The village of Winlaw is probably the funkiest little town in the Slocan Valley. It is situated along Hwy. 6, north of Castlegar, in the Kootenay region of BC. Imagine a mountain lake, Slocan Lake, that feeds a river, the Slocan River, and now take the river and a highway carving their winding route for 100 kms between the magnificent ranges of the Selkirk and Purcell Mountains. In the midst of this beauty, place 18 small communities, the largest with 600 people, and you have found Winlaw.
Winlaw is a rainbow of people, styles, hair, vehicles and lifestyles. It offers an eclectic variety of unique galleries, cafes, metaphysical shops, fruit and vegetable stands. Winlaw Beach Regional Park offers waterfront access on the Slocan River. An easy hiking trail nearby is the Rockside Lake Trail. Mountainbikers can challenge the Loop in Winlaw, a fabulous trail just north of the city. Other attractions in the area include the Slocan Valley Rail Trail, which runs for 50 km between Slocan and Slocan Junction. Major wilderness areas nearby are Valhalla Provincial Park and Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
Ask your Winlaw Bed and Breakfast operators where to find the best views of the valley for a picnic and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings in this part of the Kootenays.