Learn more about this communities and view real estate listings:

• Castlegar
• Nelson
• Salmo
• Slocan Valley

In Castlegar, you can balance work and lifestyle with an enviable climate that offers an unlimited range of outdoor recreational activities. Castlegar is located in the heart of the West Kootenays, nestled peacefully in the valley where the Columbia and Kootenay rivers merge as one. Being at the focal point of Highways 3, 3A and 22, Castlegar is within a 45 minute drive of Nelson, Trail, Christina Lake and Rossland. It’s 600 km between Vancouver and Calgary, and about 230km north of Spokane, Washington.

There are some 16,000+ residents in the city of Castlegar and surrounding areas. The three industries with highest employment are industrial manufacturing, retail trade, and educational services. It is the perfect place to call home for anyone who considers themselves a die-hard outdoor enthusiast right down to those whose limits reach as far as the fresh cut grass on the edge of an outdoor patio.

There are dozens of mountain biking trails in the West Kootenays such as the Grande Euphorium, and mountain climbers can explore the Kinnaird Bluffs, practically right in your back yard! All of the parks in the West Kootenays offer simple day hiking and many offer the kind of alpine access that makes life worth living. For hiking and backpacking, the Valhalla Provincial Park is a must. If you love camping try Pass Creek Regional Park, or grab the boat and family and head over to Syringa Creek Provincial Park for a weekend on Lower Arrow Lake located north of Hugh Keenleyside Dam. The Kootenay and Columbia Rivers make for great Rainbow and Walleye fishing.

There are beginner and expert creeks and rivers for the summer kayaker. The Upper Slocan River is great for beginners, while the more experienced vets may try their luck navigating Wilson Creek. Take to the tees at several golf courses such as Redstone, Champion Lakes Golf Club, Castlegar Golf Club and Birchbank Golf Club. If you’re a bit rusty, check out the par 3 Little Bear Golf Course located in Ootischenia.

In the winter months there is no shortage of activities including a vast amount of places to go snowmobiling, snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing in Nancy Greene Provincial Park. Red Mountain and Whitewater are two world-class alpine ski resorts located less than an hour’s drive away.

Castlegar has many great city features as well. Located on the north side there is the Millennium Walkway, perfect for an evening stroll down the lamp-post lit path along the Kootenay-Columbia River. Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park is located just off the main land accessible by suspension bridge. North Castlegar is also where you will find 3 schools clustered together ranging from grades K-12, our Canadian Pacific Railway Museum, and Sculpture Walk. The Community Complex is located in Central Castlegar and is home to the Castlegar Rebels KIJHL hockey team.

Located just outside of Castlegar in Ootischenia, you will find the Russian Doukhobor Discovery Center and the Kootenay gallery of Art, History and Science. Castlegar is also home to Selkirk College located across from our West Kootenay Regional Airport and Casino.

Castlegar is a city that prides itself on its quality of life being synonymous with sustainability. Harnessing the power of a strong social network, residents here place high value on ensuring Castlegar remains a diversified, sustainable community that its residents are proud to be a part of, and we hope you will be a part of our incredible city one day too.

Nelson is a city that possesses incredible charm and character. A place where life is unhurried and people say “hello” to strangers. If you end up in Nelson, you’ll find yourself in a world-class recreational playground in a pristine setting, all with the comforts of urban amenities.

Nelson sits on the west arm of Kootenay Lake nestled into the rugged Selkirk Mountains, halfway between Vancouver and Calgary. It’s a half hour drive to Castlegar, and a 1 hour drive to Trail. Nelson is situated on the junction of provincial Highway 3A and highway 6.

Traditionally the economy has been resourced based (Forestry and Mining). It is also the provincial administrative center for the Kootenays, with many regional and district offices of the provincial government as well as Federal offices. Nelson has a diverse infrastructure and development is at a high. With the largest areas of growth in education and small to medium sized businesses, Nelson is looking to attract high tech industry, education, tourism, value-added manufacturing, light industry, and other areas of technology. For more information on investing in Nelson, visit Invest Kootenay.

