monashee

Camel's Hump Trail

Traveling east from Lumby on Hwy. 6, the first road on the right after the amber flashing light is Creighton Valley Road. Turn onto this road and follow it for approximately 15 km, until you reach Clier Lake Road on the left. Follow this road and the directional signs until it ends at the parking lot. Follow the signs to the trailhead. The trail travels up the first hump, down into a valley, and up the second hump.

This is a fairly easy hike, which covers about 6 kilometers, and takes about 2-and-one-half hours. There is a gain of approx. 630 meters, with the top of the peak reaching about 1,200 meters. You will get a good view of the Creighton Valley on your left, and Lumby on the right.

Coyote Sleeping

About the Camels Hump

The Camel's Hump forms the geographical backdrop to Lumby and the Whitevalley area. Readily visible from the Kalamalka Lookout on Hwy. 97 south of Vernon, the Camel's Hump rises to an elevation of 1331 meters (4336 feet) above sea level.

An erosional remnant of the Kamloops Group, it is comprised of predominately basaltic lavas and flow breccias. The lavas are the geographical deposits representing the last volcanic period in this area. The glaciers sculpted the cliffs during the Pleistocene ice age.

An article from the Provincial Archives in Victoria dated 1867 makes reference to the "Camel's Back". The early gold rush miners moving northward through the Okanagan Valley used camels as pack animals, and since the mountain bears a striking

Bluenose Mountain

From Lumby, drive west towards Vernon and turn left onto School Road in Lavington. At the end of School Road, you will reach Learmouth Road. Turn left and follow Learmouth up the hill to a T-junction. Now turn left onto Aberdeen Road - Bluenose Mountain is straight ahead. 4 km up the mountain you will come to a cleared area on the left, and you will see a hiking sign near the roadside. Park here and start your hike.

Go into the timber at the top of the clearing, and step over the log barrier.

Follow an old track up the hill until you reach the trailhead sign on your right hand side. The trail comes to a junction where the left hand fork leads to the first peak of Bluenose, while the right hand fork leads to the third peak. The second peak of Bluenose is private property, and there are no public trails leading to it. Both peaks offer splendid views of Whitevalley and Lumby.

This is an easy 2-hour hike, which covers approximately 5 kilometers. The final altitude is 1199 meters, with a gain of 200 meters. This hike is well suited for beginners.

Dennison Lake Trail

This 6 hectare fishing lake is at an elevation of approximately 1,460 meters. From Lumby, travel east to Creighton Valley Road. Turn right onto Creighton Valley Road and drive almost to Barb Lake, about 15 kilometers. Turn right onto the Bonneau Forest Service Road and follow it to the trailhead. This 2 kilometer hike is fairly easy and is well suited for beginners. Be sure to watch for some spectacular rock formations along the way.

The Pinnacles & Monashee Lake

The Pinnacles is a popular hike with the locals. It is accessed off South Fork Road, 26.5 kilometers east of Lumby on Hwy. 6. Turn left onto South Fork Road, and at 2.3 kilometers and 6.2 kilometers keep to the right, then at 12.5 kilometers and 15.3 kilometers keep to the left - make sure not to cross Monashee Creek! At 18 kilometers keep right to reach the Pinnacles, or left to reach the Monashee trailheads. At approximately 23 kilometers on the way to the Pinnacles and at 24 kilometers on the way to the Monashee, you will find the trailhead signs. Follow the cow trail into the woods, and watch for the red ribbons marking the trails.

You have now reached your destination of either Pinnacle or Monashee Lakes. Experienced hikers will find many day-hikes from here, while the beginners may be content to relax next to one of the pristine glacier fed lakes.

The altitude is approximately 1900 meters, with a gain of about 700 meters. These hikes cover a distance of 4.5 kilometers, with a hiking time of about 2 hours.

Beaven Mountain Trail

This 7 km trail is located on South Fork Road (on your way to the Monashee Lake trailhead). 18 km up South Fork Road, turn left as if you were going to Monashee Lake. A few kilometers from this turn-off, turn left again and drive to a logged area, where you can park. From here you can see the trailhead to Beaven Mountain.

Vista Pass & Barnes Creek

This is a 16 km hiking trail to the South Pinnacles Ridge. Turn left onto South Fork Road off Hwy. 6, 26.5 km east of Lumby. Follow the directions to the Pinnacles, but at 23 km, don't stop. Just a couple of kilometers further will bring you to the trailhead. The trail is found on the north side of the creek.

This trail meets up with the Barnes Creek Trail, which is an 8 km horseback riding/hiking trail. You can also reach the Barnes Creek trailhead by turning onto the logging road to Keefer Lake, 60 km east of Lumby on Hwy. 6. Continue past Keefer and Holmes Lakes to a 4-wheel drive road. This is a scenic trail with a great view of the Pinnacles.

Twin Lakes

Drive east from Lumby on Hwy. 6, approximately 22 km, to the North Fork Road turnoff. Turn left and drive up this road to the end (approx. 20 km), and turn onto Severide Creek Road. Continue down this road until you come to the parking lot, which also has an outhouse and the Twin Creek Lakes hiking trail sign.

This is a 6 kilometer hike, which takes about one-and-a-half hours.

Rottacker Lake

Drive along Sugar Lake Road about 15 kilometers from the turn off Highway 6 until you reach the Kate Creek Forest Service Road. Follow this road for 20 kilometers, and you will reach the Rottacker Lake trailhead. This 3 kilometer hike is rough and "brushy", but is suitable for the willing beginner.

Tsuius Mountain Trails Area

Follow Sugar Lake Road for approximately 49 kilometers from Highway 6. Turn left just past the turn-off for Monashee Provincial Park, and follow the signs to the trailhead.

This sub-alpine hiking area is difficult hiking, and is recommended for experienced hikers only! There are trailheads at Tsuius Creek, Tourmaline Creek, and just east of Mirror Lake (the most popular). This is approximately a 6-hour hike, but longer ones may be arranged.

Sitkum Lake & Goat Mountain

As mentioned previously, the road to Sitkum Lake is accessed 11 kilometers along the Kate Creek Forest Service Road. Follow the Sitkum Lake Forestry Road for an additional 12 kilometers, and you will reach the trailhead to Sitkum Lake/Goat Mountain.

This 8 kilometer sub-alpine trail has some steep, rocky areas, and is therefore recommended for experienced hikers only!

Sugar Mountain Trail

This 7 kilometer hike leads to an old lookout on Sugar Mountain. The trailhead is at the start of an old 4-wheel access road at the 21 kilometer mark on the Kate Creek Forest Service Road, just past Sugar Creek. It is a suitable hike for beginners, but be cautious of grizzly bears in the area. The lookout provides some awesome views of the valleys below.