Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park

Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park is a provincial park within the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District of British Columbia, Canada, focused on the mountain of the same name and located on the east side of Okanagan Lake, opposite Peachland and immediately south of the City of Kelowna.[2] The park is one of the largest in the area, covering 110.38 square kilometres (42.62 sq mi). Most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat as motor vehicle access is restricted to BC Parks staff and technicians servicing the three telecommunications towers in the park.

Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Half Way Bay on Lake Okanagan during Golden Hour in Winter
Location in British Columbia
LocationBritish Columbia, Canada
Nearest cityKelowna
Coordinates49°43′42″N 119°38′21″W
Area110.38 km2 (42.62 sq mi)
Established1973
Governing bodyBC Parks

The park comprises several trails,[3] campsites (including six marine camp areas), lakes, and large areas of wilderness. Popular activities include hiking, camping, boating, mountain biking, and hunting (which is permitted).

Between 1975 and 1993, around 84.5 hectares (209 acres) of land now incorporated into Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park was donated by Dr. David Carruthers Murdoch through the Nature Trust of British Columbia.[4][5]

Wildlife
See also: Okanagan dry forests

The rugged rocky terrain is habitat for mountain goats, white-tailed deer, moose, elk, lynx, and marten. Coyote are also found in the park. Small but very important species are the blue listed western harvest mouse, Nuttall's cottontail (the furthest northerly occurrence) and spotted bat.[6]

The northern alligator lizard and western skink can be found under rocks or bark in open wooded areas while the yellow-bellied racer prefers grasslands and open fields. Other reptile species found in the park include western painted turtle, rubber boa, gopher snake, western blue racer and western rattlesnake.

The park protects habitat for bird species including the western grebe and white-headed woodpecker.

Wildfire
2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire

In 2003, a wildfire started in the park near Rattlesnake Island and spread quickly, eventually burning most of the park. The burned trees and other fire-related hazards posed an extreme danger and the park was closed. In 2005, the park was reopened after much cleanup work, though many burned trees still are a significant danger.

Images

References
  1. "Okanagan Mountain Park". Protected Planet. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  2. "Okanagan Mountain Park". BC Geographical Names.
  3. BC Parks trail brochure
  4. Donor Spotlights, BC Parks, retrieved February 26, 2013
  5. "Land Contribution to Okanagan Mountain Park" (PDF), Visions, BC Parks Newsletter, BC Parks, 5 (2): 4, April 1994
  6. "Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park". British Columbia, Ministry of Environment. Retrieved 16 October 2013.


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