Trail name: Cougar Canyon Lookout

Trail length: 2.6 kilometres roundtrip

Trail Difficulty: Easy – Moderate

Directions:

The trail is located in Coldstream. Turn east onto College Way from Highway 97. At the lights, turn right onto Kalamalka Lake Road and follow the signs for Kalamalka Provincial Park, Cosen's Bay.  Turn right on Coldstream Creek Road. Make a sharp left onto Cosen's Bay Road. Once at the parking lot for Kalamalka Provincial Park, keep driving through the wooden fence on to the dirt road. Drive cautiously on this narrow dirt road for 4.3 kilometres, you will find the parking lot for Cougar Canyon on the left.

Description:

The trail to Cougar Canyon is a very enjoyable hike and offers great views of Kalamalka Lake and the canyon!

From the parking lot, we followed a wide trail through the woods. Within a half of a kilometre, the trail opened up and we reached a little viewpoint overlooking Kalamalka Lake. Soon after, we reached a junction that led to either the lookout, or a popular rock climbing area. We decided to go to the lookout and continued west along the trail. As we got closer to the top, the views of the surrounding rock faces were very cool. Once we reached the lookout, we could see the panoramic views of the entire canyon from the east to Kalamalka Lake in the west. The view was absolutely beautiful! We found a bench overlooking the lake and had a little break before heading back to the parking lot.

If you are lucky, you might get a glimpse of some rock climbers. It is important to stay away from the cliff edges and to be cautious of the climbers below. During warmer seasons, watch out for rattlesnakes and other wildlife. Always be mindful of your surroundings, pack out what you pack in, stick to the trails, and Happy Exploring!

Things to have:

• Good hiking footwear
• Water/Snack
• Bear spray, always a good thing to carry
• Camera/Phone

Dogs are welcome

Born and raised in the Okanagan, Kristy Draginda always had a strong passion for the outdoors. Whether it be hiking to the top of a mountain or standing below a waterfall she says there is no better feeling than being inspired by nature. Follow along as Kristy shares different hiking locations in and around the Okanagan. For more adventure photos check out Hiking the Okanagan on Instagram or Facebook.