Mel DeAnna Trail Cave - Castlegar, BC
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member T0SHEA
N 49° 13.890 W 117° 38.824
11U E 452891 N 5453392
The Mel DeAnna Trail is a 1.5 or 5 km. trail which begins at the rest area on Highway 3 about 6 km. south of Castlegar.
Waymark Code: WMM7K4
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 08/05/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Charter Member Web-ling
Views: 2

After hiking the long 1.5 km. to the junction at the lake, if one takes the left fork and heads down the east side of the lake, one will eventually come across this cave. It is at interpretive stop number 12, with the trail passing right by the entrance. The cave was obviously an attempt at mining, probably for gold or silver, which didn't pan out. It runs into the bedrock for about fifty feet, getting smaller as it goes. In front one can see a delta of the rock from the mine as it was dug, now mostly assimilated into the surroundings. There are no obvious minerals at the site, so it's difficult to say exactly why this mine was begun in the first place.

The trail heads upward from the toilet at the rest area to a viewpoint, then runs south for 1.5 km to a junction with a 2 km. loop. If one takes the loop, the total trail length is 5 km. as one returns on the same 1.5 km. trail. The trail is a great bird watching and nature trail with superb views of the Columbia River Valley and Castlegar, to the north, then descends into forest and eventually goes around a large pond with 16 interpretive stations. It was created by the West Kootenay Naturalists, Castlegar & District Wildlife Association, Selkirk College and the Ministry of Forests.

Beside the trailhead, just to the south, is a monument with a plaque dedicated to Mel DeAnna, "A Friend To Nature".

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Visit Instructions:
• Include a photo of the Artificial Cave if possible.
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