Scenic Canyon Regional Park, Kelowna, BC

Friday April 19, 2024 -- I had previously done an 8-km walk with a friend in the Scenic Canyon part of the Mission Creek Greenway on April 11th, but had not brought my camera along (also, the sky was overcast). But on this sunny day a week later I returned with another friend with whom I have done several walks since being here, and we did a 6-km walk partly on the same trail, but heading slightly more to the south. 

After just under two kilometers of walking next to the river (and crossing a couple of lovely bridges), a set of stairs takes you out of the canyon to an upper plateau which was just teeming with the bright yellow arrowroot flowers! From this upper plateau we got some nice views into the canyon itself. Unfortunately, a section of the trail which returns to river level is currently closed due to some flooding damage, so we could not continue along the Greenway trail here, but we ascended to the level of the golf course for better views of Black Mountain to the East, before returning the same way to the parking area.

Starting off on the trail along Mission Creek

First of about three such bridges along the way

Mission Creek, Scenic Canyon

Mission Creek, Scenic Canyon

It was actually quite cool at 10 o'clock in the morning!

Crossing bridge number 2!

These stairs lead up to a lovely upper plateau

Here is the lovely upper plateau with loads of Arrowroot flowers! Later we walked up that road for a better view from the level of the golf course above. 

This flower is called a "common shooting star" (dodecatheon media) and is one of the most common flowers on this grasslands

(From Internet research, this might be a Saskatoon Berry Bush)

Looking down at Mission Creek. The trail later heads down to the river again, but it was closed due to damage. 

The Arrow-Root flowers are just so pretty!

Another look down on Mission creek. The colour of the fresh green leaves is so pretty right now. 

Getting ready for a self-timed photo!

We're not sure what these tiered benches were for, but finally got a photo of the two of us together!

Walking up to the level of the golf course, we get a really nice view toward Black Mountain

Getting back to the plateau, we followed a small trail which looped around the plateau to get back to the regular trail. 

View up the canyon to the north

Down below we got back to the stairway!

These are various flowers found in these grasslands in April: The blue flower on the left is called Upland Larkspur (poisonous), in the middle are the yellow Arrow-Roots, upper right are called Shooting Stars, and the white ones are known as Fringe-Cup or Smallflower Woodland Star. 

More Shooting Stars. I've never seen flowers like this before.

Crossing the bridges again on the way back to the car park

Mission Creek at the bottom of the Scenic Canyon. 

Mission Creek at the bottom of the Scenic Canyon

This is the walk we did from the car park to the upper plateau, from where we could unfortunately not continue on, as the trail further south was closed. It was just under 6 km to walk. 

And this map here is from the walk I did on April 11th, where I didn't take any photos. We parked in the same car park, but headed north along the river first, then returned to the car park, and walked south, stopping at the stairway that would have taken us up to the lovely upper plateau. Then we returned to the car park. In all, about 8.5 kilometers.

The walk we did here on April 11th, 8.5 km in all (first to the north, then to the south)