While Sandon now has (for just $4) top notch information and many incredible mining artifacts, rock samples, excellent lifelike displays, video in the museum along with excellent local talent to guide you along, I was a little dissapointed with the numerous areas (specially at the beginning of the town) of Sandon that are littered with …and this is really weird…old circa 1950 transit buses from Vancouver??? These buses and trolley cars cover an acre or so of land. There is other “junk” around that once cleaned out and replaced with more establishments like the museum and gift shop (I didn’t get a chance to step into the gift shop but it looked enticing) would make this town an excellent draw for tourists.
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- K & S Railway Trailhead
The most important point in Sandon for me was the trail head for the Idaho Lookout. I wanted to go up but the top portion was still covered in snow. A better time to visit for this trip to enjoy the Vista would be August.
This comment was emailed to me by Greg, please read for more area intel!
I LOVE THE KOOTENAY VALLEY! We were in Kaslo a few months ago. There was a black bear in someone’s front lawn eating apples. The locals said be careful and to walk in the middle of the road! That’s it! Walking an extra 5 feet away will save my life! Obviously, they’re used to living with bears.
Since you’re going to be in the Kootenay region, consider going to Sandon on just off of 31A. It’s a ghost town with some preserved buildings and a museum. The highlight for me was DRIVING up Idaho Peak, just outside of town. You drive up 95% of this mountain, on a rough road with steep drop-offs. At the top there’s a short walk to the peak where you look down on New Denver & the Slocan Valley. Beautiful.
You’ll have no problem doing the drive in a truck. I was in a small station wagon and had no problems inching along at 5 kms per hour! Hopefully the weather will be clear for you. I was going to write about this drive/hike on https://www.tracksandtrails.ca, but you may beat me to it!