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Highways 31 and 31A: Balfour to New Denver, West Kootenay, British Columbia
Photo: Revelstoked · CC BY-SA 4.0

Drives British Columbia The Okanagan, the Kootenays and the BC Interior

Highways 31 and 31A: Balfour to New Denver

BC 31 · Balfour → New Denver

Twisty49 mi1 hr 15 min5,200 ft climbHigh point ≈ 3,600 ftOne way
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The drive

Highway 31 runs up the west shore of Kootenay Lake from Balfour, past Ainsworth Hot Springs, to Kaslo. From there Highway 31A turns west over the Selkirk Mountains, passes Retallack at about 1,000 meters, and drops to New Denver on Slocan Lake.

The lakeshore half is easy driving. The 31A half is narrower and twistier, with one tight stretch partway along.

Highway 6 from New Denver back down the Slocan Valley makes this a loop; Highway 6 from South Slocan is its own drive.

Along the way

  1. Balfour
  2. Ainsworth Hot Springs
  3. Kaslo
  4. Retallack
  5. New Denver
Elevation
5,200 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 3,600 ft
BalfourNew Denver
Curves
Mostly gentle, with one twisty stretch
BalfourNew Denver
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Highway 31A is narrow and winding, and has snow in winter; winter tires or chains are required on most BC highways from October 1 to April 30.
  • Services are few between Kaslo and New Denver.
  • Retallack is 37 km northwest of Kaslo and 20 km northeast of New Denver on 31A.
  • A webcam at Retallack on DriveBC shows conditions on the pass.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check DriveBC.

Questions about this drive

How long does Highway 31 and 31A from Balfour to New Denver take?

Highways 31 and 31A from Balfour to New Denver are 49 miles and take about 1 hr 15 min.

Is Highway 31A twisty?

Yes, this drive is rated Twisty, with one twisty stretch on 31A between Kaslo and New Denver.

Where does Highway 31A go?

Highway 31A runs from Kaslo on Kootenay Lake west over the Selkirks, via Retallack, to New Denver on Slocan Lake.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Highways 31 and 31A: Balfour to New Denver, from Balfour to New Denver