Highway 6 is a two-lane highway passing between the

Kootenay Kootenay, Kootenai, and Kutenai may refer to: Ethnic groups *The Kutenai, also known as the Ktunaxa, Kootenai, or Kootenay, an indigenous people of the United States and Canada **Kutenai language, the traditional language of the Kutenai **Ktunaxa ...

and

Okanagan The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is par ...

regions in the province of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, Canada. It is divided into two parts—the Nelson-Nelway Highway between the Canada–US border and

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

, and the Vernon-Slocan Highway between

South Slocan South Slocan is an unincorporated community in rural British Columbia with a population of approximately 100 people, many of whom are followers of the Doukhobors religion. It is located on the northwest shore of the Kootenay River in the West Kooten ...

and Vernon. Highway 6 is a north–south highway between Nelway and the

Needles Ferry The Needles Ferry is a cable ferry across Lower Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean ...

and an east–west highway between the Needles Ferry and Vernon; it has a total length of . It first opened in 1941, and its very winding path through the western Kootenays has not changed since.

Route description

Nelson-Nelway Highway

Highway 6 begins at the Canada–US border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with

Washington State Route 31 State Route 31 (SR 31) is a Washington state highway located entirely in Pend Oreille County. The highway, which is long, starts at an intersection with in Tiger and travels north to the Canada–US border north of Metaline Falls. ...

. The highway parallels the

Salmo River The Salmo River is a tributary of the Pend d'Oreille River in the West Kootenay region of the Regional District of Central Kootenay in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The river is 60 km long and its source is 12 km south of Ne ...

for the rivers entire length from Nelson to the border and many views of the river can be seen from the highway. From the US Border, it travels north through the

Selkirk Mountains The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range spanning the northern portion of the Idaho Panhandle, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia which are part of a larger grouping of mountains, the Columbia Mountains. They begin at Mica Pe ...

for to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the

Crowsnest Highway The Crowsnest Highway is an east-west highway in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. It stretches across the southern portions of both provinces, from Hope, British Columbia to Medicine Hat, Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection b ...

(

Highway 3 The following highways are numbered 3, H-3, PRI-3, AH3, E03 and R3. For roads numbered A3, see A3 roads. For roads numbered M3, see M3. For roads numbered N3, see N3. For roads numbered 3A, see 3A. International * Asian Highway 3 * Europea ...

) merges onto it from the east. Highway 3 and Highway 6 share a concurrency north for to the town of

Salmo ''Salmo'' is a genus of ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae. The single ''Salmo'' species naturally found in the Atlantic North America is the Atlantic salmon, whereas the salmon and trout of the Pacific basin belong to another genus, '' ...

, where Highway 3 diverges west. From Salmo, Highway 6 goes north for , continuing to follow the

valley to the town of

Ymir In Norse mythology, Ymir (, ), also called Aurgelmir, Brimir, or Bláinn, is the ancestor of all jötnar. Ymir is attested in the ''Poetic Edda'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, in the ''Prose Edda'', writ ...

. Then it continues north for passing through the communities of Porto Rico and Hall Siding, to the city of

, just south of which (10 km) access to the

Whitewater Ski Resort Whitewater Ski Resort is a ski resort in western Canada, located a 25-minute drive from Nelson in southern British Columbia. In the Selkirk Mountains, the resort is situated in Ymir bowl, beneath the Ymir Mountain. The Selkirks receive plentiful, ...

is located. Highway 3A merges onto Highway 6 in Nelson, and the two highways travel west for along the

Kootenay River The Kootenay or Kootenai river is a major river in the Northwest Plateau, in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Montana and Idaho in the United States. It is one of the uppermost major tributaries of the Columbia River, the l ...

, passing through the communities of Taghum,

Bonnington Falls Bonnington Falls were waterfalls submerged by dams on the Kootenay River between the cities of Castlegar and Nelson, in the West Kootenay region of southern British Columbia. The upper falls was named after the Falls of Clyde upper falls of Bonn ...

, Beasley and Corra Linn to where Highway 3A diverges southwest just west of

at Playmour Junction. The highway then proceeds north west up the

Slocan Valley The Slocan Valley is a valley in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Geographical boundaries The Slocan Valley is about long, but its width is undefined. The Valhalla Range provides the steep western boundary and the Sloca ...

Vernon-Slocan Highway

From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the

Slocan River Slocan may refer to: Communities * Slocan, British Columbia or Slocan City, a village in the Slocan Valley, British Columbia, Canada * Slocan Valley or Slocan Country or Silvery Slocan, a valley in British Columbia, Canada * Slocan Park, British C ...

north for passing through Winlaw, Slocan City and Silverton to the community of New Denver, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. northwest of New Denver, Highway 6 reaches its junction with Highway 23 at the resort community of

Nakusp The Village of Nakusp (Sinixt ''neqo'sp'') is beside the mouth of Kuskanax Creek, on the Upper Arrow Lake in the West Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. Lying between the Selkirk and Monashee ranges, the village is known for its ...

. Highway 6 then turns southwest and proceeds to follow the east bank of the

Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, C ...

(Lower Arrow Lake) for to Fauquier, on the east shore of

Lower Arrow Lake 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. Bea ...

, where the

is located. From Needles, Highway 6 takes a winding path northwest through the Monashee Mountain range, passing through the community of

Cherryville Cherryville may refer to one of the following places: * Cherryville, British Columbia * Cherryville, Missouri * Cherryville, New Jersey * Cherryville, North Carolina * Cherryville, Oregon * Cherryville, Pennsylvania * Cherryville, South Australi ...

on its exit from the mountains, until it reaches the community of Lumby, away. Highway 6 then proceeds west on its final through the district of

Coldstream Coldstream ( gd, An Sruthan Fuar , sco, Caustrim) is a town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. A former burgh, Coldstream is the home of the Coldstream Guards, a regiment in the British Army. Description Coldstream l ...

, and terminates at a junction with

Highway 97 Route 97, or Highway 97, may refer to: Australia - Olympic Dam Highway, South Australia Canada * British Columbia Highway 97 ** British Columbia Highway 97A ** British Columbia Highway 97B ** British Columbia Highway 97C ** British Columb ...

in Vernon.

History

Some maps show Highway 6 originally continuing west from Vernon to Monte Creek, approximately east of

Kamloops Kamloops ( ) is a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, at the confluence of the South flowing North Thompson River and the West flowing Thompson River, east of Kamloops Lake. It is located in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, w ...

. This section became part of Highway 97 in 1953.

Major intersections

From south to north:

References

External links

{{BCHighways 06 Arrow Lakes Slocan Valley West Kootenay 006 Highways in the Okanagan