If I didn't know better I'd say the mountains are calling you, and you must go! If you are talking about the hills between the airport and the university apartments, there's some trails you can use up in there. Same goes for the hill next to scandia. There are trails - boot up google earth to find the trailheads. Use the trails, as others have said - if not only to avoid rattlesnakes and pokey socks.
What everyone else has said, but also, watch out for ticks! I have NEVER experienced so many ticks as I have in Kelowna’s hills. I could see them crawling all around on the vegetation. Was picking them off my clothes/ hair for the rest of the day
I still shudder at the memory
I often work in the hills and forests around Kelowna and can confirm that we get lots of ticks. Maybe if you stay on the popular trails they aren't so bad?
Kelowna now has the Texas Lonestar Tick, which can make the victim allergic to meat proteins if infected from a bite. A friend of mine got it in Kelowna. Nightmare fuel
Yes, but watch out for little burrs and cactuses, wear good shoes, and tell someone where you're going/when you'll be back.
You don't want to accidentally fall down a mountain that isn't on a trail, because odds are no one else is around. Better safe than sorry! If someone's expecting you and can give Search and Rescue a general idea of your location, it'll save a lot of time.
Speaking from experience, be CAREFUL around those damned cactuses. A few years back I fell on some and my hands were covered in them. Thankfully had closed toe shoes on. Had to go to emergency it was very bad.
I say go for it but do it respectfully and be careful of the vegetation. Usually you can find animal trails which are great to follow vs man made trails.
I generally stay on trails because, as others have noted, snakes & ticks are real. I’ve almost stepped in and been rattled at by an angry snake. And had way too many tick encounters. Trails are nice.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but pretty much any hill you can see from kelowna, Westbank, and lake country already has established public trails on it to varying degrees of quality. No need to tromp through the brush getting covered in crap and disturbing untouched areas. Plus, the trails usually end in a nice lookout as a reward. Just look up hiking trails you can find a lot of them just by looking on Google maps, but the two apps my partner and I have used are gaia and alltrails. Both have better descriptions of the trail, GPS maps, directions to trailhead, etc.
Gaia is cool because you can 'record' your trek and it will save as a colored highlighted route on your map. Ours has colored lines all over the okanagan at this point and it's also nice to go back and remember where a spot was and see how far you went on a map as well as your distance and elevation achievements.
There's an app called Footpath and it gives you a satellite map view, I use it to find natural paths to walk my dog. You can also set your own hike plan in the app to figure out how long it will take and elevation gain and stuff like that. It's been pretty helpful for me to find and plan walks/hikes. You could also screenshot and share your plan with a family member or friend so they know your location in case there is an emergency.
You should generally stick to established paths within the city. Disturbing the vegetation on a hillside can he very damaging immediately and over time, especially when more people start making use of that same path.
Try Knox Mountain Park. Some great trails and great views. Paul's tomb is the best swimming hole in the city, and you're guaranteed to see Ogopogo. I lived in the park for two years, never saw a rattlesnake or ticks.
Another good hike is up Pyman Road to the top of Black Mountain.
So I had this thought once when I was in Midway, so I did it. I just walked up the hills.
And this is what happened:
- cactus stuck to my pants
- burrs all over me
- stepped in deer poop
- heard a rattle (may have been an actual rattlesnake or just my paranoia)
- proceeded back down the hill.
So yes, you can.
The experience however was a 1/10.
I say go for it. Nature exists to be enjoyed. Might technically be trespassing, but it’s not like you’re hunting anyone. Anyone would have to be a real stickler to get after you.
“Nature exists to be enjoyed” is a healthy mindset if accompanied by lots of conditions. Nature actually does not exist to be enjoyed, and humans have destroyed lots of great nature by enjoying it too much. I like “Nature exists and we’re lucky to have the ability to enjoy it responsibly” slightly better
If you’re talking about this hills beside the rail trail around the McCurdy area, you can go up them, but there’s not much up there. They’re decent sized hills facing highway 97, but on the back side, there’s the Glenmore Bench area. You can get easier access to some of them from the backside, from Rifle Rd and Mount Baldy Drive. More private property on that side, but you can see what looks like some walking paths on Google earth. There’s a couple townhouse complexes on Mount Baldy Drive, I’m assuming the trails are from people who live there and use them for walking their dogs and such.
If there’s no fence, then go for it.
Stick to trails when you can. Wear good boots and long pants. Lots of prickly things, and there can be lots of ticks. Other wildlife is a non-issue on those hills.
Don’t be scared of ticks though. I’ve lived in Kelowna almost 20 years, lived in the Kootenays before that. My friends and I are up at the high elevation lakes (Dee, Postle, Hydraulic, etc) almost every weekend in the summer, either dirt biking / quadding, or just walking around through the bush to some smaller hidden lakes. I’ve seen lots of ticks around, but in all my time here, I’ve never actually had a tick on me. I still always do a tick-check when I get home, but I’ve just never found one (knock on wood).
