King Edward Short Loop 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.
King Edward Short Loop Hike Description
© Vernon Outdoors Club 2022
These attractive loop hikes are on the plateau just to the south of Kalamalka Provincial Park and the lake itself, quite close to the Ravine Edge hike. Locally this upland area is known as the Aberdeen or King Edward Plateau depending on which maps you look at!
Two loop hikes are described here. One 9km, one 13.5km. The loops combine several multi-use trails created and maintained by members of the North Okanagan Cycling Society (NOCS). They are well signed but be prepared for different sign formats as these are not VOC maintained trails. You can find all the trails mentioned below on the Trail Forks app.
Trail Etiquette
These are multi-use trails and you well may meet other trail users including mountain bikers, trail runners and other hikers. Be aware you may encounter cyclists, at times perhaps moving quickly. As mentioned, don’t expect VOC signs or flagging. Some “common sense” suggestions:
- Keep your ears and eyes open, especially at sharp corners
- Do your own fair share of yielding the right of way, it’s the polite thing to do. Especially if you meet a flat-out trail runner or a cyclist on a steep and tricky section. It’s much easier as a hiker to step aside!
- Best not to hike these trails in a large group as it makes it difficult to merge with other trail users. 6-8 is a good max. size for any hiking group. If your group is larger, simply split into two well separated units.
These trails are all shown on the Trail Forks website and phone app. The trails are well signed; the new trails completed in 2020 and 2021 are noted below and are thanks to NOCS members , who did much of the construction.
NOTES:
- A good spot for lunch is the viewpoint, which is maybe 3/4 km from start of Tombstone; there is a bench there with Kal Tire stickers on it.
- Tombstone trail has an actual tombstone on it.
Statistics
Hike distance 9 km round trip Altitude gain 380 m
Use of any information from the Vernon Outdoors Club is entirely at your own risk.
- The route begins a few feet past the parking area, on the other side of the road, turn left onto Upper Medz. Note: there can be a maze of cattle trails here, if the one you are on peters out, retrace your steps as you are on the wrong trail.
- Turn right onto an unnamed FSR.
- Keep right onto My Crowning Achievement Trail (aka MCA). New in fall 2020.
- Right onto logging road, CJ Express.
- Left onto Pally Gap Trail for very short distance.
- Right onto Tombstone trail. Note: there is a short distance on logging road at one point.
- Sharp right onto Tombstone Connector Trail (ie not left towards Teddy Bear’s Picnic) which will take you up and back to your vehicle.
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Driving Directions – King Edward Short Trail Loop.
© Vernon Outdoors Club 2022
Use of this information is entirely at your own risk
- Drive east from Vernon on Hwy. 6 towards Lumby.
- At the traffic lights of Hwy. 6 and the 15th Street crossing, set your trip odometer to zero.
- Drive east on Hwy. 6.
- At 6.9km turn right onto King Edward Lake FSR, which is a gravel logging road. No sign, but Road Channel posted is RR-15.
- At 11.0km (4.0km on the K.E.L. FSR) stay to the right.
- At 15.5km stay to the right.
- At 16.0km (9.1km on the K.E.L. FSR) turn right onto the C.J. Express FSR.
- Continue to drive up the CJ Express FSR past where you would normally park for the Ravine Edge hike to just after the 11 km distance sign.
- Park on the right hand side in a fairly large grassy area (parking for 6/8 vehicles). Fold in your mirrors & watch your feet as the area is often frequented by range cattle.
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