The bustling village of New Denver, home to approximately 600, is a beautiful lakeside community with a wealth of activities and attractions to keep the whole family busy.

History comes alive through the community’s several historical sites. The Silvery Slocan Museum, located at 202 Sixth Avenue, displays many aspects early life in New Denver and area including mining, transportation, logging, farming, family life of early settlers, and the Japanese Canadians. New Denver is also home to the Nikkei Centre, the only interpretive centre in Canada that focuses exclusively on the Japanese Canadian internment that occurred during World War II. Located at 306 Josephine St., the centre consists of 3 restored original shacks and a traditional Japanese garden designed by a master gardener and former internee.

For those with a green thumb, New Denver is a feast for the senses. Great pride is taken in the beautiful displays of flowers and plants that adorn local private gardens. The Kohan Reflection Garden, located at the south end of Centenial Park, was designed by local resident Ray Nikkel in honour of the Japanese Canadians who were interned in New Denver.

The village is home to a wide variety of shops and services. From sandwiches to steak, you can find any kind of food you desire in one of the local eateries. Summer time offers dining with style on one of the several outdoor patios, complete with some of the best scenery in the world. There are also many boutiques and specialty shops, most of which are completely unique to New Denver.

New Denver is the doorway to a wealth of recreational opportunities. Play a round of golf on one of the most scenic courses in the Kootenays. Stroll along the Mori Lakeside Trail from the New Denver, soak up some sun and take a swim at Bigelow Bay. Launch your boat or canoe from Centenial Park and enjoy a day of fishing, waterskiing, or explore the miles of shoreline that mark the entrance to the appropriately named Valhalla Provincial Park. Take one of the trails through Valhalla to the Nemo Rock Castles or visit the New Denver glacier for a spectacular view of Slocan Lake and the Selkirk mountain range.

A Silver Strike in the Selkirk Mountains! In the summer of 1891 three prospectors shouldered their packs on the beach where Kaslo River joins Kootenay Lake, and set off for the snow capped mountains. They staked claims and the ore was rich. Suddenly, Kaslo was on the map. People came from everywhere. They hiked into the area, canoed and rowed boats. The trees on the peninsula were cut till the town looked like a plucked chicken and tents blossomed everywhere overnight. The trees were milled into lumber on the spot and building took off at a terrific pace. The green lumber shank and holes appeared in the walls of the new hotels but what did it matter there was silver to be found.

So many people spawned new services. Steamboats were built on every shore. Ainsworth, Mirror Lake and Kaslo all had shipyards. New rails lines were built. And more people came. All along the shores of Kootenay Lake small cities were built. In 1893, only 2 years after the first silver strike, the city of Kaslo was incorporated.

Fire flood and gale force winds came in succession in 1894. Fire destroyed half the commercial district. Flooding destroyed 60-70 houses, 2 hotels, the jail and several other 2 story buildings. But, the town bounced back and rebuilt. Many claims were producing and the ore came down out of the mountains on tortuous trails. The horses and mules hauling ore wrapped in rawhide sometimes sat down on the job and rode the rawhide down the mountain braking with their front feet. The ore was loaded onto the narrow gauge K&S Railway which had just been completed from Sandon to Kaslo. It was brought to Kaslo Bay and loaded onto barges that were pushed by sternwheelers or tugs to other railheads at the south end of the lake. Saloons and Brothels were part of the picture.

The price of silver dropped. The thousands of people left. A few remained to farm and garden and enjoy the beauty of the mountains that once had beckoned silver seekers. Kaslo became world famous for its cherries. The city became a village and the village basks peacefully in the sun. Many of the buildings on the main street are turn of the century heritage buildings. Spring boasts cherry and apple blooms. The mountains peaks burst into bloom with wildflowers in mid summer.

There are many ways to venture into the mountains from foot travel to helicopter and oh so many adventures awaiting. Come to Kaslo and see.

The best place to begin your tour of this fantastic ghost town is at the Sandon Museum and Visitor’s Centre, located in the old Slocan Mercantile Block. A brick building constructed following the catastrophic fire that levelled half the city in 1900, it was originally a general store. After extensive and ongoing restoration work, today it houses one of the finest museums in the entire Kootenay region. With exhaustively researched interpretive displays, many unique and intriguing artifacts, and a truly stunning collection of historical photographs, the Sandon Museum is not to be missed. An excellent selection of local history books and souvenirs are also available at the museum’s retail counter. You can even take home an authentic piece of Sandon’s history with the purchase of one of the antique local bottles that are on sale there. Visit the Sandon Museum website

The Silversmith Powerhouse, just up the hill from the museum, houses the oldest continually-operating hydro-electric generating system in Western Canada. Once only one of eight powerhouses operating in the Sandon area, this plant was built in 1916 to supply electricity and compressed air to the Silversmith Mine, high on the hillside above. Today it still houses a working 1905 Westinghouse generator and Pelton-Doble water turbine, as well as such static displays as a huge 1919 Fairbanks Morse diesel engine and an enormous 1916 Ingersoll-Rand air compressor. A must-see for heritage machinery buffs and novices alike! Visit the Silversmith Powerhouse website

A short walk over the small footbridge over Carpenter Creek brings you to the “Upper Gulch” area of Sandon. Once crowded with hotels, businesses and houses, the Upper Gulch today holds several private residences, as well as the old Sandon Laundry, the Tin Cup Cafe, the last original fire hydrant in town, and the last remaining original Sandon fire shack. A reconstruction of the old K&S Railway station stands here, beside the spot where the historic narrow-gauge line once entered the city. Although the rails and ties are long-gone, today the K&S Trail provides a delightful 5-km (3 mile) hike along a level grade out to Payne Bluff, where the famous line rounded the cliffs almost 1,000 feet above the level of the valley floor.

