Thanks to a world class mountain biking expert – Johnny Smoke, we now have another update to the Black Canyon Trail in Glenrosa. But even more cool is Johnny’s biking video. As I have hiked around Kelowna, I have come accross many bike ramps, I think Johnny has taken them all by the looks of this video. Check it out at his website and hire his company to take a mountain biking tour.
(no I wasn’t paid to say that but I do want to encourage him to come back to Tracks And Trails and leave more posts and hopefully more video)
This hiking post is a follow up to the previous post. A Tracks And Trails visitor and I have been trying to determine the location of the Black Canyon Trail Head in the closed Black Canyon Regional Park on the Westside.
The first picture is where we parked on Tuesday.
These are the directions.
Location:
Frontage on Both Sides of Sandberg Drive
Directions:
From Westbank Town Ctr., north on Elliot Rd., right on Shetler Dr., left on Sandberg Drive.
The problem is that at Sandberg Road at the mailboxes you walk up the hill, then enter an open pit, with a paved road in front of you (which I think might be the Old Okangan highway). The Smith Creek Retreat and Camp is also located just up the hill from the mailboxes and down the road about 50 feet.
That is where the Smith Creek MBT starts, but there are no signs showing hte Black Canyon trail, and it is not clear where the trail starts.
I didn’t realize it was closed. Maybe that is why I could not find the trail for Black Canyon.
That is strange, as the sign at the Constable Memorial (Glen Canyon Park) shows the trail as being an active trail.
Well, thanks for trying. Maybe a website visitor will be familiar with it and post new info. here.
Those instructions though will not take people to the trailhead as far as I could tell. As you walk straight up the hill and hit the road and then there are tons of trails that spread out (MBT) I believe.
Unless from the mailboxes, I missed it and the trailhead was before the paved road. ??…
Please post any info. you may have by using the comment link below.
I enjoy the seasonal display of snow crawling to lower and lower mountain elevations. Sometimes I allow the dampness and cool temperatures to dissuade me from taking a hike but whenever I have questions about hiking trails sent in from hearty TracksAndTrails.ca visitors, I become enthusiastic enough to step up to get out and enjoy a brisk hike. (possibly at a lower elevation though)
For now I just need help in confirming information on a possible hiking / biking trail.
First the question, then my thoughts and finnally below some supportive info from Cyclepath and the Regional District of Central Okanagan.
Question: Hello. Do you happen to know where the trailhead begins for Black Canyon Trail on the Westside? I found some info that said it was off Sandberg Road, but I started there and ended up on the Smith Creek Holy Pail MBike trail.
They show the Black Canyon Trail on the right side (the other side of the ravine from Glen Canyon Trail at the end of the Powers Creek section. So, if you hiked to the end of the flume trail and then crossed over the creek and started somewhere around there that is Black Canyon Trail. Also, it states under the Westbank Parks that the trail starts from Sandberg Rd. which seems like the right area, but I couldn’t find the trailhead. Thanks for any info you can find Do you have any info on the Black Canyon trail? Would appreciate any info you can give me.
Clayton’s note; After some initial research I have found that Black Canyon Dog Park exists at Sandberg Road and a Regional District “undeveloped park” called Black Canyon Park exists there.
Here is the description from the Regional District;
Black Canyon Park Open Space (Undeveloped)
Zone:
Smith Creek/Summerside
Location:
Frontage on Both Sides of Sandberg Drive
Directions:
From Westbank Town Ctr., north on Elliot Rd., right on Shetler Dr., left on Sandberg Drive.
Size:
1.50 hectares 3.71 acres
Hours of Operation:
Dawn to Dusk, this park is not yet open to the public
Please post a comment if you know this area. (this is an area that I have not explored)
6) Smith Creek (The Holy Pail) Smith Creek is an area of Westbank with a great loop located off Old Okanagan Highway. This loop is one of the few that offer a great meandering single track climb instead of a fi re road accent. The trail snakes its way up the mountain on smooth, fl owing single-track with tight technical turns. Towards the top of the climb the trail gets steeper and a little more diffi cult to climb, but by this point you are nearly up. Once at the top drop your saddle and drop in. The trail is loose in mid summer so watch your speed. On the decent you will be rewarded with small, fl owing jumps and technical rocky roll-downs. The trail is very technical in places but most intermediate to advanced riders will fi nd it very ridable and super fun. Part way down the decent is a great cliff line with a beautiful view of the canyon below and mountain ridge across from it. This entire loop takes about two hours to ride and most likely a little longer for intermediate riders. One of the areas best cross country rides by far. Trail maps for the area are available at all the local bike shops in Kelowna and Westbank. Just ask for the “Trails of the Westside” map.
