Salmo

Located in the South Kootenay area of British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies region, Salmo is a small community nestled in the beautiful Selkirk Mountains. The town is home to many stone murals celebrating the history and natural beauty of the area. The nearby Salmo/Creston skyway mountain pass not only boasts being the highest point of elevation of any major highway in Canada, it is also the home of a small herd of Big Horn Sheep. A feeding station is located just 10 km (6 mi) from Salmo where you can view animals in their natural habitat. Nearby Erie Lake is abundant with wildlife. This beautiful natural setting is an ecosystem in itself, providing local wildfowl, moose and deer and a turtle family with an abundance of food and shelter. The 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 enthusiasts. In summer, many hiking trails and local parks provide endless opportunities to enjoy a healthy living lifestyle.

Location

Known as the “Hub of the Kootenays” Salmo is located an equal 30-minute drive from the communities of Nelson, Castlegar, Trail and Creston at the junction of Hwy 3, the Crowsnest Hwy, and Hwy 6.

A Step Back in Time

Salmo is a small friendly community nestled in the beautiful Selkirk mountains of southeastern British Columbia. Originally known as Salmon Siding, Salmo, along with 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 in the area. In the early days the 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.

Before the dams on the Columbia River were built, the Salmo River was teeming with large salmon giving the river and the townsite its name. The names were later changed to Salmo to avoid confusion with other places bearing the same name.