Scotch Creek Trail Video

I also wanted to provide you with a short video of what you can expect to find while hiking the Scotch Creek trail. It is only 60 seconds long and contains much of what is in the longer version as well as a little extra footage of the trail.

Do you prefer the longer or the shorter video. Leave a comment below and let me know.

Scotch Creek Trail Opening

Sunday the 26th of June, was the official opening of the Scotch Creek Trail in the North Shuswap. The project was a combination of efforts by the Shuswap Trail Alliance, CSRD (Columbia Shuswap Regional District)  and Shuswap Tourism as well as many other groups and individuals. Near a hundred people, young and old alike, showed up for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that afternoon and then hiked the new trail.

The trail itself is accessed off the Hlina Logging Road. It is a bit of a drive over the rough roads and the road is not suitable for low vehicles at this time (we drove in a minivan and had no troubles). The parking lot for Scotch Creek Trail is well outlined with rocks and there is an excellent map at the trail-head. There are no pit/compost toilets to be had at this time.

The trail consists of two loops. The shorter, easier Lower Loop and the longer Hlina Loop, though both loops can be done in an couple of hours. While the trail as a whole is a rougher style of trail, it can be used by most people. Many consider the first part of the trail to be the toughest, even though it is located on a well used road, as it climbs relatively quickly to where the trail heads for the trees and into the loops. 

Once in the trees the trail travels up for a short distance till you come to a gate. Once in the gate, the scenery instantly changes into that of old growth forest. Here the trail lends itself to a slower pace. After a short walk, hikers will come across an amazing vista at the Lookout Point. The highlight of the Scotch Creek Trail, this point looks out across the Shuswap Lake to Blind Bay and Copper Island. Parents and dog owners will want to keep child and pets in hand near the Lookout as there is very steep drop with no barrier in front of it.

Once past the Lookout hikers will quickly come across the intersection where they can choose to take the Hlina Loop, which has a spectacular view of its own and then travels to the parking lot via a different route or they can finish the Lower Loop. The Hlina Loop has only been roughed-in at this point (but is scheduled to be worked on this summer), so is only appropriate for people who are comfortable with off-trail hiking. Those finishing the Lower Loop will only travel a short distance to the end of the loop and then continue down the hill they way they came up.

Some photos from  the Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop before the Lookout.

Winding trail through an Old Growth Forest in the North Shuswap.

Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop

Old Growth Forest

Rougher styled trail.

Sun shining through the trees.

The Scotch Creek Trail - Lower Loop Lookout Point

View from the Lower Loop Lookup

Blind Bay from across the Shuswap lake

Blind Bay & Copper Island from the Scotch Creek Trail Lookout

More trail from the Lower Loop after the lookout.

Lower Loop trail through Old Growth Forest.

Plenty of twists and turns on the trail.

Rugged path of the Scotch Creek Trail Lower Loop

 

The trail past the gate and down to the road.

My family loved this trail and we will certainly be back for more! We will likely plan it on another Sunday this summer so we can hit the Scotch Creek Farmers' Market (from 10 am to 2 pm just off the highway when you enter town) while we are at it. 

Have you hiked the Scotch Creek Trail? Do you have another favourite in the area? Let me know by posting in the comment section below!

Waterfalls of the Okanagan - Sicamous Creek Falls

Our second stop on Father's Day was to Sicamous Creek Falls, located just past Sicamous, off of Highway 97A at Waterway Houseboats, onto 2 Mile Rd.

As we arrived it started raining quite heavily. We considered not going but decided a little (or a lot of) rain wasn't going to stop us. Thankfully the trail was in great condition and was not overly slippery when wet. The rain did provide a little trouble while picture taking. It was tough to keep my lens dry but I was able to get a couple of nice shots. I wasn't able to get all of the shots I wanted due to safety (water height and speed combined with wet surface from the rain), but will just have to try again on another day!

Some pics of the waterfall at the bottom of the stairs.

Sicamous Creek Waterfalls

Sicamous Creek Waterfalls at the end of spring.

Raging water!

The creek from different spots along the trail.

The Sicamous Creek

The Sicamous Creek Falls Trail

The rained stopped near the end of our hike and as we started to climb back towards the parking lot the humidity was so high that my lens fogged up and I couldn't keep it clear til we hit the open air at the parking lot. It gave the pics a dreamy quality!

Shooting the trail though a fogged lens.

More foggy trail.

A little friend we met near the parking lot.

A wee snail.

A short video clip of the Sicamous Creek Waterfalls.

All in all it was a most excellent Father's Day spent with my family. 

Do you know of more waterfalls located in the Okanagan Valley? Leave a post in the comments bellow.

Waterfalls of the Shuswap - Margaret Falls

While still in the midst of much packing, renos and chaos, my family and I decided to take a break on Father's Day and get some fresh air. Our first stop was to one of our favourite places, Margaret Falls. Located in Heralds Park, directly across the Shuswap Lake from Salmon Arm, it is accessible from the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) near the Tappen Co-op. 

The Margaret Falls trail is in superb condition. This short trail is easily accessed by most people and is stroller friendly. In fact, the most difficult section of the trail is just as you travel down from the parking lot to the actually trail. It is a bit steep, but does have a handrail for the steepest part. The rest of the trail is a mild slope and has several small bridges that you cross from one side of the river to the other.

Still raging with spring's runoff combined with all of the rain we have had, this waterfall did not disappoint the many visitors who came to see it that day (the parking lot was near capacity). The falls themselves were raging so hard that it created a thick mist at its base. It was all I could do to try and dry my lens every few pictures. 

Some pictures taken along the trail to the waterfalls.

Near Entrance of Margaret Falls Trail

A splash of bright green among the rocks.

Margaret Falls in late spring

The trip back to the parking lot.

A little video of the falls to get the full experience.

This is one of my families favourite places to visit. If you know of other great places for a family outing in the area or other waterfalls located in the Shuswap, leave a post in the comment section below. 

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Scouting Out Evely Recreation Site

My family and I recently scouted out the Evely Rec Site, situated off of West Side Road north of Fintry, while looking for some economical  and beautiful places to camp this summer. This campground is one of the largest Rec Sites (with 50 individual sites) in the area and is located right on Okanagan Lake with views of Vernon across the lake. It is also one of the few that is accessible to most sizes of RVs (recreational vehicles), though I wouldn't recommend it for newer drivers.

The downside is that like most rec sites, the campground has no water and only a couple of pit toilets at either end, which can service several hundred people during it's busiest times. And during the heat of the summer...that can be a rather rank experience. So unless you like ruffing it, I would advise staying in a RV or travelling with someone who does, as this can eliminate the water and toilet issues.

Talking with the on-site host, it seems that Evely can be extremely busy during the busy season and it is "First Come, First Serve", so I would recommend arriving early Thursday for a weekend spot. Wednesday would be better. If you don't arrive till Friday, your chance of finding a spot isn't good. As for rates, I believe it is $14 per tent/RV if you are camping on the lake side and $12 per tent/RV if you are on the other side. Multiple tents and RVs can be set up on a site.

I took a bunch of late spring pics for those interested. Here are a few of the sites. Keep in mind it may be far less green come mid summer.

Here are a few pics up the Okanagan Lake towards Vernon.

And a couple south, down the Okanagan Valley.

Does this seem like a campground you be inclined to stay at? Leave your opinion of this BC Rec Site in the comment section below.