British Columbia Highway 6

Highway 6
Nelson-Nelway Highway Vernon-Slocan Highway
Route information
Maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
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 in Nelway
Major intersections	Highway 3 at Salmo Highway 3A in Nelson Highway 3A near South Slocan Highway 31A near New Denver Highway 23 in Nakusp Needles Ferry
West end	Highway 97 in Vernon
Location
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Major cities	Nelson, Vernon
Highway system
British Columbia provincial highways
← Highway 5A → Highway 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–United States border and Nelson, and the Vernon-Slocan Highway between South Slocan and Vernon.^[2][3] Highway 6 is a north–south highway between Nelway and the Needles Ferry and an east–west highway between the Needles Ferry and Vernon;^[4] it has a total length of 407 km (253 mi).^[1] It first opened in 1941 and, aside from minor realignments along it's concurrences with 3 and 3A, its very winding path through the western Kootenays has not changed since.

Highway 6 begins at the Canada–United States border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with Washington State Route 31. The highway parallels the Salmo River for the rivers entire length from Nelson to the border and many views of the river can be seen from the highway. From the Canada–United States border, it travels north through the Selkirk Mountains 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 10 km (6 mi), continuing to follow the Salmo River valley to the town of Ymir. Then it continues north for 34 km (21 mi) passing through the communities of Porto Rico and Hall Siding, to the city of Nelson, just south of which (10 km) access to the Whitewater Ski Resort is located. Highway 3A merges onto Highway 6 in Nelson, and the two highways travel west for 24 km (15 mi) along the Kootenay River, passing through the communities of Taghum, Bonnington Falls, Beasley and Corra Linn to where Highway 3A diverges southwest just west of South Slocan at Playmour Junction.^[4] The highway then proceeds north west up the Slocan Valley.

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.^[4]

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.^[4]

Some maps show Highway 6 originally continuing west from Vernon to Monte Creek, approximately 26 km (16 mi) east of Kamloops.^[5] This section became part of Highway 97 in 1953.

From south to north:^[4]

Regional District	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Central Kootenay	Nelway	0.00	0.00	SR 31 south – Metaline Falls, Spokane	Continues into Washington
				Canada–US border at Metaline Falls-Nelway Border Crossing
	​	10.37	6.44	Highway 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Creston, Cranbrook	South end of Hwy 3 concurrency
	Salmo	24.53	15.24	Highway 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Trail, Castlegar	North end of Hwy 3 concurrency
	Nelson	64.67	40.18	Observatory Street	Interchange
		64.91	40.33	Highway 3A east – Balfour, Kootenay Lake Ferry	Cottonwood Creek Interchange South end of Hwy 3A concurrency
	​	71.71	44.56	Taghum Bridge across the Kootenay River
		89.05	55.33	Highway 3A west – Castlegar	North end of Hwy 3A concurrency
	New Denver	164.06	101.94	Highway 31A east – Kaslo
	Nakusp	210.29	130.67	Highway 23 north – Revelstoke
	​	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)
	Lumby	380.01	236.13	Shuswap Avenue – Mabel Lake
	Vernon	405.60	252.03	Highway 97 (32nd Street) – Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops 25th Avenue – Okanagan Landing
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

Media related to British Columbia Highway 6 at Wikimedia Commons