British Columbia provincial highway 6
Encyclopedia
British Columbia
Highway 6 is a two-lane east-west highway passing between the Kootenay and Okanagan regions. It is divided into two parts—the Nelson
-Nelway
Highway to the south, and the Vernon
-Slocan
Highway to the north. Highway 6 first opened in 1941, and its very winding path through the western Kootenays has not changed since.
-U.S.
border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with Washington State Route 31. It travels north for 10 km (6 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the Crowsnest Highway
merges onto it from the east. The Crowsnest carries Highway 6 north for 14 km (9 mi) to the town of Salmo
, where the Crowsnest diverges west. From Salmo, Highway 6 goes north for 41 km (25 mi), mostly following the Salmo River, to the city of Nelson, where access to the Whitewater Ski Resort
is located. Highway 3A merges onto Highway 6 at Nelson, and the two highways travel west for 21 km (13 mi) along the Kootenay River
, passing through the communities of Taghum
and Bonnington Falls, to where Highway 3A diverges southwest just west of South Slocan.
From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the Slocan River north for 79 km (49 mi) to the community of New Denver
, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. 48 km (30 mi) northwest of New Denver, Highway 6 reaches its junction with Highway 23 at the resort community of Nakusp
. Highway 6 then turns southwest and proceeds to follow the east bank of the Columbia River
for 57 km (35 mi) to Fauquier
, on the east shore of Lower Arrow Lake, where the Needles Ferry
is located.
range, passing through the community of Cherryville
on its exit from the mountains, until it reaches the community of Lumby
, 110 km (68 mi) away. Highway 6 then proceeds west on its final 26 km (16 mi) through the town of Coldstream
, to its ending at a junction with Highway 97 at Vernon.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Highway 6 is a two-lane east-west highway passing between the Kootenay and Okanagan regions. It is divided into two parts—the Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
-Nelway
Nelway, British Columbia
Nelway is a geographical location in British Columbia on the international border with the State of Washington. It is the location of the easternmost highway border crossing between Washington and British Columbia, where Washington State Route 31 from Metaline Falls connects to British Columbia...
Highway to the south, and the Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
-Slocan
Slocan, British Columbia
The Village of Slocan, commonly known as Slocan City, is a village in the Slocan Valley of the West Kootenay region of the southeastern Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
Highway to the north. Highway 6 first opened in 1941, and its very winding path through the western Kootenays has not changed since.
Nelson-Nelway Highway
Highway 6 has a total length of 407 km (253 mi). It begins at the CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with Washington State Route 31. It travels north for 10 km (6 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the Crowsnest Highway
Crowsnest Highway
The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and...
merges onto it from the east. The Crowsnest carries Highway 6 north for 14 km (9 mi) to the town of Salmo
Salmo, British Columbia
Salmo is a village in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the Salmo River Valley, surrounded by the Selkirk Mountain range....
, where the Crowsnest diverges west. From Salmo, Highway 6 goes north for 41 km (25 mi), mostly following the Salmo River, to the city of Nelson, where access to the Whitewater Ski Resort
Whitewater Ski Resort
Whitewater Ski Resort is a ski resort near Nelson in southern British Columbia, Canada.The resort is situated in Ymir bowl, beneath the 2400 m high Ymir Mountain, in the Selkirk Mountains. The Selkirks receive plentiful, dry snow, and the location in a high alpine bowl provides an annual snowfall...
is located. Highway 3A merges onto Highway 6 at Nelson, and the two highways travel west for 21 km (13 mi) along the Kootenay River
Kootenay River
The Kootenay is a major river in southeastern British Columbia, Canada and the northern part of the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho. It is one of the uppermost major tributaries of the Columbia River, which is the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
, passing through the communities of Taghum
Taghum, British Columbia
Taghum, originally Williams Siding, is an unincorporated community and railway point on the north side of the west arm of Kootenay Lake in the West Kootenay region of the southeastern Interior of British Columbia, Canada....
and Bonnington Falls, to where Highway 3A diverges southwest just west of South Slocan.
From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the Slocan River north for 79 km (49 mi) to the community of New Denver
New Denver, British Columbia
New Denver is a village in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, along the shore of Slocan Lake. New Denver was founded as a mining town in 1892, and briefly known as Eldorado City before being renamed after Denver, Colorado. It was incorporated as a village in 1929 and currently has approximately...
, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. 48 km (30 mi) northwest of New Denver, Highway 6 reaches its junction with Highway 23 at the resort community of Nakusp
Nakusp, 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...
. Highway 6 then turns southwest and proceeds to follow the east bank of 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...
for 57 km (35 mi) to Fauquier
Fauquier, British Columbia
Fauquier is a settlement in British Columbia. It is located on the east side of Lower Arrow Lake along Highway 6, where a car ferry links to the west side of the lake....
, on the east shore of Lower Arrow Lake, where the Needles Ferry
Needles ferry
The Needles Ferry is a cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated south of Nakusp and links Needles and Fauquier.-Operation:...
is located.
Vernon-Slocan Highway
From Needles, Highway 6 takes a winding path northwest through the Monashee MountainMonashee Mountains
The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains...
range, passing through the community of Cherryville
Cherryville, British Columbia
Cherryville is an unincorporated community in the foothills of the Monashee Mountains in British Columbia with a population of approximately 614...
on its exit from the mountains, until it reaches the community of Lumby
Lumby, British Columbia
Lumby is a small community of 1,804, located at the northeast corner of the Okanagan Valley, in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It is mainly a logging, manufacturing and agriculture community, but tourism is a growing trend within the area....
, 110 km (68 mi) away. Highway 6 then proceeds west on its final 26 km (16 mi) through the town of Coldstream
Coldstream, British Columbia
Coldstream is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada, located at the northern end of Kalamalka Lake in the Okanagan Valley. Incorporated on December 21, 1906, Coldstream celebrated its centennial in 2006. The municipality is directly southeast of Vernon and is considered part of...
, to its ending at a junction with Highway 97 at Vernon.