If driving to Whitewater Ski Resort, be sure the vehicle has good winter tires!
Car Travel
Highway 3, the main road through the southern part of the Kootenay Rockies region, bypasses Nelson in favour of a route that traverses the Salmo-Creston Pass – the highest and perhaps snowiest mountain pass in BC. From points east, take Highway 6 north from Salmo. (Highway 3A is an alternative route from Creston, but this route involves a ferry ride across Kootenay Lake. It gets busiest when, as happens from time to time, the pass is closed.)
From the west, leave Highway 3 at Castlegar and take Highway 3A northeast into Nelson.
Whitewater Access Road
The Whitewater Ski Resort access road takes off from Highway 6 about 13km/8mi south of Nelson.
Allow 8 hours to drive from Calgary, and 9 hours from Vancouver.
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US Border Crossing
Nelson is about a three hour drive due north of Spokane, Washington, via the Nelway border crossing and Highway 6. If planning to arrive at the border between midnight and 8am, take US-395 N to the Patterson border crossing. It's open 24 hrs for northbound traffic.
Air Travel
Air Canada Jazz has daily service from Vancouver and Calgary into nearby West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar. Poor visibility can result in flight cancellations – especially in the winter. An airport shuttle service is available to downtown Nelson, stopping at the major hotels. Car rentals are available both at the airport and in Nelson.
Pacific Coastal Airlines operates daily service from Vancouver into the tiny Trail airport, about an hour's drive from Nelson. Car rentals can be pre-arranged through Rent-a-Wreck in Trail.
Visitors from the US often fly into Spokane, Washington, and rent a car to complete their journey to Nelson.
Public Transportation
Gravity Adventures operates a daily shuttle bus from Nelson to the Whitewater Ski Resort. There's just one bus per day in each direction, with the morning bus leaving the Safeway Store on Anderson Street at 8:15am. Subsequent stops include the Hume Hotel, the Dancing Bear Inn and the Alpine Motel. Check with the driver for the departure time of the bus back to Nelson (usually 3:30pm).
Bus Travel
A twice daily Greyhound Canada Bus service connects Nelson with Vancouver and Calgary. BC Transit operates a regularly scheduled bus service within Nelson, and limited service to some neighbouring communities.
For more information on transportation, brochures and maps, stop by the Nelson Visitor Centre.
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Transportation Service Providers