Small village, large views: Try Peachland's Pincushion, Trepanier, Gladstone trails for unique hiking

Peachland trails

Photo: J.P. Squire

The trailhead for the Gladstone Trail in Peachland is located at the end of Harrington Court off Victoria Street. It has an elevation gain of 249.5 metres and the average hiking time to panoramic views is 90 to 120 minutes.

(This is another column in an ongoing series about the best trails to explore, city by city, regional district by regional district, in the Southern Interior.)

The District of Peachland may be small (pop. 6,382) but its hillsides have some of the region’s most spectacular views of Okanagan Lake.

Those seemingly endless panoramas from Kelowna to Naramata are the primary reason that many hikers come here from up and down the Okanagan.

Like many trails in the Southern Interior, there is lots of history in “them, thar hills.”

Many trails follow the footsteps of First Nation peoples, fur traders, prospectors and early settlers. The Fur Brigade Trail, for example, follows one of those ancient First Nation paths, later used by Hudson’s Bay Company fur traders.

Pincushion Mountain was named by early settlers who compared the peak with its newly burned trees to a pincushion. One of Peachland’s newer trails was named after the century-old Gladstone Gold Mine nearby. But the Gladstone Trail has a fascinating modern-day history.

Chris King of Peachland worked in the forest industry for 38 years, so he knew the fundamentals for building backcountry roads and could use those skills to build a proper trail with long-time buddy Dave Oakley.

"We were what they call ‘pirate trail builders,’” King admitted. "We were doing some backcountry mountain biking just to find a few trails. We started fixing them up a little bit, realizing we probably need a permit, but we thought nobody would care. And then, someone unbeknownst to us set up a trail camera, got us actually building the trail and reported us to the Ministry of Forests."

As a result, King received a call from a provincial compliance and enforcement officer he knew from his logging days.

"Chris, you wouldn't be building a mountain bike trail behind your house there, would you?" the provincial officer asked. "No, no, I'm not doing that," King responded with a chuckle.

"Well, he says, before you go too far, I have you on video. I have to give you a stop-work order. The only way you can continue on with the trail is to make an official application."

The arduous three-year process turned out to be "a blessing in disguise," King admits. "It pushed us to keep going and get it done." They devoted between 1,700 and 2,000 hours, virtually working full-time from September 2017 until the first snowfall and resuming in the spring of 2018.

The trailhead is located at the end of Harrington Court off Victoria Street. The elevation gain is 249.5 metres, round trip is seven kilometres and the average hiking time between 90 and 120 minutes.

It is said by local old-timers you can't call yourself a true Peachlander unless you climb Pincushion Mountain. The trailhead is at the top of Ponderosa Drive, with an elevation gain of 245 metres, 1.8-kilometre distance and average hiking time of 40 to 60 minutes. It has some very steep sections and footing can be slippery, especially on the way down, due to loose gravel.

The new 2.6-kilometre Peachland to Goat’s Peak Park multi-use trail is making new history as it connects Buchanan Road in Peachland to Seclusion Bay Road in West Kelowna for the first time. Construction began in October with $776,000 from the province and $356,400 from the federal government. It unofficially opened on May 23.

Peachland also has very popular regional parks, such as Goats Peak to the south which has a wide rocky trail through protected grasslands and a challenging climb to the peak through open woodland. Hardy Falls at the south end of Peachland has a short, flat and shaded trail over a series of bridges, ideal for viewing creek-spawning kokanee every fall.

Trepanier Creek Greenway is a natural forested park with a five-kilometre descent from the Okanagan Connector to Peachland Elementary School. From 1909 to 1947, there was a small hydroelectric power plant on the creek. Remnants of the dam are still visible.

Peachland trail info is available at the Peachland Visitor Information Centre 10 a.m-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Other local trails:

• Fur Brigade Trail: South of Hardy Falls; moderate; two-hour-plus hike with an eight-kilometre round trip; 300-metre elevation gain; spectacular lake views from the summit after going through parts of the 2018 Eneas Mountain wildfire.

