Okanagan
The Okanagan Section was created in 1996 to provide a meeting ground for Okanagan residents interested in outdoor recreation in a mountain setting. With access to the Skaha Bluffs and the Cascade, Coast, Cariboo, Monashee, Valhalla and Selkirk Ranges, the Okanagan Section provides opportunities for a wide variety of activities, including rock climbing, ice and alpine climbing, hiking, mountain biking, nordic and telemark skiing, ski mountaineering and snowshoeing.
Anyone seeking an encounter with nature, challenge, friendship, learning, and fun through such activities is invited to join us for our meetings, social events, courses, and section trips.
North Okanagan
Located in the southern interior of British Columbia, the Okanagan Shuswap Forest District is one of 29 Districts in the Province. 57 Ministry of Forests staff located in Vernon, Penticton and Salmon Arm provide stewardship over diverse forest and range ecosystems in the Okanagan, Lower Similkameen and Shuswap drainages.
The Vernon Outdoors Club got its start in 1976 when Chrissie Stump and a few other kindred spirits got together and organized hikes around the Vernon area. From this modest beginning, it has developed into a strong, active organization with a membership close to two hundred wilderness-loving persons. The Club primarily schedules hiking and bicycling outings however many members enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities and are encouraged to share their interests with others.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is a "community based project" supported by it's members, volunteers, donors, sponsors, partners, granting agencies and admission fees. We rely heavily on community resources for our success in nature interpretation and habitat conservation.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre also works in partnership with government agencies and other community organizations to support and encourage conservation and stewardship of important habitats in the North Okanagan.
The Nature Centre provides visitors a first-hand opportunity to see and learn about the North Okanagan's unique and diverse natural heritage through views, information, programs and displays of the region's natural areas. The centre is ideally situated on a grassland knoll at the confluence of the Okanagan and Coldstream valleys. Three lakes and five ecosystems can be seen from this site and a total of nineteen points-of-interest provide spectacular, panoramic views of the North Okanagan and its diverse ecosystems.
The Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre is one of the premier Cross-Country Ski Areas in North America! Located in beautiful Silver Star Provincial Park, near Vernon BC, at an elevation of 1664m (5500 ft) the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre includes more than 50km of manicured trails, a large full service day lodge, ski school, rentals, night skiing, biathlon range and more. The ski area is operated by the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club in cooperation with BC Parks to provide a world class skiing experience at the lowest possible price.
Critical Mass Vernon meets at 5:30 pm on the last Friday of each month at the Polson Fountain. We ride en masse on a brief route through the city to advocate for improved cycling services. All ages welcome.
The Cycling Advisory Committee was formed in 2004 to help the City of Vernon plan for infrastructure to support area cyclists. This broad-based Committee of community representatives continues to meet every second month.
While they continue to advise the City regarding infrastucture, they also advise the Ministry of Highways, and they continue to work on special projects such as an area map of cycling routes.
Fosters conservation and an interest in nature by providing an opportunity for persons of all ages interested in natural history to meet and exchange information. The club encourages naturalists to practice conservation through vigilance, stewardship and acquisition of environmentally significant lands. Botany, Birding, Entomology, Geology, Hiking, and Conservation issues.
Ribbons of Green
Ribbons of Green is a non-profit, charitable society dedicated to the building of non-motorized trails and pathways in the greater Vernon area. It is made up of a ten member Board of Directors. Our current priority is to link the three major lakes with Vernon.
Active in working with local governments in the greater Vernon Area to implement the urban and non-urban trails that are part of the various Official Community plans. Also active in promoting alternative transportation such as carpooling and cycling, and establishing routes. We are open to possible coalitions with other related organizations.
545-2026
Central Okanagan
Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, is a group dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of nature in the Central Okanagan Valley.
It has active groups interested in birding, botany, conservation, education, hiking in the summer (easy, moderate, and more challenging), skiing (cross-country and downhill) in the winter.
CONC holds monthly meetings with informative and interesting speakers. Many members participate on local, regional, and provincial
bodies whose interests reflect ours.
