British Columbia Highway 31 (Balfour-Kaslo-Galena Bay Highway) Photographs - Page 1

Left - The Kootenay Lake Ferry is seen departing from the Balfour Ferry Terminal. This ferry links the otherwise discontinuous eastern section of Hwy 3A between Creston and Kootenay Bay together. The Kootenay Lake Ferry links Balfour to another ferry terminal on Hwy 3A across the lake at Kootenay Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the Balfour Ferry Dock on Hwy 3A. This ferry service between Balfour and Kootenay Bay is offered free of charge by British Columbia's Ministry of Transportation, since the ferry service provides a critical link in the provincial highway system. However, at one time, fares were collected from ferry patrons. Fare collection on the ferry was discontinued in 1963, once a new highway route was punched through Kootenay Pass between Creston and Salmo. The small white building in the foreground was presumably used at one time as a fare collector's booth. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - The Balfour Ferry Dock extends a fair distance out into Kootenay Lake, on a pier constructed mostly of timber bents. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - The M.V. Osprey 2000 Ferry is loaded with Hwy 3A traffic just prior to departure from Balfour. With the high peaks of the Nelson Range visible in the background, it's fairly obvious why ferry transportation was substituted for highway construction in this part of BC. Until a highway was constructed through Kootenay Pass west of Creston in the early 1960s, all east-west highway transportation in the southern portion of BC had to use the Kootenay Lake Ferry to pass through the mountains. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Sign on Hwy 3A at the Balfour Ferry Terminal showing the schedule for the Kootenay Lake Ferry. The route of Hwy 3A crosses Kootenay Lake via the ferry crossing. The ferry dock at Balfour lies part-way between Creston and Nelson. The ferry offers crossings throughout the day from 6:30 am to 9:40 pm, departing from Balfour Ferry Terminal at roughly 1 hour, 40 minute intervals. The ferry crossing takes about 40 minutes. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the Kootenay Lake Ferry Staging Area from the Hwy 3A & Hwy 31 Junction in Balfour. Vehicles line up and wait for the ferry loading to begin. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Overhead guide sign at the Balfour Ferry Terminal. Hwy 3A intersects with Hwy 31 immediately after the exit from the ferry. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction signs at the Hwy 3A & Hwy 31 Junction at the exit from the Balfour Ferry Terminal. At the junction, Hwy 3A turns left and resumes its route west towards Nelson and Castlegar, while Hwy 31 turns right and heads north towards Kaslo. Ultimately, Hwy 31 connects to Hwy 23 at Galena Bay south of Revelstoke. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31 towards Kaslo from the Hwy 3A Junction in Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction signs approaching the Hwy 3A Junction on southbound Hwy 31 in Balfour. At the junction, Hwy 3A West continues ahead towards Nelson, while Hwy 3A East turns left into the Balfour Ferry Dock. Although it isn't indicated on any signs, Hwy 31 ends at this junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Approaching the Hwy 3A Junction on southbound Hwy 31 in Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - After travelling almost 175 km south from Galena Bay, Hwy 31 reaches its southern terminus in Balfour at the Hwy 3A Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Overhead guide sign on southbound Hwy 31 at the Hwy 3A Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 3A approaches the turn-off to the Balfour Ferry Terminal. From here, traffic can either turn right and take the Kootenay Lake Ferry and Hwy 3A East towards Creston or continue straight ahead and head north towards Kaslo via Hwy 31. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 3A from the Hwy 31 Junction in Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Overhead guide sign on eastbound Hwy 3A at the Hwy 31 Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Junction assembly approaching the Hwy 3A & Hwy 31 Junction in Balfour, facing east. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along Hwy 3A in Balfour, approaching the Hwy 31 Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on northbound Hwy 31 departing Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Avalanche closure gates on Hwy 31, about 8 km north of Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Southern approach to the Coffee Creek Bridge on Hwy 31. This steep, winding section of Hwy 31 lies about 10 km north of Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Approaching the hairpin curve at the Coffee Creek Bridge, facing north. This nearly-180 degree horizontal curve on Hwy 31 has a radius of about 25 metres. To put that in perspective, that is about half of the radius commonly used for most freeway inner loop ramps in constrained urban areas. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south towards Balfour at the Coffee Creek Bridge on Hwy 31. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of Coffee Creek from Hwy 31. This beautiful glacier-fed stream originates at the Kokanee Glacier, located in the mountains several kilometres to the west. The bridge abutments of the original Hwy 31 structure over Coffee Creek can be seen in the foreground. While the hairpin curve at the current Coffee Creek Bridge is quite tight, the approaches to its predecessor would have been even tighter. