British Columbia Highway 6

Highway 6
Nelson-Nelway Highway Vernon-Slocan Highway
Route information
Length:	406 km (252 mi)
Existed:	1941 – present
Tourist routes:	Part of the International Selkirk Loop
Major junctions
South end:	SR 31 at Canada–US border
	BC 3 east in Burnt Flat BC 3 west in Salmo BC 3A in Nelson BC 3A near South Slocan BC 31A near New Denver BC 23 in Nakusp Needles Ferry
West end:	BC 97 in Vernon
Location
Major cities:	Nelson, Vernon
Highway system
British Columbia provincial highways ← BC 5A BC 7 →

Highway 6 is a two-lane highway passing between the Kootenay and Okanagan regions in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is divided into two parts—the Nelson-Nelway Highway between the Canada–US border and Nelson, and the Vernon-Slocan Highway between South Slocan and Vernon.^[1][2] Highway 6 is a north-south highway between Nelway and the Needles Ferry and an east-west highway between the Needles Ferry and Vernon;^[3] it has a total length of 407 km (253 mi).^[4] 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. It travels north for 10 km (6 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3) merges onto it from the east. Highway 3 and Highway 6 share a concurrency north for 14 km (9 mi) to the town of Salmo, where Highway 3 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 24 km (15 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 at Playmour Junction.^[3]

Vernon-Slocan Highway

From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the Slocan River north for 75 km (47 mi) passing through Winlaw, Slocan City and Silverton to the community of New Denver, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. 46 km (29 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 (Lower Arrow Lake) for 60 km (37 mi) to Fauquier, on the east shore of Lower Arrow Lake, where the Needles Ferry is located.^[3]

From Needles, Highway 6 takes a winding path northwest through the Monashee Mountain 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 district of Coldstream, and terminates at a junction with Highway 97 in Vernon.^[3]

Major intersections

From south to north:^[3]

Regional district	Location	km[4]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Continues as SR 31 south – Metaline Falls, Spokane
Central Kootenay	Nelway	0.00	0.00	Canada – United States border
	​	10.37	6.44	BC 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Creston, Cranbrook	BC 6 branches north; south end of BC 3 concurrency
	Salmo	24.53	15.24	BC 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Trail, Castlegar	BC 6 branches north; north end of BC 3 concurrency
	Nelson	64.67	40.18	Observatory Street	Interchange
		64.91	40.33	BC 3A east – Balfour, Kootenay Lake Ferry	Cottonwood Creek Interchange BC 6 branches west; south end of BC 3A concurrency
	​	71.71	44.56	Taghum Bridge across the Kootenay River
	South Slocan	89.05	55.33	BC 3A west – Castlegar	BC 6 branches north; north end of BC 3A concurrency
	Winlaw	113.19	70.33	Winlaw Bridge Road, Paradise Valley Road
	Slocan	132.49	82.33	Giffen Avenue
	Silverton	159.30	98.98	4th Street
	New Denver	164.06	101.94	BC 31A east (6th Avenue) – Kaslo
	Nakusp	210.29	130.67	BC 23 north – Revelstoke	BC 6 branches south
	​	270.16	167.87	Needles Ferry crosses Lower Arrow Lake Kilometrage does not include ferry
North Okanagan	​	338.36	210.25	Monashee Pass – 1,205 m (3,953 ft)
	Cherryville	353.13	219.42	Sugar Lake Road
	Lumby	380.01	236.13	Shuswap Avenue – Mabel Lake
	Coldstream	398.42	247.57	Kalamalka Road
	Vernon	405.36	251.88	25th Avenue, 30th Street	BC 6 turns onto 25th Avenue
		405.60	252.03	BC 97 (32nd Street) – Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References