North Okanagan trail follows what was the longest irrigation system in B.C.

Photo: J.P. Squire

The Bella Vista/Turtle Mountain section of the Grey Canal Trail provides "Bella" views of Okanagan Lake, the Commonage, Bluenose Mountain and Vernon. Remnants of the former irrigation system are visible beside the trail.

You can walk (or bike) in the footsteps of North Okanagan workers who built B.C.’s longest gravity-fed irrigation system between 1906 and 1914.

The Grey Canal Trail follows the former irrigation waterway that sustained more than 20,000 acres of orchards and farmlands in the greater Vernon area from its launch in 1906 until 1970. Spanning 50 kilometres from Lavington to Okanagan Lake, the elaborate system of ditches, siphons and flumes was the backbone of the largest irrigation district in B.C. and had a tremendous impact on the development of Vernon.

Flash forward to the 21st century, the Grey Canal Trail system is comprised of seven different trail sections in a horseshoe shape from the hills on the west side of the city around the north end of Swan Lake to the Foothills on the east side and up the Coldstream Valley. Each section offers unique topography with distinctive panoramic views and vantage points.

One of the most picturesque sections is Bella Vista west of Bella Vista Road. The gravel trail, suitable for wheelchairs at that point, is a gentle up and down as you head east above Davison's Orchards. It connects to the Turtle Mountain section which is rated moderate due to a short steep hill.

The Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen park at a small lot on Vineyard Way off Okanagan Hills Boulevard. Other trailheads are located at the north end of Pinto Place off Appaloosa Way; at the north end of Sierra Road off Crosby Road; on Davison Road off Bella Vista Road; on Alexis Park Drive, turn west onto Turtle Mountain Boulevard (parking lots are located on each side of road at the subdivision entrance); and at the other end on Blue Jay Road off Old Kamloops Road.

On the ribbonsofgreen.ca website, created by the Ribbons of Green Trails Society, you can link to an interactive online Trail Map of the Greater Vernon Area.

Trails are organized by difficulty: easy, moderate and difficult tabs, and you can view a list of trails within each category, then click on the trail photo for more info. You can also zoom in to view street names and parking.

However, you should click on the fourth tab, Grey Canal, for 10 trail segments. The first two are Bella Vista and Turtle Mountain, for an out-and-back route along the eight kilometres from Vineyard Way to Blue Jay Road.

Photo: Contributed

The 50-kilometre Grey Canal irrigation system, built between 1906 and 1914, was the backbone of the largest irrigation district in B.C. This map shows the original Grey Canal irrigation route but the current Grey Canal Trail only accesses seven portions of it.

The RoGTS website jokes the route features "Bella" views of Okanagan Lake, the Commonage, Bluenose Mountain and Vernon, and three interpretive signs which provide historical information.

The society also has a relatively new Facebook page, titled Trails Capital of B.C. Society president Richard Stranks recently posted photos and a route video illustrating this section.

The one challenging bit is Turtle Mountain, where the trail is carved into a rock face and has a short boardwalk. It's a steep climb for hikers and those using regular bikes, but e-bikers using their highest power setting and lowest gears can make it up. If in doubt, e-bikers should use their “walk” function to get past this short narrow section the first time.

On the way, you can view the black steel pipe used for the Knight Siphon. In the days before water pumps, an inverted siphon was used to move water uphill. Water going into the siphon was at a higher elevation than where the water came out, in this case on the opposite side of the valley. These long siphons were hand-made from wooden planks wrapped with wire, similar to a wooden wine cask.

"The first thing I like about the trail - besides the scenery - is that it connects to a short side trail called Rocky Ridge near the Turtle Mountain parking lot.,” said Stranks. “This trail was updated recently with a new ‘thigh-burning' staircase which leads to spectacular 360-degree panoramic views.”

The second thing he likes is that the trail connects to Davison's for coffee and pie, mid-way.

"Another potential pit stop while cycling is the new Edge Restaurant at The Rise Resort golf course, uphill from Vineyard Way, with parking on Okanagan Hills Boulevard. I highly recommend going there. World-class views from the deck. Note, reservations are likely required as it is popular,” he added.

Vernon trail advocate Ingrid Neumann, a key society member, created the three interpretive signs along this route that talk about “transformations,” “moving water uphill” and “the aater source.”

"I find the Grey Canal history fascinating, how it changed the Greater Vernon area’s landscape, settlement and farming. Much of this important history is unknown or becoming forgotten,” said Neumann.

"The route from Vineyard Way to Blue Jay Road is truly scenic, and you can’t help but notice the difference in the dry and parched environment above the Grey Canal, and the fertile orchards and farms located below the trail."

She is impressed with the amazing engineering, planning and construction that took place more than 100 years ago.

"Simple tools and determination were used to construct flumes, tunnels and siphons which carried the precious irrigation water. Along the trail, you will pass remnants of the former Grey Canal, including ditches, concrete water boxes and the 720-metre steel Knight Siphon, which was originally constructed of wood."

Water From the Hills, by Peter Tassie, has a detailed history of the Grey Canal, with historic photos and maps. It’s available from the Vernon Museum and Okanagan Regional Library.

One steep winding side trail down to 43rd Avenue, called Nels' Leap, is located on a former ski jump used by world champion Nels Nelsen from Revelstoke. The trailhead is next to Venture Training Centre at 43rd Avenue and Alexis Park Drive, said Stranks.

"In February 1929, ski jumpers from around the world came to Vernon to participate in an exhibition, which included Nelsen, a five-time Canadian champion who held the then-world record of 240 feet. Thousands of spectators flocked to this hillside to witness his jump. The Vernon News reported: 'Nels Nelsen whizzes through the air and travels 1,600 feet down (the) mountain side in 11 seconds – glorious weather contributes to enjoyment of large crowd.'”

Photo: J.P. Squire

The Bella Vista/Turtle Mountain section of the Grey Canal Trail has numerous hillsides covered with brilliant yellow Okanagan sunflowers or arrowleaf balsamroot every spring. The gentle trail between Vineyard Way and Blue Jay Drive has one challenging section up a steep slope at Turtle Mountain.

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