• Bedford Trail: Easy/moderate five-kilometre loop; 130-metre elevation gain; 1.5 hours; old road high above the town leading to a viewpoint with spectacular views of Peachland and Okanagan Lake; some loose, steep sections.

• Outdoor Fitness Trail: On Harolds’ Walkway in Lambly Park, Highway 97 and San Clemente Avenue across from the Peachland mall. The District of Peachland, with support from the federal New Horizons for Seniors’ Program, Peachland Rotary Club and Peachland Lions Club installed 11 pieces of fitness equipment in October 2013 to help seniors stay active.

• Wilson Lake Cross-Country Ski and Snowshoe Trails: 37-kilometre network of wilderness cross-country skiing/hiking trails.

Photo: J.P. Squire

The new 2.6-kilometre Peachland to Goat’s Peak Park Multi-Use Trail unofficially opened on May 23 and an official opening is planned this month. It connects Buchanan Road in Peachland to Seclusion Bay Road in West Kelowna and is located just below Highway 97.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Wide variety of trails, scenery in the Greater Vernon area

North OK provincial parks

Photo: J.P. Squire

Cosens Bay is the second beach gem of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park after Jade/Juniper bays (Twin Bays). However, access to Cosens Bay means a long descent (and climb back up) from the Cosens Bay parking lot or taking Corral Trail (also down, down) from the Red Gate on Kidston Road.

(This is part of an ongoing series about the best trails to explore, city by city, regional district by regional district, in the Southern Interior.)

The North Okanagan boasts 11 provincial parks according to Wikipedia but the key parks for the best trails are Kalamalka Lake, Ellison, Kekuli and Sovereign Lake.

Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, or Kal Park as the locals call it, has the largest concentration of bike trails in the Greater Vernon area. Don't believe the B.C. Parks' website which says there are "more than 14 kilometres" of trails. AllTrails says there are 29 great trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

From the classic Big Ed loop to spectacular views from the Lookout trail, the park has trails to suit all riders, says Tourism Vernon.

"Try out the fun blue flow trail Flovid but first, you’ll have to climb up Stonefree (named with tongue-in-cheek as there are many stones). If you are really looking to test your mettle, try the Killer King route with 50 kilometres of single-track and 1,800 metres of climbing."

The Bike Sheriff's favourite loop involves parking at the Red Gate on Kidston Road, then taking Corral Trail down to Cosens Bay for a snack break or lunch. Heading down is the ideal direction because it's easier going down than up, and you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the “lake of a thousand colours." Kalamalka is a marl lake, rich in dissolved calcium carbonate, which produces hues ranging from cyan to indigo depending on the time of year.

The second half of this loop is climbing up Cosens Bay Trail to the parking lot, then taking roller coaster Comin' Round the Mountain trail back to the Red Gate.

The popular park is a mountain bike paradise with lots of challenging trails. It also has the north trailhead for the High Rim Trail, which will take hikers up the east ridge of Kalamalka Lake and all the way to Joe Rich east of Kelowna.

This prime example of North Okanagan grassland is dotted with ponderosa pines and Douglas firs. The spring wildflower show is truly spectacular. To date, 432 varieties of vascular plants have been identified in the park, rare for such a small area.

In March, B.C. Parks completed 32 new parking spaces (180 total) at the Twin Bays and Cosens Bay lots, including dedicated spaces for horse trailers at Twin Bays. Washroom facilities at Twin Bays were renovated and three accessible pit toilets added.

Of course, the ideal situation is multi-day camping at Ellison and Kekuli for multiple days of exploration. Starting directly from Ellison's main parking lot, the 40-plus kilometres of trails are perfect for beginners and kids. Nestled among trees, the soft forest floor provides flowy trails, ideal for mastering corners. One website claims there are 17 routes.

It's also right next to Predator Ridge, which has 35 kilometres of well-maintained trails that link to Ellison.

"Due to elevation gain, our bike trails are rated as fit beginner/intermediate difficulty,” says the resort’s website. “Ellison’s bike park features some of the best x-country trails in the Okanagan, and consists of beginner, intermediate and advanced difficulty-rated trails.”