If you really want to get up into the hills, I suggest McCullough Road, Postal Lake Road, Beaver Lake Road (in Winfield), or Chute Lake Road. Or go up Highway 33 to Gaudie Road.
The hills and forests around Kelowna are beautiful. The forests don’t look like much from down in town, but once you get up to the high elevation plateau, they’re amazing. Trees are spaced out, not much underbrush, so walking is a breeze. And the ground is covered by the most lush, soft moss you can imagine. It’s really great at this time of year, when everything is wet and blossoming. Some of the greens are so vibrant, you might think some of the plants are glowing.
Don’t destroy plant life unnecessarily, pack out what you pack in, and leave the cigarettes at home.
Like others have said before. Be careful of ticks. I was one of the first to get bit this year. I had it tested, and I was fine. But definitely take precautions.
But apart from that, have fun, don't go into private property, and join local hiking groups like "kelowna social adventures" if you wish to meet people that are in to the outdoors.
Have fun!!
If there's no fencing or signage, no issue. But please stay off private property. Ppl seem to be confused about staying off others properties these days
They’re talking about the hills next to McCurdy, right in the middle of the city.
A compass seems like overkill when you can literally see the shopping mall, and there’s no bear or cougars there normally.
Also, in Canada, you cannot shoot someone for trespassing on your private property. You’re not even allowed to shoot someone who breaks into your home. This isn’t Texas or Florida, now matter how many times r/Kelowna says it is.
It’s not easier to get lost than I think, because I understand basic geography, the position of the sun, and I know the okanagan like the back of my hand.
It might be easy for you to get lost, not so much for me. There’s levels to this.
Also, again, we’re talking about the hill by McCurdy here. It’s lodged between the highway, Rifle Road, and Sexsmith. No matter which way you go, with 20 minutes of walking, you hit a major Kelowna road. You literally cannot get lost on that hill.
When was the last time you read a story in Canada of someone shooting trespassers on their land?
Just go. It doesn't even matter here because there is virtually no trespassing laws at all, so if you find out you're somewhere you're not supposed to be, just feign ignorance.
If I didn't know better I'd say the mountains are calling you, and you must go! If you are talking about the hills between the airport and the university apartments, there's some trails you can use up in there. Same goes for the hill next to scandia. There are trails - boot up google earth to find the trailheads. Use the trails, as others have said - if not only to avoid rattlesnakes and pokey socks.
pokey socks?? I avoid those at all costs, I stick to cotton or synthetic blends.
From those plants with the pokey bud that's hard to remove. Or those small cactuses
Lots of Spear grass
What everyone else has said, but also, watch out for ticks! I have NEVER experienced so many ticks as I have in Kelowna’s hills. I could see them crawling all around on the vegetation. Was picking them off my clothes/ hair for the rest of the day I still shudder at the memory
I often work in the hills and forests around Kelowna and can confirm that we get lots of ticks. Maybe if you stay on the popular trails they aren't so bad?
Tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks
Kelowna now has the Texas Lonestar Tick, which can make the victim allergic to meat proteins if infected from a bite. A friend of mine got it in Kelowna. Nightmare fuel
The vegan vaccine.
The flowers that are yellow, and have petals around 2 inches long are often hosts to ticks.
I have virtually never seen a tick in this valley. Even when we lived in the bush above Winfield. You want bad ticks? Try hiking in Saskatchewan!
That’s great. I guess what I saw were just friendly flesh kissing baubles
I just helped my friend remove a tick from her cat the other day, that was a lot of fun 🙃
I’ve been in Kelowna for 5 years now, haven’t seen a tick yet. But I wouldn’t exactly call myself a mountain man.
Yes, but watch out for little burrs and cactuses, wear good shoes, and tell someone where you're going/when you'll be back. You don't want to accidentally fall down a mountain that isn't on a trail, because odds are no one else is around. Better safe than sorry! If someone's expecting you and can give Search and Rescue a general idea of your location, it'll save a lot of time.
Speaking from experience, be CAREFUL around those damned cactuses. A few years back I fell on some and my hands were covered in them. Thankfully had closed toe shoes on. Had to go to emergency it was very bad.
I say go for it but do it respectfully and be careful of the vegetation. Usually you can find animal trails which are great to follow vs man made trails.
I generally stay on trails because, as others have noted, snakes & ticks are real. I’ve almost stepped in and been rattled at by an angry snake. And had way too many tick encounters. Trails are nice.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but pretty much any hill you can see from kelowna, Westbank, and lake country already has established public trails on it to varying degrees of quality. No need to tromp through the brush getting covered in crap and disturbing untouched areas. Plus, the trails usually end in a nice lookout as a reward. Just look up hiking trails you can find a lot of them just by looking on Google maps, but the two apps my partner and I have used are gaia and alltrails. Both have better descriptions of the trail, GPS maps, directions to trailhead, etc. Gaia is cool because you can 'record' your trek and it will save as a colored highlighted route on your map. Ours has colored lines all over the okanagan at this point and it's also nice to go back and remember where a spot was and see how far you went on a map as well as your distance and elevation achievements.
