Trail: Turtle Head Lookout, Kalamalka Provincial Park
Trail Distance: 2.5 kilometres
Trail Difficulty: Easy
Directions:
From Kelowna, follow Highway 97 to Vernon. Turn right at the first set of lights, at College Way. Next, turn right at the bottom of the hill onto Kalamalka Road. Follow the signs for Kalamalka Provincial Park, Twin Bay. Turn right on Kinston Road and follow for 3.3 km and turn left into the parking lot.
Description:
The trail to the 'Turtle Head lookout' in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park is a great trail for anytime of the day! Also known as 'Rattlesnake Point,' the lookout offers stunning views of Kalamalka Lake and the surrounding mountains.
From the Twin Bay parking lot, we followed the Crest Trail down towards the lake. At about 500 metres we followed the main trail to the right, past the turn off for the dog beach. With every step, the views of the lake are amazing! At about 1.5 km we reached the top of 'Turtle Head Point' and got a 360 degree view of the lake and the Vernon Area. With a few benches, it's a great place to have a snack, take in the view or watch the sunset!
The uniquely gorgeous colour of Kalamalka Lake is slowly transforming as the water warms up. During the summer, the calcium carbonate, or limestone, forms crystals that reflect the sunlight and create its distinctive blue, green colours.
On our way back, we decided to continue on to the lower Turtle Head lookout and back up the Juniper Trail to the parking lot.
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park offers a variety of beach access, with several parking locations, and over 14 km of trails. There is a lot to explore!
Always be mindful of your surroundings, pack out what you pack in, stick to the trails and happy exploring!
Things to bring:
- Good footwear
- Water/Snack
- Bear spray (always a good thing to carry)
- Camera /Phone
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.
