KVR, tufa springs, Bellevue Canyon trails and much more in Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park

Photo: J.P. Squire

Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park has more than 200 kilometres of trails, ranging from introductory to technical. Its Crawford trail system is popular with mountain bikers while some like to explore the more remote trails with great views of Bellevue Creek Canyon and Okanagan Lake.

Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park has it all for outdoor enthusiasts.

It includes unique features like the historic Kettle Valley Railway, large tufa deposits, mostly-undiscovered Bellevue Creek canyon, dramatic escarpment of Little White Mountain and beautiful Crawford Falls.

Best of all is its close proximity to Kelowna residents who love to hike, bike and horseback ride its 29.64 square miles (7,677 hectares).

It was extensively explored long before Myra-Bellevue Protected Area was established on April 18, 2001 as part of the Okanagan-Shuswap Land and Resource Management Plan. In May 2004, the protected area was reclassified as a provincial park.

CPR chief engineer Andrew McCulloch perched the Kettle Valley Railway on the edge of deep Myra Canyon between 1910 and 1916, and it became the most scenic section of the entire Trans Canada Trail.

In addition to 16 wood trestles, two steel bridges and two rock tunnels, it has historic railway sidings, six construction camps located uphill from the railway bed (two are open), “rock ovens” used by Italian stonemasons working on the line, and the remains of historic irrigation flumes, telephone lines, water towers, and train wreck and old station sites.

The Crawford Trail was constructed at the turn of the century to provide irrigation access to Crawford Lake and became the original telephone trail up to Little White Mountain. It was used to pack in supplies to the summit, where a forest service lookout was built in 1914 by Dominion Forest Service.

Photo: BC Parks

This map of Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park prepared by BC Parks illustrates its major features including the KVR (Kettle Valley Railway, Trans Canada Trail), trailheads, Little White Mountain and Crawford Lake. Detailed maps are available at www.alltrails.com.

The 20 C to 25 C waters of Angel Springs created 10-metre high benches of tufa, a mineral formed when water evaporates from lime-rich waters causing calcite to crystallize. Impurities of iron oxides (rust) cause its unique coloration. Plants, mosses and invertebrates are often preserved as fossils, as the deposits quickly grow around them. Years ago, an application to mine tufa was denied to preserve the mineral deposits, pools, steps, sinkholes and small caves.

The website, alltrails.com, lists 33 trails with maps but those most familiar with this impressive park south of Kelowna have their favourites.

Milt Stevenson, chair of the trail maintenance committee of the Friends of South Slopes, recommends the 10.5-kilometre Myra Bailout.

"It starts off the KVR near Ruth Station,” he said. “It descends to the Angel Springs Trail and continues to Angel Springs parking lot. From there, it drops to Hromek Road, crosses Pipers Trail and finally ends at Fairlane Trail.

"The upper 6.3K of the trail (KVR to Angel Springs parking lot) had been neglected for years. FOSS Trail Maintenance volunteers spent eight days clearing, brushing, installing culverts and working on erosion control. The trail work allowed us to get equipment safely down the trail for the first time. This also makes it possible for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers to access emergency situations on the trail, which was not possible prior to our work. Down the trail, further brushing, clearing and erosion control has been done."

The trail is an example of the work that FOSS Trail Maintenance volunteers have done on other major trails in the park, said Stevenson.

"Without active maintenance, the trails can degrade to the point of no return. Rebuilding trails is an expensive proposition that can take years to achieve."

The non-profit society appreciates the community support it receives from users of the KVR, and both Myra-Bellevue and Okanagan Mountain provincial parks.

"We love seeing everyone enjoying the trails we maintain," he said.

"So many trails.....so many options!" said long-time FOSS volunteer Penny Gubbels. "I enjoy different trails at different times of the year and for different reasons. I couldn't settle on a favourite.

Here are some of her seasonal favourites:

• Spring: Hiking Piper's Trail to the rocky overlooks of Lost Lake. You can look south over the lake (really just a big pond) or north over the city and Okanagan Lake, and enjoy the new growth that comes each spring. If you're very lucky, you might see a moose. This is a short hike in/out, but if you want a longer loop, continue on to Moose Trail on the south side of Lost Lake and return to Hromek. Head north and your loop is complete.

• Summer: Race Classic Trail, especially with the FOSS-improved section from Flamingo Flats to Crawford Trail. A summer bonus are the mariposa lilies.

• Fall: A favourite hike of hers is the Bellevue Access Trail, which traverses right across the park over to Crawford Trail and the spectacular Bellevue Creek Canyon. When you reach Crawford Trail, it's a short 0.8-kilometre hike downhill to Crawford Lookout. The fall colours on Bellevue Access Trail are lovely and Bellevue Creek Canyon is amazing at any time of the year.

• Winter: Her hiking cohort loves to hike the Larch Trail loop. They park a few hundred metres up Little White FSR and hike the Myra Bailout Connector over to Myra-Bailout Trail. Turn left (south) on Bailout, soon reaching the junction with Larch Trail (which is also spectacular in early fall). Larch Trail ends at Hromek Road. They turn right (north) and hike about 1.4 kilometres until they reach Myra-Bailout Trail. Heading right (east), they loop back up to the Little White FSR/Myra Connector Trail back to where they parked.

Rick Ellery, who is serving his second year on the FOSS board and fourth year on the trail maintenance crew, agreed.

"There are so many great trails to choose from but I'd say my overall favourite is Crawford Trail. It offers Grand Canyon-like views of the stunning, steep Bellevue Canyon, plus a great view of the valley and Okanagan Lake,” said Ellery.

“It's a little harder to get to than many trails, but worth the effort. I recommend it as an annual must hike for anyone living in Kelowna.”

Photo: Al Milnes

The FOSS trail maintenance crew spent eight days upgrading Myra Bailout from the KVR down to the Angel Springs parking lot. Some of those involved were Milt Stevenson, Willie Mackle, Mike Proch, Mark Scorah and Gary O?Connor.

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