Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

As of September 22, 2009:

• Please note: A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For a list of provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect or for more information about campfire bans, click here.

• The Upper Crawford trail is open and will be the main access from Kelowna to Little White Mt.  Motor vehicles are not permitted on the Upper Crawford Trail.  The Little White Mt trail is not maintained and closed due to a large amount of blow down, the trail is impassable. 
• Some construction activities are planned on the KVR within Myra-Bellevue park but no significant trail closures are expected 

The park re-opened in May 2005 after the major forest fire in 2003.

Wildfires 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 and campground areas. 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.

Mushroom picking or harvesting is prohibited in provincial parks.

Park Info

Myra-Bellevue Provincial 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 increasingOkanagan Valley population.

Special Features:

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.

Park Size: 7,829 hectares

Special Notes:

• 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.
• Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the Myra Canyon section of the KVR.
• Do not deposit garbage in the pit toilets.

Stay Safe:

• 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.

General Visitor Information

• Park User Fees
• What to Know Before You Go
• General Safety & Ethics
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Fishing and Hunting Information
• Other Links

Location

• Location Map

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.

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. Use extreme caution when driving around hikers and bikers on the road in.

Stewart Rd 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.

Nature & Culture

• History
• Cultural Heritage
• Conservation
• Wildlife

Management Planning

Management Planning Information

• Approved Management Direction Statement

Map / Brochure

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

• Park Map (pdf) - Updated August 2008
• A detailed map of trails for the lower region of Myra Bellevue Provincial Park has been produced by Friends of the South Slopes (FOSS) . Click here to view.

Activities Available At This Park

		Cycling

		Hiking

		Horseback Riding

		Hunting

		Pets on Leash

		Wildlife Viewing

		Winter Recreation

Facilities Available At This Park

		Pit or Flush Toilets