Thanks to the mild climate and the four near perfect seasons, Nelson is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The terrain and abundant snow make for amazing skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. For world class alpine skiing, visit White Water Ski Resort. In the spring, that same playground gets taken over by other great recreational activities.

You can go golfing at Granite Pointe, or try Balfour Golf Course roughly half an hour away. You can enjoy Kootenay Lake fishing at your doorstep and there are many mountain biking trails all around. Set up camp at Valhalla Provincial Park and go mountain climbing at Gimli Peak. Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, and Champion Lakes Provincial Park are two great places to take the family camping for the weekend.

The natural beauty and heritage buildings of Nelson have been attracting artists for years. Thanks to these talented individuals, Nelson has earned the title of the number one small arts town in Canada. You can find local art any time of the year, not just in galleries, but also venues where visual art is displayed. Performing arts and music prospers among the theatres, bars and restaurants. The heritage Capitol Theatre brings in performers from far and wide to complement the local talent. Art has made Nelson a vibrant thriving community that’s happy to entertain, any time of the year.

It offers extremely unique shopping opportunities, and has excellent educational facilities both private and public such as Selkirk College which is the home to the Kootenay School of Arts. It simply has it all. Whether you’re heading out for an off-road adventure, lounging by the lake, or visiting the Community Complex for a workout, you’ll never be bored in Nelson. Be warned: Once you’re here, you may never want to leave.

Salmo is a small friendly community nestled in the beautiful Selkirk Mountains of southeastern British Columbia. Known as the "Hub of the Kootenays" Salmo is located an equal 30 minute drive from the communities of Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Creston. Salmo (originally known as Salmon Siding), Ymir and Erie were small mining towns that grew up along the right-of-way of the historic Nelson/Fort Shepherd Railway in the latter days of the 19th century.  Mining and logging were the major industries in those early days.  Mines in the area were major producers of gold, silver, lead, zinc and tungsten.  Logging has continued to flourish over the years and continues today as a mainstay for many residents of the area.  In the early days that valley was famous for its large cedar trees.  Small isolated stands of these ancient giants can still be found in the area and huge stumps also bear witness to the size of the old trees.

Surrounding mountains, pristine lakes, streams and rivers make Salmo a natural haven for a wide variety of wildlife and offer an ideal setting for outdoor recreation enthusiasts.  During the winter months our local ski hill, located just minutes from town, offers night skiing on fully lit runs as well as great daytime skiing on the weekends. Salmo also has an indoor curling rink, outdoor skating rink and many kilometers of cross country ski trails.  In summer, the outdoor pool, many hiking trails and local parks provide endless opportunities to enjoy a healthy living lifestyle. On top of all that, some say it has the best drinking water in the world!  All of this makes Salmo truly one of the best travel destinations as well as a great place to live. Discover everything else that Salmo has to offer, and you’ll also want to become a part of it.

Slocan Valley isn’t just a destination, it’s a journey. Imagine a glacier-fed lake feeding a river that winds its way 100 kilometres through the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains. A place that is home to 18 small communities. Add some rich history, values and strong sense of community and you have what the locals of Slocan Valley call home.

The Slocan Valley comprises of 3 municipalities: New Denver, Silverton, and the Village of Slocan. There are over a dozen other unincorporated communities most noticeably Crescent Valley, Slocan Park, and Winlaw. Other communities include Summit Lake, Hills, Rosebery, Sandon, Setallack, Lemon Creek, Appledale, Vallican, Passmore, Krestova, Pass Creek, and the Playmor Junction.

Distinct historical origins are what shaped the communities into what they are today, from Doukhobor settlements, to mining towns, even to those escaping the bustle of the city. To most visitors and residents, the Slocan Valley is a community that is a 90 minute dirve.