CONC is involved with the Christmas Bird Count and with the Okanagan Mountain Park Birding Blitz.
"The Kelowna Running Club will provide opportunities for the community to Participate, Recreate and be Educated
in the sport of running at whatever level they choose"
Hard core mountain bikers may scoff at the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR), an abandoned railway bed that winds through south central British Columbia between Midway and Hope. It is after all a typical railway bed with grades that never exceed 2.2 %. But even the most radical mountain biker will grip the handle bars a little tighter crossing trestles hanging precariously on the sides of Myra Canyon. With countless trestles and tunnels, and environs ranging from cool mountain forests to Canada's only pocket desert the 600 km route offers an endless diversity of experiences.
In 1993, members of the community recognized that the Myra Canyon trestles and trail had become unsafe due to acts of destruction and vandalism. Ties and timbers from the trestles had been removed and had been either tossed over the edge, or pilfered. This left large gaps on the decks, making passage over the trestles quite perilous. Consequently, a small group decided to save the trestles from further destruction and the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society was born.
The constitution of the society reads:
(a) To upgrade trestles in the MyraCanyon to improve safe public passage;
(b) To improve and maintain the former Kettle Valley Railway right-of-way between Little White Forest Service Road, at approximately Mile 90.5, and Myra Forest Service Road, at approximately Mile 84.5, including, but not limited to, tunnels, access, parking facilities and trailways.
From 1993 to 1995, the MyraCanyon Trestle Restoration Society, together with the generous financial support of individuals and the business community, undertook to place decks and guard rails on all 18 trestles within the MyraCanyon section of the old KettleValley Railway line.
Much of this work was destroyed by the disastrous OkanaganMountainPark fire, but the basic structure of the trail including 2 tunnels, 4 wooden trestles, and 2 large steel trestles remains intact. It is the intention of the Society, with help from the private sector and individuals, to raise funds to assist senior levels of government to rebuild all the trestles and other damaged infrastructure. For news on the progress of rebuilding the trestles
South Okanagan
This is a trail information database that will provide you with a wealth of information about existing trails. We hope you find the website informative and easy-to-use.
We are a club of people who enjoy self propelled outdoor recreation. We share our knowledge of favourite hiking & skiing trails in the South Okanagan area.
Throughout the year we schedule weekly 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 hour long "hiking" or "touring skiing" trips; aiming to reach spectacular viewpoints along routes we have pioneered to make them as interesting and "user-friendly" as the terrain allows. These are usually on Saturdays; with mid week "work parties", or "exploratory trips" by small numbers of "keeners". There is a constant seasonal change in our destinations, with the lower canyons and ridges hiked in spring and fall; and the high alpine in mid summer. Every two to three months we hold social "planning meetings" in different members homes, to work out leaders, destinations and dates for our outings. We always welcome new members. There is a nominal annual fee of $7.00. All we require are: good boots, a comfortable light back pack, adequate water, reasonable fitness, and a friendly smile.
We welcome outdoor recreationalists from around the world to come and enjoy our trail along the scenic Okanagan River. Stretching from McAlpine Bridge (where the Okanagan River and Highway #97 intersect north of Oliver) to the head of Osoyoos Lake the "Hike and Bike" trail measures 18.4 kms in length.
The Meadowlark Festival was initiated by the Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance (OSCA) to encourage people of all ages to experience, discover and explore our natural environment. The Okanagan-Similkameen hosts a rare mosaic of natural habitats, among them is one of Canada's most endangered ecosystems - the hot, dry shrub-grasslands. A spring-time look at these shrub-grasslands, known as Canada's 'pocket desert', reveals a riot of colour flourishing in this seemingly harsh environment.
The weekend festival is a celebration of the unique wildlife and habitats found in Penticton and surrounding areas. More than 100 distinct types of wildlife habitat are home to some of the most diverse and rare assemblages of plant and animal species in BC and Canada.