Sovereign Lake Provincial Park is home to both Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre and SilverStar Ski Resort. The Sovereign Lake trail network is mostly blue and black, “not for the faint of heart," warns Tourism Vernon.

SilverStar Bike Park is known for some seriously awesome downhill and is proud to be one of the most progressive bike parks in the industry. According to the website.

With more than 100 kilometres of trails and three ways to experience the park – downhill, enduro and cross-country, this place is built for intense fun on two wheels. There’s also a competition-level pump track and slopestyle course for “grip it and-rip it.”

Built by riders for riders since 1994, it has 69 kilometres of downhill trails, 400 dirt jumps, 70 kilometres of cross-country trails, 870-plus berms, 551-metre vertical, 35-kilometre Beowulf X-XC Trail and three skill areas.

Other provincial parks in the North Okanagan include:

*Echo Lake: Tree-fringed lake southeast of Lumby preferred by solitude-seeking swimmers, sunbathers and anglers.

• Mabel Lake: Well off the beaten track with fishing.

• Mara: Popular day-use area with fishing, swimming, boating, and a family picnic area.

• Monashee: Some of the oldest rock formations in Western Canada and hiking.

• Mount Griffin: Remote park southwest of Three Valley Gap with three separate areas, partially surrounding Mount Griffin Ecological Reserve.

• Truman Dagnus Locheed: Former provincial park on the northeast side of Okanagan Lake, southwest of Vernon and transferred to Vernon in 2013, with hiking, picnic areas and wildlife observation.

• Upper Violet Creek: East of Salmon Arm. Established as a result of the Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan. Serene natural reserve, with leisurely walking.

Photo: Predator Ridge Resort

Predator Ridge, located next to Ellison Provincial Park, has 35 kilometres of well-maintained trails rated as fit beginner/intermediate difficulty.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Regional District of North Okanagan has a variety of trail with lots of history

North Okanagan trails

Photo: J.P. Squire

One of the most scenic sections of the Grey Canal Trail is the hillside west of Vernon. Every spring, the bright yellow blooms of arrowleaf balsamroot aka Okanagan sunflowers adorn the gentle slopes.

(This is the eighth column in a series about the best trails to explore, city by city, regional district by regional district, in the Southern Interior.)

Trails in the Regional District of North Okanagan have history, lots of history.

From the Okanagan Rail Trail to the Grey Canal Trail, there is much to explore. Since the designation of the Trails Capital of B.C. in 2023, the RDNO has acquired even more trails, currently there is approximately 87 kilometres of trails compared to 50 kilometres two years ago, according to RDNO communications officer Stacey Raftus.

“We’re incredibly proud to offer a diverse network of high-quality trails throughout the North Okanagan. These trails reflect our commitment to outdoor recreation, community well-being and the natural beauty that makes our region unique.”

The most popular trail by far is the historic Okanagan Rail Trail, which encompasses regional district territory as well as the District of Coldstream. The Okanagan Indigenous People’s nysyilxcn name for the trail route is xwi? i? sw?k?na?qin, meaning “road of the Okanagan People.” Long before its use as a rail line, the syilx Okanagan people occupied and used this area for hunting, fishing, gathering, social and ceremonial purposes.

The rail line from Sicamous was initially built as a section of the Canadian Northern Railway. The 49-kilometre stretch from Coldstream to Kelowna was completed in 1925 but the latest operator, Kelowna Pacific Railway, ceased operations in 2013. Each of the four local governments bought their portion and most of the ORT was officially opened on Sept. 27, 2018.

Even earlier, the Grey Canal was constructed from Lavington to Okanagan Lake between 1906 and 1914. At 50 kilometres, it was at one time B.C.’s longest gravity-fed irrigation system from a single water source, and it sustained more than 20,000 acres of orchards and farmlands until 1970.

The Grey Canal is named after Albert Henry George, the fourth Earl Grey, Canada's ninth Governor General and owner of the Learmouth Ranch near Lavington and whose title also graces the CFL's Grey Cup.

