The friendly little lakeside village of Burton on the lower Arrow Lake provides visitors with all the services of a larger centre, but with rural hospitality.
Location: Burton is located on Highway 6 on the eastern shore of Lower Arrow Lake, between Nakusp and the eastern terminal of the Arrow Lake ferry at Fauquier.
Wildlife Viewing: Follow the first road south of the village and go down to the lake – go out on the lake as far as the changing water levels will permit, and see the panoramic, 360 degree view of the mountains. Quite spectacular! This is also an excellent spot for birdwatching; oodles of ducks, blue herons, osprey, meadowlarks and other species make this area their home.
In late August and early September the basin is swarming with Gulls (some from as far away as Saskatchewan) who come to dine on the spawning kokanee.
Go fly a kite in Burton when the lake levels are low! The large, open flat area and the winds off the lake make this a kite flying spot par excellence.
Camping: Set up camp on the lake at the campground down Lake View Park Road – the twenty two sites close to the water accommodate everyone, from backpackers to RVs.
McCormack Road will take you back into the mountains, and the many idyllic places in which to catch a glimpse of the abundant wildlife in the area; deer, grouse, pheasant, and perhaps even a black bear, coyote or a cougar.
Burton Provincial Park, right on the doorstep, awaits those who can cram in more peace and tranquility.
Golf: Golfers will need to head north or south on Highway 6 for a game of golf; north to the 9-hole Nakusp Centennial Golf Club in Nakusp, or south to the 9-hole semi-private Fauquier Golf Course in Fauquier.
Golf Vacations in British Columbia.
Winter: There’s plenty to do in these parts once Old Man Winter checks in. Located smack in the middle of the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashees to the west, this area is a veritable playground for skiers, snowmobilers and even ice fishermen on Box and Trout Lakes. For the day skier, there’s the Summit Lake Ski Area just 20 km south of Nakusp on Hwy 6 to New Denver, and for those seeking more of a challenge, local helicopter skiing companies will whisk you and your guide high into the backcountry, where the finest virgin powder snow lies. Most communities in the area offer cross-country skiing; Barnes Creek between Fauquier and Edgewood, Wensley Creek Ski Trails closer to Nakusp, and the Upper Brouse Road area southeast of Nakusp are but a few that offer trails. Snowcat skiing and snowmobiling also await visitors who are ready for an adventure to happen.
Skiing & Winter Activities in the B.C. Rockies.
Travel back into the history of this region, to the Ghost Town of Sandon, once the Capital of the Silvery Slocan. Located 8 km east of New Denver, Sandon was an incorporated city of 5,000 people at the height of the mining boom in 1892. Two railroads once served this Monte Carlo of Canada, with its twenty nine hotels, twenty eight saloons, an opera house, two newspapers, five men’s clothing stores, a bank, and several other gambling halls, brothels, offices, stores and businesses. Now a renowned and restored historic site, Sandon lures thousands of visitors each summer.
Circle Tour: See the best of the area on the Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies Circle Tour. Travel the sunny interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies. From Golden, head south through the Columbia Valley to Creston, and west through Boundary Country and the Southern Okanagan to complete the loop.
Circle Tours in British Columbia.
