The largest community in our region today is Nakusp, which prides itself on its waterfront walkway overlooking Upper Arrow Lake, its beaches and the nearby natural hot springs: Nakusp Hot Springs located north of Nakusp on Hot Springs Road, and Halcyon Hot Springs located 32 km north of Nakusp on Highway 23.
South of Nakusp, on the eastern shore of Lower Arrow Lake, are Burton and Fauquier. Burton is located on the beautiful alluvial fan formed by Caribou Creek, and is well-known for its excellent agricultural and timber values. The town of Fauquier greets those arriving from the Okanagan via Highway 6 and the Needles Ferry. Also a farming community, the town has a popular lakeside golf course.
Arrow Park is situated between Nakusp and Burton, and the cable ferry located here provides access to the extensive backcountry road network on the western side of the lake.
Edgewood is on the west shore of Lower Arrow Lake, 15 kilometres south of Highway 6. The beautiful farming land of the Inonoaklin Valley greets you as you make your way to Edgewood.
The community of Trout Lake is located on the shores of a lake of the same name, near the north-eastern end of Upper Arrow Lake. While driving to Trout Lake along Highway 31 from Galena Bay, other smaller lakes, Armstrong and Staubert, are passed. The Trout Lake region is rich in mining history, and provides access to excellent backcountry recreation.
River Systems
The Arrow Lakes is part of the Columbia River System, with water flowing from north to south.n Since the construction of the Hugh Keenlyside Dam, a narrow channel, “The Narrows”, at Arrow Park south of Nakusp represents the division between Upper and Lower Arrow Lakes.
Mountains
The Selkirk Mountains lie on the east side of the Arrow Lakes, with the Monashee Range on the west. These mountain ranges hold many smaller lakes, some of which are accessible by backcountry road and some are more remote. Many mountain peaks and ridges offer spectacular views of the valleys and lakes below, and the mountains as far as the eye can see.
History
The Sinixt First Nation lived along the Arrow Lakes for thousands of years, using the waterways as their transportation routes. The first European explorers also followed the water. It seems the lakes got their name from the many arrows found along the river.
David Thompson and his men reached the Columbia River between 1807 and 1811. Fur trading, mining, agriculture, and later logging where the main economic activities.
Further historical details can be found on the pages for each community.
