Ellison Provincial Park

Vernon Hill: Choose Your Challenge—Legs or Tires � Vernon isn’t big. Driving through town, you’ll see the mountain straight ahead, lined with towering power poles—that’s Vernon Hill. It’s only for: 1️⃣ No pain, no gain? Hike straight up along the power lines—15km round trip, 880m elevation gain. 🥾 2️⃣ Not into walking? Drive around to Lavington and take the back route up. Unpaved road—4WD recommended. 14km one-way to the top (Becker Lake). 🚙 3️⃣ Adrenaline junkies? The hills are crisscrossed with trails for dirt bikes, MTBs, and ATVs. 🏍️ At the summit, Becker Lake Recreation Site has two entrances—one with a small dock. Both have outhouses, picnic tables, and fire pits. If you’re not into off-roading, driving all the way up just to paddle might not be worth it. Saw one guy hauling a big inflatable boat down. Some folks fish here. 🎣 Last April, my dad and I hiked up via the power lines (snowy summit!). This time, we drove, parked by the lake, and walked 5km along the main trail just to glimpse both Kalamalka Lake and Okanagan Lake at once. 🌊 You could drive the whole way, but slow down if you see people—the dust is insane! (Car & shoes will need a wash afterward.) 🚗💨 Besides bikers, there are cows roaming—so watch for "road snacks." Also met some black flies, but they’re wimps compared to Ontario’s. 🐄💩 #Vernon #Kelowna #HikingVernon #OkanaganLife #KalamalkaLake