Park overview
Myra-Bellevue Park was established to provide increased representation of the North Okanagan Basin and North Okanagan Highlands ecosections by capturing the full elevational range from the outskirts of Kelowna eastward to the crest of the mountains. The park has a large exclusion in the centre that locals refer to as the “donut.” This excluded area is Crown Land under Forest Tenure licences.
Features such as the dramatic escarpment of Little White Mountain, the scenic Myra Canyon, a number or existing trails and the historic Kettle Valley Railway, with its trestles and tunnels, have provincial recreational appeal and provide long term recreational opportunities for the increasing Okanagan Valley population.
Advisories
Dates of operation
Park status:
Open
The park gate is open year-round
Safety info
- There are natural hazards along the trail including steep drop-offs at Crawford Falls and Devil’s Elbow, and falling rock. Use caution and keep children under adult supervision.
- Use of mountain bike stunt features is not recommended and they are not endorsed by BC Parks.
- Wildfires from 2003 have produced many hazards in the area. You should be aware of these hazards and the increased risk of injury prior to entering the area. The hazards include: unstable trees, holes and loose rock. The hazards have been reduced along the main trail system.
Travel off the main trail system has an increased level of risk. If you choose to enter this burnt area, you can reduce your risk by:
- Remaining on the main trail network;
- Waiting for favourable weather;
- Lowest risk = calm wind conditions with no rain or snowfall
- Highest risk = windy conditions with rain or snowfall
- Travel quickly to reduce your exposure time;
- Spread your group out to reduce risk of multiple casualties;
- Stop or camp in open flat areas at least one tree length from standing trees;
- Travel carefully, contact with roots or trees may cause a tree to fall;
- Avoid steep slopes – falling trees and loose rocks may slide downhill; and,
- If trees are actively falling, leave the area or take shelter.
Special notes
- The KLO Creek (Myra) Canyon, Bellevue Creek corridor and the Kettle Valley Railway are special features with special character, fragility and heritage values. Angel Springs has mineral deposits with pools, steps, sink holes and small caves.
- The park is open year-round with services from mid-April to November 15.
- Little White Trail (from Bypass Trail at Pooley Creek to Upper Crawford Trail) is not maintained and closed.
- Some construction activities are planned on the Kettle Valley Railway within Myra-Bellevue Park but no significant trail closures are expected.
- The Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Railroad (KVR) is very busy in the summer and used by a variety of groups including hikers, mountain bikers, horses and vehicles accessing parking. Please respect other users. Mountain bikers are asked to yield to hikers and horses.
- Many trails within Myra Bellevue receive only periodic maintenance. Although these trails remain open, users may encounter fallen trees and/or trail wash-outs.
- Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Myra Canyon section of the KVR and within the park.
- Do not deposit garbage in the pit toilets.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for these areas of the park:
Activities
For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
The historic Kettle Valley Railway offers hiking and walking opportunities and is part of the Trans Canada Trail. The 12 km section of trail between the Myra access and the June Springs access is an ideal day trip by bike or on foot.
The KVR is an important tourist attraction for the Kelowna area, used by local, regional and international tourism operators. The area is extremely busy during the summer months. Little White Mountain is described as one of the most attractive sub-alpine areas in the Okanagan and is a significant destination for backcountry recreation. The forested south slopes provide extensive hiking opportunities at the urban interface.
- Due to the recent classification of the land base as a protected area, there are limited facilities and no maps of hiking trails (which may not meet BC Parks’ standards) available.
- A detailed map of trails for the lower region of Myra Bellevue Park has been produced for purchase by Friends of the South Slopes (FOSS).
The historic Kettle Valley Railway offers opportunities for cycling. Cyclists are reminded to walk their bikes across the trestles and be courteous to other users on the trail. The lower elevation portion of the protected area between KLO Creek and Bellevue Creek is popular with the local mountain bike club with many trails of varying difficulty. Trails do not meet BC Parks’ standards.
Bike rentals, concessions and tours are available at the Myra Station parking lot through Myra Canyon Bicycle Rentals, and shuttle services and bicycle/hiking tours are offered with Kettle Valley Railway Cycling Company. Mountain bikers are asked to yield to hikers and horses.
Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia. For details on e-biking within Myra-Bellevue Park, see the e-biking section.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Myra-Bellevue Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Horses and horseback riding are permitted. Popular areas include the Bellevue Creek drainage, Canyon Lakes and Crawford Creek.
Myra-Bellevue is open to hunting. Check the BC Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis for further details.
Note: There is a large population base using the Crawford Trails network, and hunters are urged to be cautious when hunting in this location.
The protected area is southeast of Kelowna. It roughly encompasses KLO Creek to Bellevue Creek and up to Saucier Creek and Canyon Lake with a large exclusion in the centre that locals refer to as the “donut.” The upper portions of Pooley Creek are also excluded. There are two accesses off of McCulloch Road.
Myra (the main access)
Follow McCulloch Road past the golf course to the Myra Forest Service Road. Use caution since this section of paved road is narrow with blind corners. Once on the forest service road, follow it for 8 km to the large parking area. The road is gravel and can be rough. The gravel parking area is divided into two lots with a total of roughly 75 spots and lots of room to turn around. There are two pit toilets here, one of which is wheelchair-accessible. There is no parking beyond this point. Motorized vehicles are prohibited past this access to Myra Canyon.
June Springs
The other access is via the paved June Springs Road. Follow it for 6 km to the Little White Forest Service Road. Follow the unpaved forest service road for 4.5 km to the parking area. This road is also rough and passes through private property. There is a gravel parking area for roughly 33 vehicles and one pit toilet above the parking lot. Further along the rail bed there is more parking. At kilometre 1 there are two narrow pullouts, with 11 spots and 21 spots, and two pit toilets. There is no parking beyond this point. Motorized vehicles are prohibited past this access to Myra Canyon. Use extreme caution when driving around hikers and bikers on the road in.
Stewart Road East
This road accesses the lower elevation portion of the protected area popular with mountain bikers. It is unique in that it is so close to the urban area of Kelowna. In Kelowna, follow Benvoulin Road to Casorso Road to Bedford Road to Stewart Road East and the parking lot where there are two pit toilets.
Park and activity maps
- Park Map [PDF] (August 2008)
- Location Map
A detailed map of trails for the lower region of Myra Bellevue Park has been produced for purchase by Friends of the South Slopes (FOSS).
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: April 18, 2001
- Size: 7,696 hectares
Park contact
This park proudly operated by:
Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
info@campokanagan.com
250-766-7972
(This is not a campsite reservations number)
Please specify the park name when leaving a message.
Nature and culture
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.