Driving
From Fernie, BC

Driving Directions from Fernie to Nelson, BC

  1. Take Hwy. 3 west (follow signs for the Crow's Nest Highway).
  2. At Creston, stay on Hwy. 3 to go west over the famous Kootenay Pass.
  3. From Salmo, turn right onto Hwy. 3A
  4. Continue on Hwy. 3A for about 30 minutes until reaching Nelson.
  5. Follow signs for Nelson's City Centre/Downtown.

If signs at Creston indicate that the Kootenay Pass is closed, or you want a more scenic route:

  1. At Creston, turn north onto Hwy. 3A.
  2. Continue until you reach the Kootenay Bay ferry, “the longest free ferry in the world.”
  3. The ferry will take you from Kootenay Bay to Balfour.
  4. When you pull off the boat, take 3A over the orange bridge into Nelson.

Regional map of British Columbia and Nelson.

Town map of Nelson, British Columbia.

LOST? Try to give us a call at (250) 352-0006, but cell coverage is spotty in the mountains so we really recommend having a good map.