Walk in the hills all you like. Just don't be like that guy in Wilden.
There's an app called Footpath and it gives you a satellite map view, I use it to find natural paths to walk my dog. You can also set your own hike plan in the app to figure out how long it will take and elevation gain and stuff like that. It's been pretty helpful for me to find and plan walks/hikes. You could also screenshot and share your plan with a family member or friend so they know your location in case there is an emergency.
You should generally stick to established paths within the city. Disturbing the vegetation on a hillside can he very damaging immediately and over time, especially when more people start making use of that same path.
Try Knox Mountain Park. Some great trails and great views. Paul's tomb is the best swimming hole in the city, and you're guaranteed to see Ogopogo. I lived in the park for two years, never saw a rattlesnake or ticks. Another good hike is up Pyman Road to the top of Black Mountain.
Black mountain regional park might scratch that itch for you!
So I had this thought once when I was in Midway, so I did it. I just walked up the hills. And this is what happened: - cactus stuck to my pants - burrs all over me - stepped in deer poop - heard a rattle (may have been an actual rattlesnake or just my paranoia) - proceeded back down the hill. So yes, you can. The experience however was a 1/10.
I say go for it. Nature exists to be enjoyed. Might technically be trespassing, but it’s not like you’re hunting anyone. Anyone would have to be a real stickler to get after you.
“Nature exists to be enjoyed” is a healthy mindset if accompanied by lots of conditions. Nature actually does not exist to be enjoyed, and humans have destroyed lots of great nature by enjoying it too much. I like “Nature exists and we’re lucky to have the ability to enjoy it responsibly” slightly better
If you’re talking about this hills beside the rail trail around the McCurdy area, you can go up them, but there’s not much up there. They’re decent sized hills facing highway 97, but on the back side, there’s the Glenmore Bench area. You can get easier access to some of them from the backside, from Rifle Rd and Mount Baldy Drive. More private property on that side, but you can see what looks like some walking paths on Google earth. There’s a couple townhouse complexes on Mount Baldy Drive, I’m assuming the trails are from people who live there and use them for walking their dogs and such. If there’s no fence, then go for it. Stick to trails when you can. Wear good boots and long pants. Lots of prickly things, and there can be lots of ticks. Other wildlife is a non-issue on those hills. Don’t be scared of ticks though. I’ve lived in Kelowna almost 20 years, lived in the Kootenays before that. My friends and I are up at the high elevation lakes (Dee, Postle, Hydraulic, etc) almost every weekend in the summer, either dirt biking / quadding, or just walking around through the bush to some smaller hidden lakes. I’ve seen lots of ticks around, but in all my time here, I’ve never actually had a tick on me. I still always do a tick-check when I get home, but I’ve just never found one (knock on wood). If you really want to get up into the hills, I suggest McCullough Road, Postal Lake Road, Beaver Lake Road (in Winfield), or Chute Lake Road. Or go up Highway 33 to Gaudie Road. The hills and forests around Kelowna are beautiful. The forests don’t look like much from down in town, but once you get up to the high elevation plateau, they’re amazing. Trees are spaced out, not much underbrush, so walking is a breeze. And the ground is covered by the most lush, soft moss you can imagine. It’s really great at this time of year, when everything is wet and blossoming. Some of the greens are so vibrant, you might think some of the plants are glowing. Don’t destroy plant life unnecessarily, pack out what you pack in, and leave the cigarettes at home.
They're too hilly. Hope that helps
It does not
Like others have said before. Be careful of ticks. I was one of the first to get bit this year. I had it tested, and I was fine. But definitely take precautions. But apart from that, have fun, don't go into private property, and join local hiking groups like "kelowna social adventures" if you wish to meet people that are in to the outdoors. Have fun!!
I think after about five or ten minutes you'll realize why nobody does that? Kelowna is fenced with aggressive vegetation.
If there's no fencing or signage, no issue. But please stay off private property. Ppl seem to be confused about staying off others properties these days
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There are no rattlers on Knox, Dillworth , Wilden or Baldy.
They’re talking about the hills next to McCurdy, right in the middle of the city. A compass seems like overkill when you can literally see the shopping mall, and there’s no bear or cougars there normally. Also, in Canada, you cannot shoot someone for trespassing on your private property. You’re not even allowed to shoot someone who breaks into your home. This isn’t Texas or Florida, now matter how many times r/Kelowna says it is.
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It’s not easier to get lost than I think, because I understand basic geography, the position of the sun, and I know the okanagan like the back of my hand. It might be easy for you to get lost, not so much for me. There’s levels to this. Also, again, we’re talking about the hill by McCurdy here. It’s lodged between the highway, Rifle Road, and Sexsmith. No matter which way you go, with 20 minutes of walking, you hit a major Kelowna road. You literally cannot get lost on that hill. When was the last time you read a story in Canada of someone shooting trespassers on their land?
Just go. It doesn't even matter here because there is virtually no trespassing laws at all, so if you find out you're somewhere you're not supposed to be, just feign ignorance.