Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park: Wilderness, Adventure, and History

Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park is a wilderness playground with six marine campgrounds, sandy beaches, and 10,000 hectares of rugged grassland and forest. It's a prime spot for boating, camping, hiking, and wildlife watching. For travellers seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience, this park delivers.

Park Overview

Established August 23, 1973, the Okanagan Mountain Park directly across from Peachland over the water stretches over 33 km of undeveloped shoreline on Okanagan Lake, accessible only by boat, foot, horseback, or bicycle. The park's diverse landscapes include secluded bays, sandy beaches, and rocky terrain. The lake offers a boater's paradise, while the interior wilderness presents over 10,000 hectares of grasslands, forests, and mountain views.

Access and Safety

Chute Lake Road: Road access from Chute Lake Road to the south parking lot is rough, washed-out, and overgrown. It is suitable only for high-clearance vehicles.
Theft Advisory: Thieves target vehicles in parking lots. Avoid leaving valuables and report suspicious activity to the RCMP.

Trail Hazards: Stay on main trails, especially in wildfire-affected areas where unstable trees and loose rocks pose a risk.

Camping and Facilities

Marine-Accessible Campgrounds

The park's seven marine-access campgrounds are ideal for boaters:

Buchan Bay
Commando Bay
Goode's Creek
Van Hyce Beach
Reluctant Dragon Cove
Halfway Bay
Halfway Point

Camping fee: $13 per party/vessel per night.

Wilderness Camping

Baker Lake and Divide Lake are the primary wilderness camping areas, with basic facilities like pit toilets and fire rings. An old cabin at Divide Lake is not maintained and is often crowded, so be prepared to camp outside.

Facilities

Campfires: Permitted with campfire rings at some campsites. Firewood is available when a park operator is present.

Pit Toilets: Available throughout the park.

Picnic Areas: Day-hike and biking visitors can use the picnic spots near the trails.

Activities

Hiking

The park offers a network of hiking trails with varying difficulty levels:

Boulder Loop Trail (5 km, 3 hrs, easy)

Old C.N. Trail (3 km, 2 hrs, easy)

Divide Lake Trail North (8 km, 3.5 hrs, easy)

Boulder Trail (3 km, 2 hrs, moderate)

Dead Horse Creek to Gate (1.5 km, 1 hr, easy)

Good's Basin Trail (6 km, 1.5 hrs, moderate)

Divide Lake to Baker Lake (2 km, 1.5 hrs, difficult)

Carry ample water and a map of the park, as the terrain is rugged, and water sources are limited.

Water Sports

Swimming: The undeveloped shoreline bays offer excellent swimming and snorkelling spots. No lifeguards.

Canoeing/Kayaking: Paddle the shoreline of Okanagan Lake and camp at one of the marine-access campgrounds.

Waterskiing/Wakeboarding: Popular activities on Okanagan Lake.

Fishing

Norman, Baker, and Divide Lakes are stocked with rainbow trout. Remember to bring a B.C. fishing licence.

Wildlife Viewing

Look out for mountain goats, elk, and various bird species. The Rim Trail, Pinnacles, and the viewpoint near the south parking lot offer great views.

Other Activities

Mountain Biking: Follow the signs for mountain biking trails.

Horseback Riding: Use designated trails due to the park's challenging terrain.

Hunting: Permitted during lawful hunting seasons.

Maps and Access Points

Access points to the park include:

Indian Rock Beach Access: The best spot to launch kayaks/canoes.

Peachland/Summerland Beaches: Suitable for boats/kayaks.

Bertram Creek Regional Park: Kelowna-based launching point.

History

Archaeological Sites: First Nations pictographs and ancient trails.

Wild Horse Canyon: Formerly used as a wild horse trap.

Commando Bay: WWII guerrilla warfare training site for Chinese-Canadians.

Conservation and Wildlife

The park protects ecosystems from three biogeoclimatic zones:

Bunchgrass Zone: Lower, exposed areas.

Ponderosa Pine Zone: Lower elevations.

Interior Douglas Fir Zone: Upper mountain reaches.

Unique wildlife includes mountain goats, western harvest mice, and spotted bats.

Conclusion

When visiting Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, ensure your safety by wearing sturdy footwear and carrying ample water. Stick to designated trails and avoid shortcutting, as the rugged terrain can be challenging. Get ready to explore the wilderness and rugged beauty of the park. Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park promises a truly wild adventure that will leave you in awe of nature's raw splendour.