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31 towards Kaslo from the Coffee Creek Bridge. The highway clings to the side of the canyon carved by Coffee Creek. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - View of the winding northern approach to Coffee Creek along Hwy 31, facing south. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Highway construction in this area certainly came with challenges - here, Hwy 31 clings to the side of a cliff north of the Coffee Creek Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Avalanche closure gates on Hwy 31, about 2 km south of Ainsworth Hot Springs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 31 towards Balfour at the Cedar Creek Bridge. This small bridge is located about 1 km north of Ainsworth Hot Springs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Date stamp (1963) on the Cedar Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 near Ainsworth Hot Springs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31 towards Kaslo at the Cedar Creek Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Side view of the Cedar Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 between Balfour and Kaslo. This bridge is a single-span steel beam structure. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - This section of Hwy 31 closely follows the scenic shores of Kootenay Lake, about 4 km north of Ainsworth Hot Springs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Woodbury Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 about 5 km north of Ainsworth Hot Springs, facing north. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Date stamp (1957) on the Woodbury Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 between Ainsworth Hot Springs and Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Western side of the Woodbury Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 south of Kaslo. This bridge is a single-span steel beam structure. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 31 towards Ainsworth Hot Springs at the Woodbury Creek Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern side of the Woodbury Creek Bridge on Hwy 31 south of Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 9, 2022 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 31 about 6 km north of Ainsworth Hot Springs. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Winding route of Hwy 31 facing north, about 13 km south of Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31, about 6 km south of Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Evening view of the Purcell Mountains and Kootenay Lake from the Fletcher Falls Recreation Area along Hwy 31 south of Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on southbound Hwy 31 departing Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Approaching Kaslo on Hwy 31, facing north. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31 at the Kaslo River Bridge. This timber bridge even has an exposed timber plank deck with no top asphalt course. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Side view of the timber beam and trestle bridge over the Kaslo River on Hwy 31. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 31 at the Kaslo River Bridge. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - This scenic view of Hwy 31 approaching the Kaslo town centre is facing north from River Lane. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along 4th Street (Hwy 31) towards Balfour from "C" Avenue. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Kaslo has many historical 19th Century buildings which date from the mining era of the 1890s. Kaslo's City Hall at left was constructed in 1898. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along 4th Street (Hwy 31) from "A" Avenue. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Overhead destination guide sign on northbound 4th Street marking the upcoming Hwy 31 turn-off onto "A" Avenue. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Intersection of 4th Street and "A" Avenue, facing north. The Kaslo Town Centre lies one block straight ahead, while Hwy 31 turns left. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Kaslo's historic Front Street features many false-fronted Victorian era buildings, while the Purcell Mountains form a stunning backdrop. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - An early piece of transportation history is on permanent display in Downtown Kaslo. The sternwheeler S.S. Moyie once plied the waters of Kootenay Lake in the days before roads reached this area. The ship is now a National Historic Site. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along "A" Avenue at 4th Street in Kaslo. Here, Hwy 31 turns right and resumes its route south towards Ainsworth Hot Springs and Balfour. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Overhead destination guide sign on eastbound "A" Avenue marking the upcoming Hwy 31 turn-off onto 4th Street. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing west along "A" Avenue (Hwy 31) from 4th Street in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of "A" Avenue (Hwy 31) in Kaslo, facing east towards 5th Street. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing east along "A" Avenue (Hwy 31) towards Downtown Kaslo from the Hwy 31A Junction. The grade leading into town from the west is quite steep! Situated near the northern end of Kootenay Lake, Kaslo is the largest town located on both Hwy 31 and Hwy 31A. