This trail climbs gradually for the first hour on a rocky, dusty trail. Once you get to the first viewpoint of Okanagan Lake, kelowna and the floating bridge the trail continues and the viewpoints only get better. There was still some snow in April. You can also make a loop around the Peters Station which is about 20km back to your car. This is a very rewarding hike as there is different terrain, bridges and creeks to cross.
Directions:
Going north in Westbank on Hwy 97 turn left on Bartley Rd. Follow the road straight to a gravel road, you will be on private property for 2km. Park on the right just before the cattleguard and the trail starts here.
A great trail that can be either shuttled or ridden. The climb is not great, as it's a typical old doubletrack for about 11 km. However, once you reach the ridge (which you can access via a long shuttle around the back) you get some excellent sub-alpine XC to play on. The descent is textbook Okanagan flowy singletrack, which even top downhillers will have a hard time completing in under 40 minutes.
Directions:
North of Hwy 97 in the Boucherie area of Westbank (or west Kelowna or whatever it's going to be called) on Bartley Road. This is the turn for the Bylands plant nursery, so look for that. Bartley is interrupted a couple of blocks in. so turn left on Shannon Lk. rd first, then right back onto Bartley.
The trail head is at the top of Bartley, you'll see it.
For the shuttle option, you'll have to drive 25 km up a series of logging roads up Bear Ck Main. Check the local shops in the area for conditions.
ByPosted By: iwhitehe
- Mon Jun 01 00:01:50 EDT 2009
Not Rated
QuestionPeters station on McDougall RimHey is that the green tower up on the top of hayman mtn? and you say that this is 10km one way... is that to peters station or is that to the resevoir? or? or? haha thanks.
ByPosted By: iwhitehe
- Sun May 31 23:57:40 EDT 2009
Not Rated
UpsideYou get a hard workout as it's a steady climb, nice flowers in late may/early june, and it's pretty much endless.... so you can choose your distance!
DownsideThese days the atv guys have made the better part of the trail a highway, but once you get past about 5 or 6 km it goes back to a hiking trail that leads up to Hayman Lk or the peak of Hayman Mtn and beyond.
CommentI just finished this trail today and did about 22km roundtrip. follow the trail until it reaches the road and turn right on the road and follow the road (s) as far as you can, then it turns back into single track. keep following this up 30 minutes or so and you will come to a couple of switchbacks. At the second switchback you will see some pink flag tape that inicated a trail that goes straight up the hill to Hayman lake. OR, stay on the main trail and follow it until you intersect with another quad trail (this is a long way) and then keep heading up the mtn with the quad trail, you will reach a radio or cell tower. Keep following the trail for BEAUTIFUL views of Bear Creek Valley! If you keep on this trail you will go around the ridge and come out at another set of bluffs for yet another persecptive. KEEP following the trail and it will lead down over toward some old irrigation resevoirs (where i turned around) on the top of the mtn and will eventually come out at the Hidden Creek FSR's. be prepared for a workout!
ByPosted By: tracksandtrails
- Sat Apr 25 22:55:38 EDT 2009
UpsideThe McDougal Rim Loop is a trail great for biking or hiking and has views of Kelown, Ros Valley and the bridge that are incredible. I just posted my favourite view point that I I call Hayman point along with Hayman bluffs on this page.
DownsideIf you go around the lake there is a good chance that you will come across motorised recreation vehicles that some may find disturbing - great area for that too though.
Commentfor more of my thoughts and pics on McDougal Rim Loop and Mount Hayman see my blog at www.tracksandtrails.ca
ByPosted By: Sush72
- Thu Sep 29 22:08:15 EDT 2005
UpsideGreat workout, and defintely rewarding views of the Valley and Reservoir!
CommentI tried to get to Hayman Lake by going left at the Intersection with the road. After slogging another 4 kms straight up logging roads, I didn't find the lake. Perhaps other hikers have found the lake and can clarify exactly WHERE to go, once you hit that intersection. I didn't have enough time to follow the trail/road to the right, but it seemed more promising and had the much better views :)
ByPosted By: amjacobs
- Mon Aug 15 02:29:05 EDT 2005
UpsideGreat views of Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley. A good challenge close to home. Good for snowshoes
DownsideTrails not really marked. ATV's and 4x4 trucks can be annoying
CommentI went in early spring when there was still snow. I went to Haymen Lake, and you do go left at the road and continue to go 'up'. The snow was deep at the top ~1340m at the lake. But some good view of the valley until it began to snow
ByPosted By: ChecMark
- Mon Aug 23 14:43:24 EDT 2004
UpsideIncredible views from the trail on the right.
DownsideDon't try to come down the steep trail in the rain! It becomes a mudslide.
CommentJust want to clarify directions a bit. The cattleguard is very old and filled in with dirt. We missed it on the way out and only saw it when we turned back. There is a "road not maintained" sign just passed the cattleguard and the parking area is off to the right just AFTER the cattleguard. Room for lots of vehicles.
Looking up the hill, the trail to your right is more gradual and comes out to clearings with the best views in the Okanagan. The trail to the left is very steep and, although it connects to the same main trail, you'll miss most of the fantastic views provided by taking the trail on the right. We only did a few km of the trail because of the rain, but what we did do was all uphill. We're going back to go further next time.
ByPosted By: Hiker Mike
- Mon May 17 17:56:50 EDT 2004
UpsideSo many different wildflowers. Good varried terrain from lush grassy areas, to deep forest, to open rocky bits. Awesome views, and if not done as a loop then it's not a terribly hard trail, just consistantly UPhill for most of it.
DownsideMuch respect to them, but watch out for mountain bikers. Some parts they come down fast and you've got to get out of their way. But the ones we saw were pretty respectfull of us, which is nice...
CommentVery enjoyable hike, though trail markings could be a bit better, especially at the Hayman Lake "road", go right for the real trail, left goes to the lake I think. This would be a fun trail to do the full loop on, but you'll need a fair bit of time unless you're well experienced. Here's two photo links: <a href="http://www.mikesphotos.ca/mcdougall1.jpg">Big View</a> and <a href="http://www.mikesphotos.ca/mcdougall2.jpg">Big View2</a> Hope those work.
ByPosted By: DanO
- Mon Apr 26 00:27:19 EDT 2004
UpsideVaried terrain, great views, can be out and back or loop.
DownsideNone that I can mention
CommentRunable for ultra training
Posted By: iwhitehe
Posted By: tracksandtrails
