 Slocan Lake from Idaho Peak near New Denver, Tourism BC/David Gluns photo
The dense forests of spectacular Valhalla Provincial Park are visible from New Denver, across Slocan Lake. Two other wilderness parks, Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park and Goat Range Provincial Park, are nearby, and contain abundant wilderness and wildlife. New Denver attracts hikers to its lush alpine meadows high above the Slocan Lake. For golfers, there are several courses near Winlaw and New Denver.
History of New Denver Established in 1892, the town was built on the riches of the area’s major silver-mining boom. The experiences of early prospectors and pioneers to the area are preserved in museums throughout the region, including the ghost town of Sandon. When the mining industry faltered, the logging industry flourished amid New Denver’s thickly forested landscape.
During World War II, over 20,000 Canadians of Japanese ancestry were forcibly moved from BC's coast to internment camps in the province's interior. Many were settled in makeshift dwellings in New Denver and other Slocan Valley communities. The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre and the Kohan Reflection Garden in town honour their experiences and memories.
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