Mountain Hiking Trails South Western and Okanagan regions British Columbia, Canada

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Penticton Mountain Trails- Mount Nkwala

Mount Nkwala: Elevation 1020 meters (3335 feet)

Approximately 7.0 KM (4.4 miles) from Penticton, British Columbia. Hiking time round trip- 3.5 to 4.5 hrs. Round trip roughly 5KM (3.1 miles), elevation gain-585M (1913 feet). Best time is usually May to October.

Thanks to the Pentiction Indian Band for creating these trails on their mountain for non motorized recreational use. Note: Whatever one carries in, carry out.

Directions: From Penticton drive north on highway 97 about 2.3KM (1.4 miles). Turn left off highway 97 onto Sage Mesa Drive. Then turn left onto Pine Hills Drive. A short distance along Pine Hills Drive one will see a golf course on the left. Watch on the right for an opening in the fence that enters into a small area where one can park beside the old Kettle Railway path. This opening is a short distance after the gate that opens into a road on the right hand side. Park here and walk a short distance north along the Kettle Railway path. There will be a service road visible heading up towards Mt Nkwala just above. Turn left off the Kettle Railway path and get on this road. Climb up this road watching for a path past the pipe line right of way that starts with an opening in the road bank. Take this path and follow a series of paths that lead up to the 1st ridge. On the ridge is a main path that heads north and then intersects into a series of other paths. The trail is very poorly marked, occasional ribbon or pile of rocks. Follow the main paths that head uphill and note the paths taken for the return trip. The attached GPS readings and pictures may help.
Note: Even though the trail length seems short it is steep in places and provides a good workout.

GPS Data: Right click on link to bring up menu to download (save) file.

Mount Nkwala GPS GPX format-Zipped.   Mount Nkwala GPS TXT format.

Mount Nkwala 2014/02

Part way up the trail looking towards Penticton, Mt Nkwala 2014-02. Further up the trail on a bench, heading up, Mt Nkwala 2014-01. Sign on the trail, no motorized vehicles, Mt Nkwala 2014.

Mount Nkwala 2010/06

Part way up the trail looking towards Penticton, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. Little further up the trail looking towards Penticton, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. Higher up the trail, looking towards Penticton, Mt Nkwala 2010-06.
Fearless deer approaching on the trail, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. Deer stops briefly to pick out a snack, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. Fearless deer passes by. Must be a former town deer? Mt Nkwala 2010-06.
Further up the trail looking towards Penticton and Skaha Lake, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. At the peak looking north towards Summerland, Mt Nkwala 2010-06. At the peak looking south east towards Penticton, Mt Nkwala 2010-06.

Mount Nkwala 2009/10

Parking area beside Golf Course on Pine Hills Drive 2009-10. Start of trail leading to Mt Nkwala 2009-10. Start of trail going up Mt Nkwala 2009-10.
Part way up first ridge on Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. On top 1st ridge, now heading north, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Continuing north along 1st ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Taking trail to the left and heading up, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Another fork, taking left trail, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Part way up, looking back, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Further up coming to a flat area, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Trail along the flat area, turns and heads south, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Still heading south, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Another fork, turning right and climbing, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Another fork, taking the trail on the right, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Coming up to a bit of a climb, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Climbing to the top of a ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. View from the top of a ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Another view from the top of the a ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Climbing to the top of another ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Turning left and heading south on this ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Still heading south on this ridge, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Turning right onto a trail heading up, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Steep climb up, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Trail crosses service road and continues up, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Looking north towards Summerland from summit area, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Looking towards Penticton from summit area, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Looking east from the summit area, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.
Heading back down from the summit area, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Wild horses a short distance off the trail, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10. Nearly back to the parking area, vehicle in the distance, Mt Nkwala trail 2009-10.

Mount Nkwala 2008/05

A deer watching from a distance, Mt Nkwala trail 2008-05. Wild horses, Mt Nkwala trail 2008-05. View from Mt Nkwala summit looking south towards Penticton and Skaha Lake 2008-05.


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