British Columbia Highway 6

Infobox road
province=BC
type=Hwy
route=6
maint=


length_km=
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previous_type=Hwy
previous_route=5A
next_type=Hwy
next_route=7

Highway 6 is a two-lane east-west highway passing between the Kootenay and Okanagan regions. It is divided into two parts—the "Nelson-Nelway Highway" to the south, and the "Vernon-Slocan Highway" to the north. Highway 6 first opened in 1941, and its very winding path through the western Kootenays has not changed since.

Route details

Highway 6 has a total length of 407 km (253 mi). It begins at the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Nelway, where it connects with State Route 31. It travels north for 10 km (6 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where the Crowsnest Highway merges onto it from the east. The Crowsnest carries Highway 6 north for 14 km (9 mi) to the town of Salmo, where the Crowsnest 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 21 km (13 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.

From South Slocan, Highway 6 follows the Slocan River north for 79 km (49 mi) to the community of New Denver, where Highway 31A meets Highway 6. 48 km (30 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 for 57 km (35 mi) to Fauquier, on the east shore of Lower Arrow Lake. Highway 6 then crosses Lower Arrow Lake via a ferry to a location on the west shore of the lake known as Needles.

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 town of Coldstream, to its ending at a junction with Highway 97 at Vernon.