Thompson
The Kamloops Outdoor Club
In October 1936, a group of Kamloops people, who were interested in outdoor non-motorized touring sports, hiking, ski touring, canoeing, tobogganing,and bicycling, formed a society registered with the City of Kamloops.
Except for the lull during the war years, the Club has maintained a continuous schedule of events with members volunteering as trip guides or event co-ordinators, including some three-day or week-long backpackinmg trips to various parts of the interior of the province and neighbouring Alberta. Also the social events, New Year's Day Ski, Fall Banquets, Christmas dinner, programme meetings usually every three months, and slide shows have always been very popular.
The club avoids motorized sports, except for highway access to trailheads. Environmentally conscious, we leave the outdoors as we found it.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Forest/3078/
group of individuals with an interest in natural history formed the Kamloops Naturalist Club in 1971. In the following year, our club joined the Federation of British Columbia Naturalists (FBCN). In 1981, we became a registered Society. We hold regular meetings and sponsor field trips with the aim of learning, and educating others about the natural environment. The club undertakes projects to protect and enhance aspects of the natural world. We provide public information about nature and make recommendations concerning the management of the natural environment. Our members provide input to government and industry initiatives and inform local citizenry through participation on committees, panels and other related bodies and at public meetings."
The Overlander Ski Club promotes and encourages recreational and competitive cross-country skiing at all levels and for all ages in the Thompson area of British Columbia."
The Overlander Ski Club is a registered non profit society and has operated in the Kamloops area since 1981. The objectives of the Ski Club are to: foster cross country skiing and ski racing and assist in the development of skiers in the Kamloops area.
The club played a major role in the campaign to seek compensation for the destruction of the Bush Lake/Timber Lake ski trails during the construction of the Coquihalla Highway.
Since 1991 the Overlander Ski Club has operated the trails with growing confidence. Public support has been strong, club membership has grown, and after 10 seasons of operation, the quality of the Stake Lake skiing experience is second to none in the province. The club continues to rely upon a dedicated group of volunteers to manage the trails
Shuswap
Columbia
The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club can trace its roots back to 1891. Today the club provides quality track skiing to its members and paying guests. Under the provisions of a User Agreement with the British Columbia Forest Service, the club maintains a system of ski trails on Mount Macpherson, with a trailhead situated seven kilometres south of Revelstoke on Highway 23.
Approximately 24 kilometres of trails are groomed for both skating and classic technique with a Bombardier BR275. The User Agreement requires the trails to be groomed at least once a week (usually prior to the weekend) or after a significant snowfall. The User Agreement authorizes the club to collect fees for skiing.
The club is a registered non-profit organization and almost all of the services provided by the club are accomplished by the thousands of volunteer hours of its members. These services include trail maintenance, trail grooming, machine servicing, first aid, special events, and a Ski League Program for children.
McMurdo Publications owned and operated by Kevin Finnegan, a valley resident and former bookstore owner is an avid reporter on area trails.
Monashee
Cascades
British Columbia
Cycling BC's Trans Canada Trail website. Here you'll find information and maps to guide you through some of the province's most stunning landscapes as you explore BC's Trans Canada Trail.
More than 1,200 forest recreation sites are located around British Columbia for the camping enjoyment of residents and visitors to the province. There are three types of recreation sites: managed with fees, managed without fees, and user maintained.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts also offers an extensive network of trails for those wishing to experience B.C.'s natural beauty.
AdventureSmart provides information and offers programs on outdoor safety topics. If you participate in activities like mountain biking, kayaking, snowboarding, hiking or others we have potentially life-saving information for you.
Enjoy BC's great outdoors, but please stay safe, by staying informed.
Canada
Canada's largest free back-country trails directory.
From Mountain Equipment Coop
The Canadian Avalanche Association is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that serves as Canada's national organization promoting avalanche safety. We are dedicated to bringing the avalanche community together to develop knowledge and understanding of avalanches, facilitate communication, promote professionalism and provide the highest standard of avalanche education.
International
