Outdoor Lifestyle Essentials

Your hand-tailored guide to hiking in the Okanagan and beyond.

Your experience at Blue Grouse will vary based on the type of transportation you have. With a 4-wheel drive vehicle, one can drive up the service road and make a short hike to the summit. For those of you with a low clearance vehicle, this hike is still for you! Starting at the trailhead listed in Directions, you will make your way up a steep switchback. We recommend making your way up the eastern cliffs until you see a beautiful viewpoint of the Kelowna and the Okanagan Lake.

For those with an adventurous spirit, there is a shale wall to climb. Watch your footing if you attempt this, shale rock is notorious for shifting underneath you!

The hike itself is above average and a good beginner's hike for those looking to get started or looking to get a friend started. Make sure to watch your footing for Cacti! We stepped in one and it was painful hearing my friend complain about it for the rest of the hike. 

McDougal Rim is a fantastic hike for everybody. It's car accessible, easy and has an amazing payoff. To top it off, it's just a 20-minute drive from downtown Kelowna.

Start the hike with an intense incline for 5-10 minutes depending on your pace. After that, it's all gradual incline and beautiful views.

Bring a friend new to hiking, your dog, heck bring your mom! Everybody will have an amazing time at the cliff-side view of the Okanagan Lake. Don't forget to get an amazing shot for Instagram!

Spion Kop is a short steep hike with an incredible pay-off. At the summit you will see Kalamalka Lake, Okanagan Lake, and Wood Lake. From the summit, the views appears as if painted; it is the best view you can get from a short hike.

There are two trailheads for this hike that branch off into a larger trail network. The trails are not well marked and it is very possible to miss the summit entirely. If you get lost on your way, here are the coordinates to the summit. Use these to make sure the path you're on is leading you the right way!

This hike is car accessible from a street road. For those in Lake Country, this is the perfect morning or after work adventure. We recommend starting from the Upper-Lakes Trailhead. For new-intermediate hikers looking for a more gradual (but still steep) trail take the Arrowleaf Trail to the Red-Yellow Connector to the Summit Trail.

For those looking for a challenge there is an unmarked path that will take you to the summit in under 30 minutes. It's a straight shot from the Upper-Lakes Trailhead to the summit, but it features an incredible incline that will make even the most experienced hikers ache.

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