Winter Go & Do 2021/2022

Winter Fun in Nelson
SLIDE
Go sledding! Nip into a hardware store and
buy a plastic crazy carpet or flying saucer.
Although there are a lot of hills in Nelson,
not all hills are great for launching your 4
year old (or 40 year old) no matter how
tightly they can hang on. Actually it’s all
about landing. You don’t want to end up
spinning in a roadway or smacked into a
tree trunk or the lake. Your best bet for a
good landing is the hill at Queen Elizabeth
Park (Cottonwood and Fifth Street.)
RIDE
Rent a fat tire Bike at Gerick’s (Baker and
Hall streets) and ride up to the Bike Skills
Park on West Richards Street in Rosemont.
Maybe take the bus – Art Gibbons Memorial
Park is on route #3. Every Nelson City bus
has space for two bikes.
IMBIBE
Tour a craft brewery. There are three to
choose from. Starting from the top: Nelson
Brewing Company (http://nelsonbrewing.
com/) is located in Nelson’s original 100 year
old brewery building. Uphill Nelson at 512
Latimer Street. Backroads Brewing Company
is right on Baker Street, downtown.
Torchlight Brewing is a little further down
the hill towards the lake at 511 Front Street.
Come with a thirst and leave with a growler!
SWIM, SKATE, SWEAT
The Nelson & District Community Complex
at 305 Hall Street is your action-packed
centre for inside fun! There are 3 swimming
pools including a tot pool with water
features, a water slide, hot tub, sauna, steam
room and a full range of water aerobics
classes.
The Fitness Centre is fully equipped and
fitness classes include step aerobics, pilates,
yoga, ball, low impact and indoor cycling.
Everyone is welcome at public skating.
You can rent a pair of skates at the arena
or bring your own if you have them. View
schedules and events online at www.rdck.
ca/EN/main/services/recreation/complexes-facilities.html
CHEER!
Go to a Nelson Leafs Junior Hockey game at
the Nelson & District Community Complex
and help to cheer on the home team. For a
schedule of home games visit https://www.
nelsonleafs.ca/
Mountain Station Trails
If you want to experience a winter’s day in
the woods, under your own power, at your
own pace and without lift lines or crowds,
head to the hills just above Nelly town. Is
your dog with you? Does she need a good
run? Take her to Mountain Station and she
will love you forever.
Leave your vehicle at the parking area at
the top of Gore Street, or, if it’s just you and
human company, take the Uphill bus. You
can rent cross-country skis for the day at
Gerick’s on Baker Street if you don’t have
your own. In the shoulder season, when the
snow is too patchy, a fat tire bike is a good
option, too.
Mountain Station was once a stop on the
Nelson and Fort Sheppard (N&FS) Railway
that used to connect Spokane and Nelson.
The old rails have been removed and now
the Great Northern Rail Trail is used by
bikers and hikers.
In the winter the path is groomed for
cross-country skiing. There are other trails
that branch off from Mountain Station and
meander into the forest. Experience the
beauty of the deep woods as you enjoy the
rhythm of your stride, your breath and the
sound of your skis on the crisp snow, like
brushes lightly swishing a snare drum.
Kokanee Creek Provincial Park
Located just 20 km east of Nelson, on the
West Arm of Kootenay Lake, Kokanee Creek
Provincial Park is one of the most popular
parks in the West Kootenay.
In the winter, the campground gate is
closed, but the day-use and overflow areas
remain open. The park has 9.5
km of easy hiking trails and
one of the trails lead to a
viewing platform overlooking
the Kokanee Creek
canyon.
In winter, there are
cross-country skiing and
snowshoeing opportunities
along the
campsite roads
and the
trails.
Wildlife
sightings are plentiful and bird watching
is excellent at this park in winter – there is
a large population of birds inhabiting the
Kokanee Creek delta.
Slocan Valley Rail Trail
Winding gently along a de-commissioned
rail line, through one of the most beautiful
river valleys in British Columbia the Slocan
Valley Rail Trail follows the contours of
the Slocan River. The trail makes its way
from Slocan Lake in the north, towards the
Kootenay River in the south. Most of the Rail
Trail parallels Highway 6, and the trailheads
along the way are well marked on the
highway.
With beautiful valley and mountain views as
well as nature reserves and a bird sanctuary
over its 52 kilometres, in the fall and spring,
the rail trail is a favourite for strollers and
runners.
There are a few months each year with
enough snow in the valley for good
cross-country skiing conditions. When that
happens, the Slocan Valley Heritage Trail
Society gets to work tracksetting. Before
you go, check out the trail conditions:
http://slocanvalleyrailtrail.ca/conditions/
Fat Biking Photo: Dave Heath courtesy Destination BC
BC Canada #gokootenays - share the adventure! 2021 /2022 GO & DO Fall | Winter 19