Crawford Lookout Hike
Hiking Trail Information
Use of this information is entirely at your own risk and the VOC accepts no liability whatsoever for your use of any trail information on this website. VOC clears and flags trails to facilitate group hikes lead by a VOC member. Hazards may exist on the trails and route finding skills and navigation aids such as a GPS and/or map and compass may be required. You must assess your own ability and readiness to hike any trail mentioned on this website.
Crawford Lookout Description
© Vernon Outdoors Club 2021
Statistics
Hike distance 10.5 km round trip Altitude gain 484 m
Hiking time 4 hrs round trip Max altitude 1065 m
Difficulty Moderate
This trail of approximately 17 km winds through open grass land and sparsely wooded areas for most parts of the trail. Pleasant open views to the valley below. Most of this trail is multi use so be aware you may encounter mountain bike traffic while hiking. A portion of the trail passes through the Bellevue Creek watershed with Gillard creek merging with it. The portion of trail along the creek offers a view of what the whole area was like before the forest fire that burned through in 2003.
The Okanagan Mtn. Park Fire of 2003 burned through approximately 25600 ha., 238 homes were lost and thousands were evacuated . Also 12 wooden trestles on the KVR were lost plus two steel ones damaged . Thankfully no human lives were lost although wildlife and habitat loss were incalculable.
The trail accesses several viewpoints. One around the 4.9 km point looks into the creek valley. Another viewpoint at approximately 5.5 km is the Crawford Lookout itself. A further portion of the trail continues onto the KVR trail. Crawford lookout is 1052 m in elevation.
The lower portion of the trail that runs along the creek has some remains of an old irrigation flume alongside the trail. These old steel leftovers of a once extensive irrigation system for the Okanagan fruit industry. Most of the valley were extensive orchards growing fruit sold all over the world.
The trail in many portions is multi use with mountain bike traffic likely.
Note: use of these directions is entirely at the risk of the user.
Driving Directions to the Crawford Lookout Trailhead (Kelowna Area)
© Vernon Outdoors Club 2021
Note: Use these directions at your own risk
- Drive south from Vernon City Hall on Hwy 97 to the Dilworth Drive Intersection with Hwy 97 in Kelowna at the 49km point.
- Turn right and head south on Dilworth Drive, cross Springfield Rd and Dilworth Dr changes name to Benvoulin Road
- Continue on Benvoulin Road till you encounter a roundabout at 4.5 km approx. Turn left onto Casorso Rd.
- Keep south on Casorso Rd for approx. 550m you encounter another roundabout
- Bear right onto Swamp Road and drive for approx. 2.1 km to the intersection with Dehart Rd.
- Turn sharply Left on Dehart Road & drive for approx. 700m.
- Turn right onto Crawford road & drive for approx.. 2.1 km
- Turn Right on Stewart Road & drive for approx. 1.1 km and you will see a parking area to left coordinates 49° 48.501'N , 119° 26.925'W