KLO Creek and Scenic Canyon Regional Parks in East Kelowna

Thursday May 2, 2024 -- This time we headed to East Kelowna where we wanted to do an 8-km hike (4 km each way) in the very lovely KLO Creek Regional Park (also a canyon of sorts), but as it turns out, the official trail is only 1 km up-river, and then you leave the park, but have to cross the creek to do so. There is no bridge there, and because of the recent rains, the water was just a bit too high for us to cross. 

So we returned to the car and sought the entrance of a second hike we could do nearby, one that starts at the south end of the Scenic Canyon Regional park, following KLO Creek toward Mission Creek Greenway.... but we didn't have a map with us, and didn't find the actual trail, so we returned to the car and sought the better-known Field Road trail-head at Gallagher's Canyon community, from where we did a 6.5-km loop tour to the lovely Rock Ovens on Mission Creek (a fantastic cliff with unusual caves) and along a footpath called the Pinnacles Trail, which afforded us some very nice views of Layer-Cake Mountain.

With three starts on three different trails, we ended up walking about 10 km this day!

At the start of the KLO Creek Regional Park Trail. (We started at 10:30 a.m.). We walked across the KLO Creek (River) three times (?) in each direction. 

This was a very nice trail through a kind of canyon or ravine

On both sides of the river were these very high cliffs, interesting geological formations.

Wild creek bed

Looking up high along the interesting cliffs

Another bridge to cross

A quick detour to below the cliff wall

And this was basically the end of the official park trail, after only one kilometer. We could see that the trail continued on the other side of the river, but to cross here without a bridge might have meant wet shoes, although it would have been possible. 

Trying to find a way across the river. It was possible to walk on the rocks to about half-way across, but after that the stepping stones were under water and we might have slipped. Possibly in summer, when there is less water in the creek, one might get across more easily. 

Heading back to the car. I am looking up to the top of the cliffs here. 

The fabulous cliffs on the west side of the river. 

Leaving the main path, we followed a smaller path to the river for a self-timed photo. This is near the car park. 

We got back to the car at 11:30, so spent an hour walking on this trail, about 2.3 kilometers in all in the KLO Creek Park. 

From the parking area along McCullogh Road, we drove north to another parking spot (yellow trail) and alternate entrance to the Scenic Canyon Park, where we had planned to walk north to the Field Road access (1 km) and join the Greenway trail. But we ran into a "No Trespassing" sign and didn't see the trail curve down to the river, so we went back to the car and drove to the other entrance to the north. 

Here were lots of the yellow Arrowroot flowers still in full bloom!

Below in the ravine is the KLO Creek which we had walked along further to the south, and which flows into Mission Creek to the north. And on the east side of the creek is the distinctive landmark of Kelowna: Layer-Cake Mountain and the Pinnacles (on the left)

We were lucky to witness a turkey vulture flying overhead!

When we got to this fence and this sign after only 500 meters, we walked back to the parking lot, not realizing that the trail actually doubled-back and headed down into the ravine! Such a shame. 

Heading now by car toward the Gallagher's Canyon neighbourhood, we can already see part of the canyon we will be walking in. The road into the neighbourhood is fenced and locked, but there is a large parking lot on the right, where the trail starts. 

At the parking lot at this south end of the Scenic Canyon Park is another interesting placard showing the boundaries of the Park and the five themed trails in the park. Unfortunately, the yellow "Black Bear Trail" is closed due to damage, but we walked the red "Saskatoon Trail", the orange "Rock Oven Trail", the blue "Pinnacles Trail" and the purple "Mission Greenway Trail". 

A map of the entire Scenic Canyon Regional Park. The yellow trail along the river is apparently closed, but upon reaching the blue trail we saw no signs indicating that it was closed, and so should have tried that trail anyway. We started here at 12:10.

Here along the "Saskatoon Trail" heading down to the river, the forest was bursting with yellow Arrowroot flowers. It was SO pretty!

A glimpse of Layer-Cake Mountain. 

The entire forest floor is full of yellow flowers! So very pretty!

Once in a while we saw some other flowers. These are native flowers called Upland Larkspur

Down at river level, this is Mission Creek

The purple trail is called "Mission Creek Greenway", on which you can walk about 6 km to the north, but which is interrupted shortly after here due to flooding damage, so at this point one can not walk the entire trail. Here we are taking a detour to the "Rock Ovens" (Orange Trail)

A lovely spot here next to the river with the unusual 50-meter high cliffs with hollowed-out caves. Here we have entered Gallagher's Canyon. The canyon was formed by melted glacier waters about 15,000 years ago. 

Description of the creation of the caves, eroded by floodwaters from Mission Creek about 1000 to 2000 years ago. 

Inside one of the caves. (It actually goes no deeper than this.) Apparently there was a lot of gold mining along this stretch of the river, and the caves were used as shelter and as outdoor ovens as early as 1859, thus the name "Rock Oven". 

I wonder how these holes were formed!

A little detour to a small beach near the canyon walls. 

At the junction of the Saskatoon Trail, Mission Creek Greenway actually continues quite a bit eastward. We took this trail to view the face of Layer-Cake Mountain and the pinnacles, but did not go all the way to the end of the trail. This is the bridge which crosses KLO Creek, near where it joins Mission Creek. 

At this junction you can continue on a less-steep gravel trail to the upper part of the Mission Creek Trail, but we headed to the Pinnacle Trail, which was much more interesting. On our way down we took the easier trail. 

The pinnacle comes into view on the right. 

Looking down the steep Pinnacle Trail as we make our way up the mountainside. 

Heading up the blue Pinnacle Trail. There were many such stairs, so not too difficult to ascend here. 

Back on the Mission Creek Greenway, the trail was very level toward the east. We followed this trail to the place where it heads back down to the river, then turned around and headed back. Always with a view of the Layer-Cake mountain to the north and Mission Creek below. 

From up here you get a few really clear glimpses of the pinnacle formations. 

Here is where the trail heads back down to the river to join the Black Bear Trail, which seems to be closed due to damage, unfortunately. We started down this trail a bit, but then headed back. 

This unusual flower is called a Clematis Occidentalis, or Western Blue Virginsbower

Now we return to the junction of the Pinnacle Trail, which we ascended from the right. This time we will take the wider gravel path, longer and less steep, on our way back down. This is part of the Mission Creek Greenway Trail. 

Following Mission Creek Greenway Trail back down to the bridge over KLO Creek. 

Crossing KLO Creek again to get back to the Saskatoon Trail, and head back up to the parking lot. 

These are the signs in the indiginous languages, for the "Mission Creek Greenway Trail" (Purple) and the "Saskatoon Trail" (Red). 

We can't get enough of the whole forest floor covered in Arrowroot flowers! We got back to the car park at 3:30 p.m. 

With the exception of the Black Bear Trail and the very eastern part of the Mission Creek Greenway, these are the trails we walked on our third attempt.

An aerial view shows a huge area to the east of the Scenic Canyon Park Boundary is going to be developed into more and more homes, just like the entire west side. 

Driving back through the orchards of East Kelowna, the apple trees are finally blossoming here... 

Here is an interactive map which shows all the walks I did in the Kelowna Area from March to May 2024: