British Columbia Highway 6

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.

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
	Hwy 3 at Salmo Hwy 3A in Nelson Hwy 3A near South Slocan Hwy 31A near New Denver Hwy 23 in Nakusp Needles Ferry
West end	Hwy 97 in Vernon
Location
Major cities	Nelson, Vernon
Highway system
British Columbia provincial highways ← Hwy 5A → Hwy 7

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

Highway 6 at the Monashee Summit

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]

History

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.

Major intersections

From south to north:[3]

Regional District	Location	km[4]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Central Kootenay	Nelway	0.00	0.00	SR 31 south – Metaline Falls, Spokane	Continues into Washington
				Canada–United States border at Metaline Falls-Nelway Border Crossing
	​	10.37	6.44	Hwy 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Creston, Cranbrook	Hwy 6 branches north; south end of Hwy 3 concurrency
	Salmo	24.53	15.24	Hwy 3 east (Crowsnest Highway) – Trail, Castlegar	Hwy 6 branches north; north end of Hwy 3 concurrency
	Nelson	64.67	40.18	Observatory Street	Interchange
		64.91	40.33	Hwy 3A east – Balfour, Kootenay Lake Ferry	Cottonwood Creek Interchange Hwy 6 branches west; south end of Hwy 3A concurrency
	​	71.71	44.56	Taghum Bridge across the Kootenay River
		89.05	55.33	Hwy 3A west – Castlegar	Hwy 6 branches north; north end of Hwy 3A concurrency
	New Denver	164.06	101.94	Hwy 31A east – Kaslo
	Nakusp	210.29	130.67	Hwy 23 north – Revelstoke	Hwy 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)
	Lumby	380.01	236.13	Shuswap Avenue – Mabel Lake
	Vernon	405.60	252.03	Hwy 97 (32nd Street) – Penticton, Kelowna, Kamloops 25th Avenue – Okanagan Landing
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References

1. "Orders In Council: 11867-1965". BC Laws: Orders in Council. Province of British Columbia. July 13, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
2. "Official Numbered Routes in British Columbia". Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Province of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
3. British Columbia Road Atlas (Map) (2007 ed.). Oshawa, ON: MapArt Publishing Corp. p. 41, 61-62, 74. ISBN 1-55368-018-9.
4. Landmark Kilometre Inventory (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Report). Cypher Consulting. July 2016. pp. 109–112, 405–410, 414–418. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-11. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
5. Department of Highways (1954). Alberta Official Road Map (Map). Department of Economic Affairs. §§ A-3, A-4.

External links

Media related to British Columbia Highway 6 at Wikimedia Commons