British Columbia provincial highway 23
Encyclopedia
Highway 23 is a north-south highway that straddles the Trans-Canada Highway
in the province's Columbia Country
region. Its section north of Revelstoke
is known as the Big Bend Highway and was part of the original routing of Highway 1 along the Columbia River
. The Big Bend area was well known as there was a gold rush there in 1864. Travellers used canoes or river steamers to get around. A dirt road was built on the east bank around the big bend, from Revelstoke to Golden, in 1926 and it served as the trans-provincial highway until 1964 when the Rogers Pass route was opened.
Highway 23 was initially opened in 1964, and it was re-aligned through the latter half of the 1960s. Realignment of the highway also occurred in the early 1980s, in anticipation of the creation of the reservoir for the Revelstoke Dam
(Revelstoke Lake
), which flooded lower parts of the highway.
, where it meets Highway 6. Highway 23 winds north along the eastern shore of Upper Arrow Lake
for 49 km (30 mi) to its junction with Highway 31 at Galena Bay
. The Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry continues Highway 23 across the Upper Arrow Lake to a location known as Shelter Bay
. North of Shelter Bay, Highway 23 follows the west bank of the Columbia River for 49 km (30 mi) to where it meets the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway 23 follows the Trans-Canada east through the city of Revelstoke for 1 km (about ½ mi), finally turning north after leaving Revelstoke.
North of Revelstoke, Highway 23 entirely follows the east bank of Revelstoke Lake
for 151 km (94 mi), past the old townsite of Mica Creek
to its northern end at the Mica Dam
facility.
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
in the province's Columbia Country
Columbia Country
The Columbia Country is a term used in the Canadian province of British Columbia to refer to the upper basin of the Columbia River in that province. It includes a smaller region known as the Columbia Valley, near the river's headwaters at Columbia Lake in the Rocky Mountain Trench, and the Big...
region. Its section north of Revelstoke
Revelstoke, British Columbia
Revelstoke is a city in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located east of Vancouver, and west of Calgary, Alberta. The city is situated on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River...
is known as the Big Bend Highway and was part of the original routing of Highway 1 along the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. The Big Bend area was well known as there was a gold rush there in 1864. Travellers used canoes or river steamers to get around. A dirt road was built on the east bank around the big bend, from Revelstoke to Golden, in 1926 and it served as the trans-provincial highway until 1964 when the Rogers Pass route was opened.
Highway 23 was initially opened in 1964, and it was re-aligned through the latter half of the 1960s. Realignment of the highway also occurred in the early 1980s, in anticipation of the creation of the reservoir for the Revelstoke Dam
Revelstoke Dam
The Revelstoke Dam, also known as Revelstoke Canyon Dam, is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River, 5 km north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. The powerhouse was completed in 1984 and has a generating capacity of 2480 MW. Four generating units were installed initially, with one...
(Revelstoke Lake
Revelstoke Lake
Lake Revelstoke or Revelstoke Lake or Revelstoke Lake Reservoir is an artificial lake on the Columbia River, north of the town of Revelstoke, British Columbia and south of Mica Creek...
), which flooded lower parts of the highway.
Route details
Highway 23, which is 250 km (155 mi) long, begins in the south at NakuspNakusp, British Columbia
The Village of Nakusp is a small community located on the shores of Upper Arrow Lake, a portion of the Columbia River, in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia...
, where it meets Highway 6. Highway 23 winds north along the eastern shore of Upper Arrow Lake
Arrow Lakes
The Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, divided into Upper Arrow Lake and Lower Arrow Lake, are widenings of the Columbia River. The lakes are situated between the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashee Mountains to the west. Beachland is fairly rare, and is interspersed with rocky...
for 49 km (30 mi) to its junction with Highway 31 at Galena Bay
Galena Bay, British Columbia
Galena Bay is an unincorporated locality on the bay of the same name on Upper Arrow Lake in British Columbia, Canada.Galena Bay is the location of a terminal of the Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry. This linking Galena Bay to Shelter Bay, the link forming part of British Columbia Highway 23 from Nakusp to...
. The Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry continues Highway 23 across the Upper Arrow Lake to a location known as Shelter Bay
Shelter Bay, British Columbia
Shelter Bay is a ferry landing and unincorporated locality on Upper Arrow Lake in British Columbia, Canada.It serves as one terminus of the Upper Arrow Lakes Ferry, that crosses the lake to Galena Bay. This ferry connects British Columbia Highway 23 from Revelstoke to that highway's continuation...
. North of Shelter Bay, Highway 23 follows the west bank of the Columbia River for 49 km (30 mi) to where it meets the Trans-Canada Highway. Highway 23 follows the Trans-Canada east through the city of Revelstoke for 1 km (about ½ mi), finally turning north after leaving Revelstoke.
North of Revelstoke, Highway 23 entirely follows the east bank of Revelstoke Lake
Revelstoke Lake
Lake Revelstoke or Revelstoke Lake or Revelstoke Lake Reservoir is an artificial lake on the Columbia River, north of the town of Revelstoke, British Columbia and south of Mica Creek...
for 151 km (94 mi), past the old townsite of Mica Creek
Mica Creek, British Columbia
Mica Creek is a small village in British Columbia, Canada that was used as a base of operations for the construction of the Mica Dam hydroelectric project by BC Hydro in the 1960s and 1970s. It is located 148 km north of Revelstoke, British Columbia on Highway 23 and situated at the...
to its northern end at the Mica Dam
Mica Dam
The Mica Dam is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Columbia River 135 kilometres north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada. Completed in 1973 under the terms of the 1964 Columbia River Treaty, the Mica powerhouse has a generating capacity of . The dam is operated by BC Hydro...
facility.