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Approaching the Hwy 31A Junction on northbound Hwy 31 in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction sign assembly on northbound Hwy 31 approaching the Hwy 31A Junction. Hwy 31 North turns right and continues north towards Galena Bay, while Hwy 31A continues straight ahead towards New Denver. Traffic bound for Galena Bay and Revelstoke should use Hwy 31A from Kaslo, as it is slightly shorter than the main route of Hwy 31 and is less likely to be closed in winter. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Green guide sign facing southbound Hwy 31 traffic at the Hwy 31A Junction in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction sign assembly on southbound Hwy 31 approaching the Hwy 31A Junction. The left arrow tab is angled downwards, presumably to infer to motorists that there is a severe grade on Hwy 31 as it descends towards Downtown Kaslo via "A" Avenue. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31 towards Galena Bay from the Hwy 31A Junction in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Eastern terminus of Hwy 31A at the Hwy 31 Junction in Kaslo. "A" Avenue continues straight ahead into Downtown Kaslo as Hwy 31 South, while the rather inconspicuous turn-off for Hwy 31 North to Galena Bay can be seen at left. Some of the dramatic peaks of the Purcell Mountains can be seen on the far side of Kootenay Lake. Although Kaslo is a fairly sizeable town, the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake opposite Kaslo is largely undeveloped. In fact, the Purcell Mountains offer one of the largest wilderness areas of the British Columbia interior. With no feasible transportation corridors through the mountains besides Kootenay Lake itself, early settlers avoided these mountains altogether. Even today, travel through this wild, mountainous area is very difficult. The next major road east of here is the Hwy 93 & Hwy 95 corridor, which lies about 80 km to the east across the mountains. However, to reach Hwy 93 & Hwy 95 from Kaslo, motorists must drive all the way around the mountains on Hwy 3 via Creston and Cranbrook. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing west along Hwy 31A towards New Denver from the Hwy 31 Junction in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Approaching the Hwy 31 Junction on eastbound Hwy 31A in Kaslo. Hwy 31A reaches its eastern terminus just beyond the crest of this hill. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on northbound Hwy 31 near the Hwy 31A Junction in Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing north along Hwy 31 departing from Kaslo. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Scenic view of Kaslo Bay along Hwy 31, just north of the Hwy 31A Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Motorists heading north along Hwy 31 out of Kaslo are treated to this scenic view of Mount Tyrell on the far side of Kootenay Lake. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - View of Kootenay Lake along Hwy 31 at the northern entrance to Kaslo, facing south. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 5, 2017 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 31, about 1 km south of the Hwy 23 Junction at Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Sign advising truck operators about the narrow, winding highway ahead. This section of Hwy 31 can be bypassed by following Hwy 23 and Hwy 6 south through Nakusp and New Denver, and then using Hwy 31A to cross through the mountains to reach Kaslo. The alternate route to Kaslo offered by Hwy 31A is also slightly shorter than using Hwy 31. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Distance guide sign on southbound Hwy 31 near Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Distance guide sign on northbound Hwy 23 at the Hwy 31 Junction. The Galena Bay Ferry Dock lies 2 km to the north. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Hwy 31 route marker facing southbound traffic near Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Junction signs marking the Hwy 23 & Hwy 31 Junction, facing north. The two highways join together just south of the Galena Bay Ferry Dock. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Destination guide sign on northbound Hwy 23 at the Hwy 31 Junction near Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 23 towards Nakusp from the Hwy 31 Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Facing south along Hwy 31 from the Hwy 23 Junction. Hwy 31 heads deep into the Selkirk Mountains, before slowly looping back south towards the Nelson area via Kaslo. This highway is narrow and winding and is not recommended for heavy trucks. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing north along Hwy 31, approaching the Hwy 23 Junction near Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Approaching the northern terminus of Hwy 31 at the Hwy 23 Junction near Galena Bay. Traffic can either turn left and follow Hwy 23 south to Nakusp or turn right and follow Hwy 23 north to Revelstoke via the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry at Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Close-up view of the Hwy 23 junction signs on northbound Hwy 31 approaching Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Junction assembly on southbound Hwy 23 approaching the Hwy 31 Junction. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Left - Facing south along Hwy 23 towards the Hwy 31 Junction near Galena Bay. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)

Right - Approaching the Hwy 31 Junction on Hwy 23, facing south. See an Enlarged Photo Here.
(Photograph taken on June 7, 2015 - © Cameron Bevers)