the lake or
the valley ceases to be the wall on
the other side of their world once
they have climbed to the top of it
and looked over the other side.
Is rock climbing your thing? Enjoy
a day ascending The Date, a very
accessible multi-pitch climb within
reach of Nelson. It is a great
walk into the base of the route,
and a fun and thoughtful climb
from there. You’ll enjoy stunning
views at the top – the rewards of
this great adventure. Pick up a
copy of The West Kootenay Rock
Guide book at the at the Visitor
Centre in the Nelson and District
Chamber of Commerce offi ce at
91 Baker Street, for information on
the more than 400 climbs in the
Nelson area!
Mountain biking is a journey to
Nirvana for the avid biker or for
anybody, really, who is reasonably
fi t and has the desire to
get away from the pavement.
Showcased in many mountain
bike fi lms, Nelson’s trails offer
everything from gentle railway
grades to steep, rooty technical
tracks.
For the hard core freeriders there
is enough diversity to keep the
adrenalin pumping. With the
breathtaking backdrop of the
Selkirk Mountains, Nelson’s rides
take the West Coast style and
crank it up a notch! There are
many great tracks within a 15
minute drive and quite a number
of trails that you can get to from
Nelson on your own two wheels.
Stop in at one of Nelson’s sport or
bike shops for current information.
Gerick’s on Baker Street specializes
in making sure you get your
biking fi x while in and around
Nelson. The knowledgeable staff
can help you determine the best
trails for your interest and ability.
Some of the trails serve a double
purpose, hiking and biking, so
ask about the trail etiquette for
these multi-purpose areas.
The Nelson Mountain Bike Guide,
now in its 3rd edition includes
vivid, virtual terrain views, almost
40 new rides and a total of 105
mapped and described trails.
All proceeds from the sale of the
guide go directly towards funding
the trail building and ongoing
maintenance.
Hiking is another great way to
spend some time. Nelson is
central to many types of hikes for
all abilities. Check the book stores
for Where Locals Hike in the West
Kootenay or, again, ask for trail
info at the Info Centre or sports
stores around town. Another great
guide is The Kootenays (Backroad
Mapbook, Number 4). It will
get you just about anywhere you
need to go.
Pulpit Rock Trail: This is a favourite
hike for the locals because
it only takes a little more than
an hour or two and the view of
Nelson is unbelievable! The trail
head is located across the bridge
from Nelson on the North Shore.
Just turn left at Johnstone Road
and follow it to where the cars are
parked on the side of the road.
Crystal Caves Trail: Minutes
from Nelson’s downtown, head
towards the big orange bridge.
Once on Nelson Avenue take a
right on Elwyn Street. At the top
you will come to a parking area
on the right and you can see the
old railroad bed which is the head
of the trail.
BC Canada www.gokootenays.com #gokootenays
Family Hiking at Kokanee Creek
Park: Just 24 minutes north of Nelson,
eight hiking trails leave from
the Info Centre in Kokanee Creek
Provincial Park. The park trails
wind from the sandy beach and
delta and follow the slope upward
to the base of the forested Slocan
Range of the Selkirk Mountains.
Kokanee Mt Zipline
Kokanee Mountain Zipline promises
you more than an extreme
ride. You will get that, for sure.
But what will stay with you long
after you are unlatched from
your harness is the exhilarating
sensation of being liberated in
three dimensional space, soaring
high like a bird over valleys, and
under the sun. Zipping through
the canopy, in between the towering
fir and larch and spruce.
No photograph or video can do it
justice. On the zipline you move
though and over the environment.
It’s free falling in control –
and with total safety.
The Kokanee Zipline is an experience
the whole family can share..
at least all of those over 50lbs! It
is a 2–3 hour time commitment.
Guides will lead you on a nature
walk through the forest and introduce
you to the inland rainforest
ecosystem in between stages.
Visit www.zipkokanee.com
Kokanee Creek Park
The adventure playground and
wide sandy beach at this beautiful
lakeside provincial park will
keep the kids busy and active
all day. There is a good boat
launch, a group camp site, a
viewing platform over a fish-bearing
channel and great hiking
trails that will keep the whole
family active.
The Kokanee Nature Centre is
open daily from 9 am to 8:30 pm,
June 30 to September 6. Children
and adult naturalist, yoga
and fitness programs are offered.
Numerous publications about
the park and its flora and fauna
can be perused and purchased
at the centre. For a schedule of
the activities and programs,visit
www.kokaneenaturecentre.org
Can fish run? Yes!
Late August is time to welcome
back the bright red spawning kokanee
salmon to Kokanee Creek.
The Kokanee Creek Nature
Centre hosts the annual Redfish
Festival, WHEN?? August 27
from 11 am to 6 pm at Kokanee
Creek Park to celebrate their
return. Watch for the Red Fish
on the telephone poles to know
when they are 'running"
The kokanee are key to the
survival of many species on
Kootenay Lake. Birds, mammals,
insects, even humans, all partake
of the thousands of kokanee
coming up the channel to spawn
on the pebbly bottom of Kokanee
Creek.
For more information about the
festival and all of the nature programming
at the centre, visit the
EcoSociety website at
www.ecosociety. ca
#gokootenays - share the adventure! 2019 Summer/Fall GO & DO 41
Nelson