Remnants of the elaborate system of ditches, siphons and flumes can still be found along the seven trail sections now open with interpretive signs (10 new) outlining its long history. The regional district is responsible for its maintenance as its owner.

The comprehensive Ribbons of Green Trails Society website, https://www.ribbonsofgreen.ca/, has trail descriptions, lists of multi-use paths and newest trails in Greater Vernon.

Parking for the Bella Vista section at the top of Crosby Road is being enlarged for four times the capacity and will have a permanent pit toilet, said Vernon outdoorsman Brian Sutch.

"They have also graded the steep climb going east out of the parking area toward Turtle Mountain so it is wheelchair accessible,” he added.

"RoGTS is planning a B.C. Trails day event for June 7," said society president Richard Stranks. "We will be setting up our events tent at the junction of Rocky Ridge Trail and Turtle Mountain Grey Canal Trail from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be handing out free trail maps of the Greater Vernon area, etc., along with partnering with the Invasive Species Council of B.C. with informative educational pamphlets on invasive plants such as Scotch thistle."

Here are other North Okanagan regional district trails:

• BX Creek Trail—Two sections—BX Falls with several bridge crossings, steep stairs, three kilometres, short walk from Tillicum parking area (7025 Tillicum Road.). Also accessible from 6100 Star Road. Access to the second section through a black cottonwood riparian ecosystem is closer to town at 1695 Deleenheer Road.

• BX Ranch Trail—This 2.25-kilometre multi-use trail wraps around the former BX Ranch farmlands passing Mutrie Dog Park and ending at BX Ranch Dog Park (currently closed for parking lot upgrades). Access from 4122 East Vernon Rd.

• Coldstream Ranchlands Trails—190 Ravine Drive, 6.3-kilometre multi-use loop trail around its perimeter, west side doubles as a purpose-built mountain bike climbing trail to access Crown land for the multi-use Vernon Hill trail network. Additional one-kilometre trail connects to Grey Canal Trail.

The Coldstream Ranchlands trails, designed to avoid areas of high agricultural and ecological values, have a user-friendly climb for hikers, bikers and trail runners along the western edge. On the east side, a more challenging ascent or descent has rocky slopes above a ravine for a scenic and adventurous route.

• Kal/Crystal Waters Trail—12.5-kilometre trail above the ORT extends from the Vernon campus of Okanagan College in Coldstream to Crystal Waters Road in Lake Country. It follows the historical alignment of the original Highway 97 with panoramic views of Kalamalka Lake. More challenging than ORT with occasional broken/uneven asphalt.

• Middleton Mountain Trail—Prominent geographic feature at the head of Kalamalka Lake has stunning views. Portions of the trail are steep and require advanced fitness. The RDNO owns and operates the portion above Mount Ida Drive while the District of Coldstream operates the trails below.

• Swan Lake Nature Reserve and Trail—1.8-kilometre trail with a three-storey wildlife observation tower.

Photo: J.P. Squire

Kal/Crystal Waters Trail runs between the Vernon campus of Okanagan College in Coldstream to Crystal Waters Road in Lake Country following the historical alignment of the original Highway 97.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Vernon and North Okanagan receive official trails designation

Trails capital of B.C.

Photo: J.P. Squire

The west or Bella section of the Grey Canal Trail in Vernon provides panoramic views of the city and you can stop at Davison Orchards, 3111 Davison Rd., for a break, lunch or a picnic.

(This is part of a series about the best trails to explore, city by city, regional district by regional district, in the Southern Interior.)

Vernon is officially the Trails Capital of B.C., thanks to 300 kilometres of hiking and biking trails in the city and 500 kilometres in the North Okanagan.

The designation in 2023, by the Canadian Registrar of Trademarks, was the result of a Regional District of North Okanagan application, in partnership with the Ribbons of Green Trails Society, to emphasize the multitude and quality of trails in the area.

"The success in receiving this official mark recognizes the contribution of many individuals, community groups, businesses and local governments to the vibrancy and diversity of our trail networks," said the RDNO announcement.

However, figuring out the North Okanagan trail network is complicated due to the combination of city, regional district and provincial park governance, each with their own responsibilities.

