Slocan River Paddle Tour

Check it out

Distance: 24 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Paddling time: 5-8 days

Season: April through mid-November

Maps: Nelson 82F by Canada Energy, Mines and Resources Department.

Info: Lemon Creek Lodge, (604) 355-2403.

Paddling trip notes:

Access: From Castlegar, British Columbia, drive north on Highway 3A toward Nelson 11-3/4 miles and turn west (left) at junction onto Highway 6 toward Slocan.

Put-in: Perry’s Bridge is off Perry’s Back Road, 21-1/4 miles north of Highways 6-3A junction, or 2-1/2 miles south of Lemon Creek.

Take-out: From junction, go nearly 1 mile on Highway 6 to south edge of Crescent Valley. Parking available on river side of highway. Steep trail leads to beach.

Continuing upstream on Highway 6, other river access points include (mileages from junction of Highways 6 and 3A):

Bridge just north of Crescent Valley off Pass Creek Road, 1-1/2 miles from junction.

Slocan Park bridge, 7-1/2 miles from junction.

Passmore bridge off Upper Passmore Road, 9-1/3 miles from junction.

Vallican bridge, about 11 miles north of junction.

Winlaw bridge off Winlaw Bridge Road, 16-1/2 miles from junction.

Attractions: River offers numerous options to accommodate long or short trips with water conditions ranging from flat water to Class III rapids. Slocan Valley nestled between wilderness wonders of Valhalla and Kokanee Glacier provincial parks. Area also offers great hiking, plus flat water paddling upstream at Slocan Lake.

Hazards: Pilings from old logging operations scattered along river. Possible log jams.

Comments: River broad and gentle with splendid views upstream and down from put-in to Winlaw Nature Park on river right. Park has green grass, covered pavilion, restrooms and boardwalks. Could be used as access, but would require 200-yard portage over boardwalks.

Paddlers who want to avoid white water should pull out at Winlaw bridge, just downstream from park. After paddling under Winlaw bridge, begin long, fun stretch of rapids ranging up to Class II in very high or very low water conditions.

Other than possible log jams, deadheads and sweepers, floating fairly routine from here to good sand beach downstream from confluence of Little Slocan River near Passmore. At bend below sand beach, large rocks create obstacles good paddlers view as playground, but could cause trouble for novice paddlers. Stay river right to avoid them.

Stretch from Passmore to Slocan Park bridge has several rapids ranging between Class I and Class II.

Only serious concern from Slocan Park is series of pilings that block left channel at last big bend before take-out at Crescent Valley. Stay river right.

After rounding bend and passing last of pilings, get to river left to prepare for take-out. Series of rocks at take-out good for playing, but could could cause problems for novice paddlers in swifter early summer flows. Scout take-out during car shuttle.

River bordered mostly by private land, but offers plenty of shoreline and beaches during summer for stopping.

Only expert paddlers should attempt water that ranges up to Class III-plus on Slocan River from Crescent Valley downstream to Kootenay River.

Easiest floating around 4,500 cfs, enough to cover most rocks without creating severe hydraulics. Higher flows present more concern for possible log jams and sweepers. Lower flows expose more rocks, requiring more maneuvering at handful of points. For information on flow rates, call West Kootenay Power, (604) 368-0549.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map of Slocan River Paddle Tour

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Routes: Classic Trips in the Inland Northwest