|
Whether you want to wade into a natural hot spring, hike deep into forested wilderness, or even step back in history, Nakusp is a memorable place to start.
Take an easy walk or bike along the Nakusp waterfront, then stop to smell the blooms at the Japanese Garden.
For more outdoor adventure, you’ll find both family-oriented and wilderness provincial parks close to Nakusp. Camp at lakeside sites, relax on secluded beaches, fish for the great Gerrard rainbow trout, or paddle along the shores of Upper Arrow Lake past cascading waterfalls.
The community’s mining history is well preserved at the local Nakusp Museum and in the nearby city of Sandon, once the centre of the world's largest silver-mining boom and now a fascinating ghost town.
Over 20,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to internment camps in BC’s interior during World War II, including the area surrounding Nakusp. Visit the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in nearby New Denver to learn more about this period.
In winter, you can explore the dramatic landscape in and around Nakusp while alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, heli-skiing and cat-skiing.
Quiet strolls and strenuous hikes are within close reach in the Nakusp area. Walk or cycle the beautiful Nakusp waterfront promenade. Hike or cycle along the area’s abandoned rail beds from Nakusp to Rosebery. Or venture high into mountains on trails leading to spectacular viewpoints.
Some of the area’s provincial parks offer vehicle-accessible camping. You’ll find forested sites in Rosebery Park, just north of New Denver. Summit Lake Park, between New Denver and Nakusp, offers small, shady campsites with a few lakeside sites. You can also lay stakes in a private campground right in Nakusp.
Backcountry camping is available at Valhalla, Goat Range and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Parks. You can reach Valhalla Provincial Park’s nine boat-accessible camping areas by water taxi.
Perfect your swing at the nine-hole Nakusp Centennial Golf Club.
You can even explore the mountains on horseback through a local guided tour.
Located in a former schoolhouse, the Nakusp Museum was built in 1912, and contains over 5,000 artifacts reflecting the lives of early settlers to present day residents.
Originally opened in 1892, the Leland Hotel may be the oldest operating hotel in BC. Despite modern restorations, the hotel has maintained much of its period charm.
Inspect the delicate designs of native plants at the Japanese Garden, located on the Nakusp waterfront.
Visit local artists’ studios or stop in at one of Nakusp’s art galleries or gift shops to see local artwork on display.
Over 20,000 Japanese Canadians were forcibly relocated to internment camps in BC’s interior during World War II. The Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in New Denver is dedicated to preserving their memories and stories. The centre, the only one of its kind in Canada, contains original internment shacks.
See where the mining boom began in the city of Sandon, once the centre of the world's largest silver-mining boom. Visit the Sandon Museum to learn more about this legendary ghost town. Also stop by the Silversmith Generating Station in Sandon.
You’ll find family-oriented and wilderness provincial parks within easy drive of Nakusp.
Located along the shores of Upper Arrow Lake, McDonald Creek Provincial Park offers vehicle-accessible camping, swimming, fishing and boating. See spawning kokanee in late summer, or catch elk and deer roaming the park in winter.
Summit Lake Provincial Park offers vehicle-accessible camping, fishing, swimming and paddling against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Wildlife sightings may include mountain goats, eagles, hawks and kingfishers.
Valhalla Provincial Park is a wilderness escape for camping, hiking, rock climbing, paddling and wildlife viewing. The park encompasses the New Denver Icefield, sub-alpine lakes, cedar and hemlock forests, isolated beaches, waterfalls, and roaring rivers.
Visit the Idaho Peak lookout by following a fairly steep, unpaved road for about 12 km (7.5 mi) out of Sandon to the parking lot at the trailhead. From there it’s an approximately one-hour hike through beautiful alpine wildflowers to the lookout.
Saddle Mountain Lookout Trail, on the west side of Upper Arrow Lake, is a three-hour hike (one-way) leading to the 2,330-m (7,644-ft) summit of Saddle Mountain.
Hufty Mountain Lookout Trail, just north of Nakusp, is a 1.5-hour hike (one-way) that takes you to a lookout point overlooking the village of Nakusp.
Three nearby hot springs make Nakusp a welcome retreat for enjoying steamy, mineral-rich waters.
Nakusp Hot Springs sits in a narrow canyon of the Kootenay Rockies, against a mountain landscape. Just 10 minutes northeast of Nakusp.
Situated along shores of Upper Arrow Lake is Halcyon Hot Springs with four pools providing varying temperatures.
Halfway Hot Springs is an undeveloped site off the Halfway River north of Nakusp. Take the short hike to a small wooden pool (fitting about five people) where the water temperature is often extremely hot.
Anglers from all over BC come to Upper Arrow Lake to fish for rainbow and bull trout, Dolly Varden, burbot and kokanee as well as the great Gerrard rainbow trout. Summit Lake has rainbow and cutthroat trout. Several smaller local lakes also offer good fishing opportunities. Fly-fishing is popular in many of the area’s rivers and creeks.
Paddling along the shores of Upper Arrow Lake you’ll pass waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Whitewater kayaking is also popular on local rivers.
Stretch out on the sandy beaches along Upper Arrow Lake then take a swim. You’ll find a public beach right in Nakusp as well as more secluded beaches elsewhere along the lake.
Ski Summit Lake Ski Hill, southeast of Nakusp, a small hill featuring a t-bar servicing 152 vertical m (500 vertical ft) and eight runs.
For cross-country skiing, head to the Wensley Creek Cross-Country Ski Trails just east of Nakusp. From Summit Lake to Rosebery, glide across the open terrain along abandoned rail beds.
As snow blankets the local mountains, Nakusp is an ideal destination for snowshoeing.
Abundant snowfall in the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains means snowmobiling is also a popular activity in the area.
For a peak experience, local cat-skiing and heli-skiing operators take skiers and boarders to spectacular terrain in the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains.
Most of the region’s lakes (but not Arrow Lakes) freeze over in the winter. Box Lake, near Nakusp, is great for ice fishing.
|