SIDE TRIP
Farmers market
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Ainsworth Hot Springs • Kaslo • Sidetrip New Denver • Silverton • Slocan 110 MILES / 177 KM
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eading north from Balfour on Highway 31, this route circumnavigates Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park. Take the time to stop at the unique caves of Ainsworth Hot Springs (open year-round) where you also get a bird’seye view of Kootenay Lake while soaking in the outdoor pool. Driving just 6 km (3.5 miles) farther brings visitors to the unusual Cody Caves (visit www.CodyCaves.ca for opening status) where guided, seasonal, one-hour underground tours are appropriate for anyone age 6 and up. Kaslo is a charming, restored heritage village that features great restaurants and art galleries. One of the 60 designated heritage buildings is the Langham Cultural Centre, originally constructed as a hotel in 1896. Inside, take a self-guided tour of Langham’s Japanese Canadian Museum to learn more about what happened to Canada’s Japanese population during World War II. The community is home to the majestic S.S. Moyie (mid-May to mid-October) 58 s e l k i r k l o o p . o r g 58
the world’s oldest intact passenger sternwheeler and a National Historic Site of Canada. The ship is also the location of the Kaslo Area Visitor Information Centre. For easy hiking and biking, take the River Walk along Kaslo River. Wardner Trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the village and Kootenay Lake. In winter, Kaslo is a gateway to alpine skiing, cat-skiing, cross-country skiing, skating, snowmobiling and ice fishing. Traveling west 28 km (18 miles) on Highway 31A from Kaslo, the roadway summits at 1,100 m (3,600 feet) at Fish Lake, site of a picnic area. Watch for the well-marked signs to the mining ghost town of Sandon. Visit the Sandon Museum (Victoria Day-Labour Day Weekend) or tour the adjacent, still-functioning powerhouse and explore the buildings that remain. Idaho Lookout (Victoria Day-Labour Day Weekend) can be accessed via a steep, gravel road that begins at the far end of town. With a vehicle having sufficient ground clearance, it’s
www.selkirkloop.org