Whether it’s a hiking excursion, a self-guided tour of art galleries and heritage buildings, or some of the best skiing in North America, there are so many reasons to visit Nelson, British Columbia. While technically a small city, the community retains its mountain town charm through a flourishing arts and culture scene, and of course, its picturesque setting amidst the Selkirk Mountains.
Hiking
Let’s start with the great outdoors, since Nelson has no shortage of it. From meandering river trails to mountain trails through changing fall colours, visitors can take their pick from a number of scenic paths.
For one, there’s the Kaslo River Trail, which is lined with intriguing ‘Hide and Seek sculptures.’ Visitors will also pass two covered bridges on this ‘fairy tale-inspired’ hike!
Summit Trail & Blasters Ridge are engulfed in fall colours and offer access to multiple scenic peaks, while White Queen West Ridge Trail is known for its stunning golden larches this time of year.
The new Lyon’s Bluff Trail built by the Friends of Pulpit Rock Society winds up to the north shore, giving hikers sweeping views of the town in all of its fall glory below.
Best of all? nearly all of Nelson’s hiking trails are accessible during fall, with the exception of Mount Grohman, Toad Mountain, Ross Lake, and Vallelujah.
Heritage capital of British Columbia
If local history is more your beat, head to Nelson’s colourful historic downtown for a trip to the past. With over 350 heritage buildings and sites, Nelson is considered the heritage capital of British Columbia!
Visitors can explore all the sites at their leisure, including a restored lakeside streetcar and restored local shops and boutiques.
The Nelson Museum, Archives, & Gallery also allows visitors to engage with rotating interactive exhibits paying tribute to Nelson’s rich history.
North America’s best ski town
Looking ahead to ski season, Nelson’s deep, powdery snow and backcountry tours attract visitors from across the globe every year, from pro skiers and snowboarders to heli-skiers.
In fact, it’s known as North America’s best ski town, and it’s the birthplace of Cat Skiing – which dates back to 1975.
As such, visitors can access breathtaking backcountry scenery and fresh powder via operators like Selkirk Snowcat Skiing, Baldface Lodge and Valhalla, Retallack, and White Grizzly.
Looking to extend your trip? Visitors can cross the glacial-fed Kootenay Lake over to Balfour on a free ferry, explore the shoreline to Ainsworth Hot Springs, or head to Kaslo.
So there you have it, explorers! There’s tons to do in Nelson this time of year, so why not make a trip out of it?!
Nelson
How to get there: Drive seven and a half hours from Vancouver via the Crowsnest Highway/BC-3 E, or nine and a half hours via the Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1 E.
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