Walking along the north side of Carpenter Creek, where Reco Avenue once teemed with traffic, you can see the collapsed remains of old hotels and other businesses that stood there. Across the creek, you can still see the remains of the famous Sandon Main Street flume that once contained both Sandon and Carpenter Creeks, with the large wooden Main Street built on top of it! Today, the wreckage of the old flume is all that remains to show the destruction that was wreaked when the flume plugged and caused a devastating wash-out in 1955.

At the lower end of Reco Avenue is the infamous “Red Light District,” where once 85 bordellos did a thriving business. Today a handful of dilapidated shacks still stand, along with the beautifully-restored “Molly Brown’s Brothel.” At one time part of the largest red-light district in Western Canada, this French Provincial structure was one of the most elegant brothel in town. Although it is a private summer cottage today, you are still encouraged to visit and take pictures of this or any of the other “houses of sin” in Lower Sandon.

Just downstream from the brothels is the Sandon millyard where a huge concentrator mill complex stands. Although the site is not open to the public, it can easily be viewed from the road. Constructed in 1952, this is the third concentrator mill located on this spot. Although not currently a working mill, it is in operational condition, should the prices for silver ore improve in the future. It is presently owned by Klondike Gold, Inc. of Vancouver.

On the other side of Carpenter Creek again, you will find a static CPR steam train display on the old CPR siding. This 1908 steam locomotive, coal tender and vintage rolling stock is a splendid example of one of the two rail lines which once served the city. Across the street from the locomotive is the old Sandon City Hall. Built following the 1900 fire, it served as city hall, courthouse, jail and fire hall until 1920, when the city went bankrupt. From 1925 to 1954, it served as the second Sandon schoolhouse before it was abandoned. On ongoing restoration project, today it houses a small gift shop during the summer months.

As well, Sandon provides easy access to fabulous Idaho Peak, one of the tallest and most accessible mountains in the entire area. Driving up behind the museum, you will see a sign directing you to the Idaho Peak access road. After a 12-km (8 mile) drive past magnificent lakes, lush valleys and old minesites, you will reach the parking lot, located in a beautiful alpine meadow filled with wildflowers. Visitors are reminded not to pick any of the flowers, but make sure you take your camera, as it is a sight you’ll want to keep forever! From there, it is a short 2-km (1.25 mile) hike up the ridge to the peak itself. At 2,244 m. (7,479 feet), there is a breathtaking panoramic view of Slocan Lake, the Selkirk and Valhalla mountain ranges, New Denver Glacier, and the villages of New Denver, Silverton and Rosebery.

The Village of Silverton, situated on beautiful Slocan Lake, is located approximately 90 minutes from Nelson and Castlegar, and 40 minutes from Nakusp. It is home to an eclectic mix of artisans, foresters, tradespeople and retirees.

The arts come alive at the Silverton Gallery. Built in 1919, this was the town’s second school. Today, the gallery is home to community art exhibits, web design, music and dance classes, and open stage performances. Outside, the former school playground is now the location of the Silverton Outdoor Mining Museum. Fourty-eight pieces of vintage mining machinery are displayed here. Most of these were salvaged from abandoned mine sites up Silverton Creek and at Sandon.

Most of these were salvaged from abandoned mine sites up Silverton Creek and at Sandon.

Just across the street from the gallery and mining museum is the Fingland Cabin and Blacksmith Shop. This log cabin was built in 1896 very close to its present site. Fred Fingland, blacksmith and mine owner, and Charlie Brandt made it their home in 1897. Fingland was a respected Silverton citizen who moved away in 1948. In the 50’s and 60’s, the cabin’s owners rented it out. The next owners donated it to the Silverton Historical Society. The front of the building displays a turn-of-the-century style blacksmith shop, while the back is set up as a period residence.

The William Hunter Residence, located at Victoria and Third Streets, is still a private residence. It was once the home of Silverton’s founder, William Hunter, and after a recent restoration looks much the way it did when it was built in 1900.

Silverton is also the gateway to the Wakefield Trail. This trail, beginning at the end of Silverton Creek Road, offers cyclists and hikers alike a scenic journey into the alpine, and ends at Idaho Peak, make sure you have a Dodge Laramie or a good pickup trucks if you want to reach the end of the trail.

There is a wealth of recreational opportunities available to visitors to Valley of the Ghosts.

