Kelowna's vast network of hiking and running areas have lots of variety & skill levels from beautiful lakefront vistas in the valley flats to advanced steep climbs up some of our local scenic mountains.
Downtown Kelowna: The valley bottom has a picturesque lakefront boardwalk from the bottom of Knox Mountain and Sutherland Bay all the way to Kelowna's City Park. This will take you past the protected Rotary Marshlands and Waterfront Park, the locks at the Grand Hotel, the Kelowna Yacht Club and Stuart Park. At the foot of Bernard you will pass by Kerry Park with the Ogopogo and the Sails statues. Follow the shoreline through City Park to the WR Bennett floating bridge and go through the tunnel out to Abbott St. This will take you south to Lakeshore Drive.
Knox Mountain: Knox Mountain is located in the north end of town with some more advanced hiking, either up the paved portion or straight up the Apex Trail. The views at all the lookout points are magnificent and well worth the hike up. Just to the north end of Knox Mountain is an easy walk along the lakeshore out to Paul's Tomb that has some colourful and historic stories.
Mission Creek Park: Mission Creek Park is a popular hiking & running area that runs from Okanagan Lake along Mission Creek up to and under Layer Cake Mountain and Layer Cake Falls in the Gallagher's Canyon area. There is an extensive network of trails throughout this park.
KVR: The abandoned Kettle Valley Railway is a great day hike and a fantastic way to learn about some of Kelowna's history along the way. The KVR used to run from Grand Forks, BC all the way to Hope, BC and the Okanagan section, with all its trestles & tunnels is spectacular. From Myra Forestry Rd to Bellevue Creek you will pass over 16 wooden trestles, 2 steel bridges, and 2 tunnels. The Okanagan Mountain fire raged through here in 2003 leaving lots of burnt trees, yet the new growth since the fires is rich and abundant.
Okanagan Mountain Park: Okanagan Mountain Park has an extensive variety of trails that start at the south end of Lakeshore Rd and go all the way over to the Naramata bench lands near Penticton. The Divide trail and the Okanagan Mountain Park loop are just a couple of long intense hikes that you would need to be prepared for some overnight camping. Must sees; are Rattlesnake Island, Commando Bay and Wild Horse Canyon.
Westside: Kelowna's Westside has a lot of great hiking and running areas like Bear Creek Provincial park and “the Falls loop”. Up north closer to Vernon is Fintry Provincial Park which also has a fantastic waterfall and lots of history in the surrounding area.
Blue Grouse Mountain: Blue Grouse Mountain near Traders Cove has a network of trails that extend up to the Bear Creek Motorcycle area and north above the lake.
Rose Valley Park: Rose Valley Park has lots of trails and an awesome loop around its dammed reservoir that sits at the bottom of a steep valley. Right above the Rose Valley reservoir is a great loop called the McDougall Rim Trail that sits high up on the west side of its cliffs.
Powers Creek: Powers Creek trails above Westbank and the Telemark Cross Country ski area near Crystal Mountain ski resort have a lot of trails networking throughout their forests.
Okanagan Rail Trail: The Okanagan Rail Trail is a truly unique experience, with a total length of 50 km starting at the north end of Kalamalka Lake and ending at the center of Okanagan Lake, downtown Kelowna. With the trail being a maximum grade of 1.3%, biking or walking the trail is a breeze. Enjoy scenic views along the way with 24 km of the trail being on along lakefronts, creeks, and natural habitats. (Please note, sections of the Okanagan Rail Trail are under construction. Visit okanaganrailtrail.ca for updates.)
South of Kelowna: Other great hiking areas throughout the valley are down south at the Trepanier Regional Park just south of Westbank with Pincushion Mountain and Hardy Falls just south in Peachland. Summerland has Giants Head Mtn and Penticton has the Kettle Valley Railway and Naramata Falls.
North of Kelowna: To the north of Kelowna around the Vernon area on the Okanagan lake side is Ellison Provincial Park with a host of trails and over on Kalamalka lake side there is the Kekuli Bay nature trails, Kalamalka Lake Park with Rattlesnake point and Cousins Bay. If you'd like some high altitude hiking with available lift access, check out Silver Star Mountain Resort.
For more information about hiking in the Kelowna area check out hikingaddiction.ca and The Alpine Club of Canada Okanagan Section
Triathlons
Triathlons have been held in the Okanagan valley for over 2 decades, with the Kelowna Apple Triathlon being the local favourite event. It has brought competitors from all over the world to participate in, as it is a great tune up for the former “Subaru Ironman Canada” Triathlon in Penticton now called “Challenge Penticton”.
The 'Kelowna Apple Triathlon' is over 30 years old and is run every August.
Support by the local business community has kept the Apple Triathlon one of Kelowna's biggest tourists draws over the summer months.
Kelowna Apple Triathlon Voted Best in Western Canada!
Over 1500 readers of Get Out There Magazine voted for their favourite events and selected the Kelowna Apple Triathlon as the best triathlon in Western Canada.
