Hiking Guide
Hiking Trails
The VOC offers many different levels of hikes for all to enjoy. See below for our classification system to help gauge whether a hike would be suitable for your fitness level and enjoyment. Difficult & technical hikes generally include one or more challenging aspects; such as rope assist, ridge walks, long distances, lengthy and strenuous inclines, etc.
List of Hiking Trails
License & Disclaimer
The hiking trail information is provided as a resource for VOC members and for members of the public for personal recreational use only. All material is © Vernon Outdoors Club and any use by any organization or corporation requires prior written permission.
Use of any information on this website is entirely at your own risk. The VOC accepts no responsibility for the suitability or accuracy of the information and accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss or injury, direct or indirect, no matter how caused.
Hiking Trail Information
In the table below we have included links to more detailed information about some of our hikes. For these hikes you’ll find a description of the hike, driving directions from Vernon to get to the trail head and a map of the hike. You can download each section and print it as needed.
VOC hikes are located throughout the Okanagan, in the Monashees and as far afield as Kamloops and Revelstoke. While the VOC clears some of these hikes, some are maintained (if at all) by others. In all instances you are asked to stay on the trail, respect the land, leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.
To access more information about a hike, click on its name.
Hiking Trail | Difficulty Rating | Hike Vicinity | Hike Time (Return) | Distance (Return) | Elevation Gain | Trail Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bluenose | Moderate | Vernon | 2.5 - 3 hrs | 6.4 km | 475 m | A popular local Vernon hike with great views of the Lavington Valley. Initial climb is quite steep! |
Sugar Loaf Mtn. | Moderate | Vernon | 3.5 hrs | 6 km | 350 m | The Sugarloaf area was impacted by the White Rock Lake wildfire in 2021. The accessibility and safety of the trailhead and the trail are currently unknown. |
Ravine Edge | Moderate | Vernon | 3.5 hrs | 9 km | 334 m | A well signed trail through Fir and Cedar forests. An abundance of spring flowers and views of Monashees, Vernon, and Kalamalka Lake. |
Camel's Hump | Moderate | Lumby | 4 hrs | 8 km | 516 m | The Hump is a 40 million year old volcanic core which features steep climbs and vistas of Creighton Valley and the south Monashees. |
Cougar Canyon | Moderate | Vernon | 4.5 hrs | 7.5 km | 387 m | The Cougar Canyon hike is easily and quickly accessible from Vernon. A hike of moderate difficulty offering excellent views from clifftops over the canyon and also towards Kalamalka Lake. Generally easy hiking with a couple of steep and much more tricky sections. |
Denison & Bonneau Lake | Moderate | Vernon | 5 hrs | 9.9 km | 290 m | Denison-Bonneau Provincial Park provides a unique opportunity for hikers to enjoy pristine sub-alpine lakes and vestiges of remaining old-growth forests in the Okanagan Highlands. |
Coldstream Ranchlands Trail | Moderate | Vernon | 4 hrs | 11.3 km | 500 m | Coldstream Ranchlands Trail provides attractive views and a reasonably tough work out ascending some steep slopes within a short drive of the centre of Vernon. |
King Edward Long Loop Trail | Moderate | Vernon | 4.5 hrs | 13.5 km | 480 m | Undulating, scenic loop trail on the Aberdeen plateau with extensive views over the plateau, to Kal Lake and towards the Monashees. Note these are multi-use trails and are actively used by mountain bike cyclists. |
King Edward Short Loop Trail | Moderate | Vernon | 3.5 hrs | 9 km | 380 m | Undulating, scenic loop trail on the Aberdeen plateau with extensive views over the plateau, to Kal Lake and towards the Monashees. Note these are multi-use trails and are actively used by mountain bike cyclists. |
Mt. Rose Swanson | Moderate | Armstrong | 5 hrs | 8.5 km | 425 m | A delightful hike with a number of different loops that can yield hikes of varying lengths. Generally wooded with nice views from the summit. Bring bug repellent in season! |
Oyama Lookout | Moderate | Oyama | 4 hrs | 10 km | 413 m | The Oyama Lookout hike is an easy to moderate hike on the east side of the Okanagan Valley within a short drive of Vernon. At the high point – the communications tower to the south of Vernon – enjoy great views of the Valley and north to Swan Lake, Silver Star, etc. |
Spectrum Lake | Moderate | Cherryville | 5 hrs | 14 km | 325 m | A Monashee Provincial Park hike along a well maintained trail through interior rainforest with occasional mountain views to a peaceful mountain lake surrounded by crags and peaks. |
Tuktakamin | Moderate | Falkland | 3.5 hrs | 6.5 km | 512 m | |
Vidler Ridge | Moderate | Cherryville | 5 hrs | 11 km | 600 m | A steady but moderate ascent to an alpine ridge overlooking the surrounding Monashee valleys and peaks. |
Enderby Cliffs | Difficult | Enderby | 5 hrs | 13 km | 718 m | This is a steady climb through trees and eventually to the top of a steep escarpment with views towards Vernon and Shuswap Lake. |
Twin Lakes | Difficult | Cherryville | 5 hrs | 9 km | 505 m | The hike starts at 1500 m elevation and follows moderate grades through meadows leading to jade coloured lakes in an alpine bowl. |
Joss Mountain | Difficult | Cherryville | 6.5 hrs | 12 km | 986 m | Joss Mtn is a challenging hike in the Monashees with alpine ridges and open meadows to be enjoyed after a steep climb. Recommended for experienced hikers. |
Mt. Beaven | Difficult | Cherryville | 5 - 6 hrs | 8 Km | 700 m | The Mt Beaven hike is short in distance but challenging with a steep ascent. Located in the Monashee mountain range, approximately 19km east of Cherryville. |
Pinnacles Lake | Difficult | Cherryville | 5 hrs | 11.4 km | 597 m | This hike follows a steep river valley to an isolated mountain lake surrounded by the steep ridges of the Pinnacles. A very doable day hike to the lake and back for a fit hiker. |
Shorts Creek | Difficult | Westside Road | 4.5 hrs | 10.1 km | 576 m | An attractive, moderately difficult hike off Westside Road with great views of Terrace Mountain and the Christie Falls area. |
Vista Pass | Difficult | Cherryville | 5 hrs | 13.1 km | 889 m | This hike follows a creek until breaking into alpine. The summit ridge is a vantage point to the southern ramparts of the Monashees. |
Estekwalan | Difficult & Technical | Falkland | 6 hrs | 10 km | 702 m | This is a steep climb ultimately to a ridge with views of the Falkland Valley. The descent includes a very steep section using fixed ropes. |
Eagle Pass | Difficult & Technical | Revelstoke | 6 hrs | 12 km | 855 m | The trail ends with a ridge scramble to the summit. The reward is a panoramic view of Revelstoke National Park and the Monashees. |
Monashee Lake | Difficult & Technical | Cherryville | 7 hrs | 12.6 km | 748 m | Monashee Lake is a steep and technical hike which will reward you with a beautiful, isolated mountain lake and access to several possible add-ons to the surrounding ridges and peaks. |
Tsuis | Difficult & Technical | Cherryville | 6 hrs | 16.5 km | 1170 m | A steep alpine peak, Tsuis is a challenging and rewarding hike for experienced hikers with advanced technical hiking and route finding skills. |