Numerous trails offers hiker and cyclists alike access to some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Canada. Hike through alpine meadows alive with wildflowers to the top of Idaho Peak. Or take a ride through history on the Galena Trail. You’ll travel from the quaint hamlet of Three Forks to the village of New Denver along the old Kaslo-Slocan railway bed, and then along the shores of pristine Slocan Lake to Rosebery.

Kootenay Lake offers some of the most incredible boating in western Canada. The lake extends far north of the village of Kaslo and as far south and west as the city of Nelson. Kaslo is also home to the S.S. Moyie, the oldest sternwheeler remaining in the world. The Moyie is one of the area’s several incredible museums, and documents the rich nautical history of Kootenay Lake. It is an absolute must see for visitors and locals alike.

In addition to the larger lakes, a number of smaller lakes offer a great variety of fish species. Ever reel in a 30 pound Rainbow trout? Well this is one of the few places in the world where you’ll have a chance (albeit slim) to make it happen.

Looking for something a little more low key? Spend some time wandering through the Silverton Gallery. The gallery is open through the summer months, displaying the creations of local and visiting artisans, and is also the venue for many of the live cultural performances that travel through the Slocan Valley.

Camping in and around the Valley of the Ghosts is also a treat with no less than three provincial wilderness parks (Valhalla, Kokanee Glacier and Goat Range). Whether you’re looking for a drive-in site or one that you have to hike all day to get to, you’ll find it here.

Explore the wealth of whitewater paddling opportunities available throughout the area. During spring runoff, the region’s rivers become a adventurous canoeist or kayaker’s playground. To the south, the Slocan River offers everything from gentle swifts to raging rapids. Spend an afternoon soaking up the sun on an inner tube and enjoy this unique form of transportation.

Search through the hills for hidden treasures! The mining industry left many relics hidden away in the hills of the Valley of the Ghosts. Or you can try your luck at gold panning. Some local creeks are known to have small amounts of gold. All you have to do is find it!

Is horsepower more your speed? The West Kootenay offers some of the most pristine, untouched powder in the world. It’s the perfect destination for snowmobilers seeking a mix of scenic groomed trails and incredible alpine bowls. The same trail networks provide ATV and dirt bike enthusiasts with hundreds of kilometers of fun and adventure.

See the world from 2280 ft, and then take a flying leap! Idaho Peak and Buchanan Lookout are the perfect places to begin your hang-gliding flight. Sail high over Kootenay or Slocan Lake and touch down in one of the local villages.

To end a day with all out relaxation, you can’t beat a trip to the hot springs, and the Valley of the Ghosts has a wealth of them within a 90-minute drive. In addition to the commercial hot springs located at Ainsworth, Nakusp and Halcyon, you can take a hike into the backcountry in search of one of the many natural springs that bless the region.

Highway 31A runs through the very heart of the Silvery Slocan mining district. The stampede into the area began in 1891 with rich discoveries of silver-lead-zinc (galena) ores at the Beaver Claim, north of the highway, and the Payne Claim high above Three Forks. Survival of the communities that sprang up along this route depended on a steady outflow of ore. As metal prices fell or production costs rose, these communities gradually disappeared. Today, in memory of these communities and the mines they serviced, this route is known as the “Valley of the Ghosts.”

With approximately 750 claims staked by the end of 1892, transportation was necessary to take ore to distant smelters and to bring supplies into this isolated area. A wagon road between Kaslo, Sandon, and New Denver was built. The Valley of the Ghosts also claims two vanished railways: the narrow gauge Kaslo and Slocan (K&S) Railroad and the Nakusp and Slocan (N&S). By 1892, both railroads had received charters to service what was to become the richest silver-mining region in Canada. The N&S backed by the CPR, reached Three Forks by the fall of 1894. One year later, the K&S, backed by the US-based Great Northern Railroad, had circumvented the CPR to reach the richest mines of the Silvery Slocan at Sandon.

The K&S line followed much the same route as the current highway, climbing steadily uphill as far as Bear Lake (now Fish Lake), then west of Bear Lake to follow a level grade as the floor of Seaton Creek valley dropped rapidly below. At Payne Bluff, 1000 feet above the valley floor, the K&S turned south and continued on to Sandon. Built with economy in mind, the K&S Railway had the sharpest mainline curves of any steam railway in Canada and crossed over 30 bridges between Kaslo and Sandon.

Not to be outdone by its rival, by 1895 the CPR had extended its line from Three Forks to Sandon along a grade that was even steeper than the infamous Kicking Horse Pass.

For the next 17 years, the CPR and the Great Northern would battle for advantage in the Slocan as part of their continent-wide struggle for supremacy. Building ever larger and faster sternwheelers, the Great Northern hauled ore to a variety of American smelters. Soon, however, high US tariffs made Slocan galena unattractive to most American smelters, and the CPR’s purchase of the smelter at Trail began to undercut the competitive advantage of the K&S.

Throughout its history, washouts, snow slides, and avalanches plagued the K&S Railway. High maintenance costs for the line, declining metal prices, and a disastrous forest fire in 1910 left the K&S Railway in a sea of red ink. By May 1912, the Great Northern had admitted defeat in the Slocan and sold the K&S to the CPR. Parts of the line were converted to standard gauge within a year. In 1955, after a severe washout, the historic rail line was abandoned.