Escapees March-April 2024

From left to right: Camp Café in Silverton; An old building in the ghost town of Sandon. A bike at Slocan Trail Head PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARROW SLOCAN TOURISM ASSOCIATION Slocan Lake from a lookout point along the highway between Slocan and Silverton, and a motorhome parked at

Silverton on Slocan Lake. PHOTOS BY CAROL ANN QUIBELL

bring your boat? There’s a boat launch, sandy beach and a nice picnic area. Silverton and New Denver Driving north from Slocan is a paved road that’s a bit winding but worth driving. You won’t have any trouble even if you’re in a large motorhome. Large trucks drive this route daily. Both side by side communities of Silverton and New Denver are former boomtowns from when silver was discovered in the area. Situated on the shores of Slocan Lake, and popular with motorized boat owners, both offer year-round recreational opportunities that include gol fi ng, hiking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, snowshoe ing and snowmobiling. Water sports such as paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking are extremely popular during warmer months. Highlights of Silverton and New Denver • Silvery Slocan Museum in New Denver • Silverton Gallery’s outdoor silver mining exhibit • Silverton’s preserved blacksmith shop— Fingland Cabin

Winlaw With a population of approximately 400 residents, you might think Winlaw isn’t worth stopping for. That would be a big mistake because this small “eclectic” community has unique little restaurants and a waterfront nature park on the Slocan River, with trails, a boardwalk, a picnic and beach area with fi re pits, picnic tables and an outhouse building for your convenience. Village of Slocan Once named Slocan City, it’s now a quiet village at the south end of Slocan Lake, known for having an abundance of salmon. Don’t be deceived – the Village of Slocan has a very colorful past. In 1900, there were 12hotels fi lled with saloons and miners in search of silver, but by 1920, there were only three still in operation. Today the village offers outstanding recreational opportunities and a self-guided walking tour providing you with a glimpse into how this community was developed. The views from the nearby bluffs are outstanding and camera-ready. Did you

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March/April 2024 ESCAPEES Magazine