Like earlier columns about the Central Okanagan, there will be three Making Tracks columns trail in the North Okanagan—the first about the City of Vernon, the second about the Regional District of North Okanagan (including Predator Ridge) and the third about provincial parks, specifically Kekuli, Ellison, Kalamalka Lake and Sovereign Lake (SilverStar Ski Resort/Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre).

The key trail information comes from Tourism Vernon, which is responsible for marketing on behalf of both the City of Vernon and RDNO. The 2023 Greater Vernon and Area Trails paper map is still available at the Community Services Building (beside the Vernon Museum) at 3001 32 Avenue, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays). The 2024-25 Official Visitors Guide also has a great four-page spread.

Tourism Vernon didn't have the budget to update the regional map but has just completed an extensive digital map—Greater Vernon Trails Map—which is available at trails.tourismvernon.com.

Photo: RDNO

After the Canadian Registrar of Trademarks approval of the official designation, a committee led by the Ribbons of Green Trails Society selected this logo to add to trailhead signage.

The interactive map means you can choose all activities, alpine ski, biking, hiking or cross-county ski trails. You can also choose the level of difficulty—all difficulties, easy, moderate, difficult or most difficult. The colour-coded lines on the map reflect the level of difficulty, i.e. green is easy, blue is moderate and black is difficult.

The map also shows parking spots so you can drive to one end of a trail and do an out-and-back or park a vehicle at one end and a second vehicle at the other end for one-way exploration.

Elevation lines (200-metre intervals) show the elevation changes. Lines closer together indicate steep terrain and wider spaces indicate relatively flat topography.

You can also search by trail name by clicking on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the page.

After enlarging the map, you can click on the dark circle line on the right side of the city for Coldstream Ranchlands, for example. Under “more details,” you will find a description such as, “hiking, snowshoeing, 8.51 kilometres, difficult.” There will be a photo, an elevation graph and text with all the crucial information required by hikers and cyclists and a more detailed description: "A scenic climb trail on Vernon Hill above Coldstream Valley Estates. A loop trail with amazing views over Okanagan Lake, Kalamalka Lake, Middleton Mountain, Coldstream Valley and Bluenose Mountain. The elevation change is 324 metres; highest point at 1,011 metres.

"Features: The trail zigs and zags through grasslands, forests and above a steep ravine. West side of loop doubles as a mountain bike climbing trail to access Vernon Hill crown lands. East side is a more challenging ascent or descent with rocky slopes above a steep ravine. Not recommended for biking.

"Central portion of property remains undeveloped and is home to a rich diversity of wildlife. Several wooden cattle gate crossings allow access to enter this protected area. Please stay on designated trails. At loop trailhead, an additional one-kilometre trail, connects the Coldstream Ranchlands with the Grey Canal Trail."

The Middleton Mountain Loop is recommended for hiking and biking with a 3.51-kilometre trail rated as difficult or black.

"Situated at the summit of Middleton Mountain, Farnsworth Nature Reserve protects the surrounding native grassland and wildlife. Three loop trails at the summit offer 360-degree views of Greater Vernon. Across from the Emerald Views housing complex on Mount Ida Drive, a trailhead sign indicates the trail to the summit of Middleton Mountain. Steep stairs ascend to the summit.

"Features: Bluebird Trail, North Loop Trail, Middle Loop Trail and South Loop Trail offer hikers views of Kalamalka Lake, Coldstream Valley, Monashee Mountains, Swan Lake and the City of Vernon. Grassland wildlife includes deer, marmot, bluebirds, meadowlarks, quail, eagles, vultures and hawks. Abundant variety of wildflowers from early spring to mid-June. Dispersed along the hiking trails are benches and interpretive signs describing the geology, flora and fauna of Middleton Mountain."

Photo: J.P. Squire

A walking or biking tour of Vernon will bring you to numerous beaches and panoramic views like this at Canoe Beach on the east arm of Okanagan Lake. The bay had a pre-contact Okanagan-Syilx village site and a canoe skid of logs to pull canoes out of the water.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.