Due to its close proximity to the city of Penticton, Campbell Mountain is a staple trail network for locals.  Despite its diminutive geographical size, Campbell Mt. offers an amazing array of interesting routes to explore;  undulating singletrack on the forested west side, roller coaster trails on the southeast slope and a yawning canyon on the east face all offer challenge and striking visuals.

All images on this website are clickable to access larger versions. Click here to see an alternate / 'old-fashioned' version of the Campbell Classic map as well.

Over the years various individuals have hung monikers on the mountain’s many beaten paths.  Unfortunately, as no official trail signage exists, each individual or group has selected unique names for the same trails.  As such, I didn't feel bound to adhere to a particular naming convention in this chapter.

Seeking some semblance of clarity, I've simply amalgamated the random trail titles into overall routes; in the case of this chapter; 'Campbell Classic', 'Campbell Switchback' and the optional diversion to the 'Campbell Summit'.

This chapter by no means describes every trail on Campbell Mt.  I had originally laid out the accompanying maps in a manner that presented every possible route, but it ended up being a visual catastrophe.  Instead, I have chosen to display only the most commonly used Campbell Mt. routes on the main maps. In addition however, I have also provided GPS and Google Earth files on this site which showcase all available trails.  The Google Earth files in particular allow one to zoom, pan, tilt and rotate Campbell Mt’s comprehensive trail network, bringing perspective to this height of land.

Campbell’s western facing routes are technical and tight, winding in and out of forested gullies in the mountainside, oftentimes through areas of significant side-slope.  I therefore wouldn't recommend west side singletrack trails to novice cyclists. Experienced trail riders may view these routes as intermediate, while intermediate riders may view them as extreme.

The southern and southeast exposures are open and flowing, but can be torridly hot mid-summer.  Campbell’s east side canyon trail features intense cliff exposure, but also offers a parallel road upon which to avoid the sketchiest section.  Campbell's north-face is tree-sheltered and strewn with roads, offers some of the tamest terrain on the mountain and hosts the north side parking area along with several roads to the summit.

This chapter will examine two complete routes and one variation, these include the Campbell Classic - as depicted in this chapter's lead image (click to zoom) which involves a complete circumnavigation of the mountain and the Campbell Switchback, shown below, running along the south and west faces, returning to the northern parking area.

I've also described the Campbell Summit option, which, as the title suggests, takes one to the summit of this height of land before rejoining the Campbell Classic route.

This trio of trail descriptions only touches upon the comprehensive network of singletrack routes which exists on-mountain.  They do however, allow one to experience a significant overview of the area, affording confidence in further exploration.

Campbell Mt. is most commonly experienced by setting out from it's northern parking area. To do so, turn right off of Naramata Rd. at the junction of Naramata Rd. and Reservoir Road. This paved route ascends beyond the city landfill and soon meets a 3-way intersection; Spiller Rd. is on your left, a field is on your right and Greyback Mountain Rd. runs straight ahead (Reservoir Rd. ends here).

Continue straight at this intersection, crossing a cattle guard and making your way approximately four hundred meters further along. There you will notice a dirt switchback road to your right, as well as another to your left.  The right-hand road leads to Campbell Mountain’s north side parking area. Be careful of glass and nails; many prefer to park roadside rather than dodge sharpies in the parking area.

Cyclists often prefer to ascend Reservoir Rd. from the bottom, parking 500m up from the Naramata Rd. intersection. This starting point is locally known as 'Morganstern's Gate' and sports antiques bearing the family name. From there, they ascend the road or singletrack trails to the north parking area described above, or head south along routes which snake across the western face of the mountain.  Which ever entry you choose, most trails lead to the summit or circumnavigate the mountain.

While on the mountain, you are sure to encounter the Campbell Mt. Service Rd. on numerous occasions.  As such, you should roughly understand how it is laid out.  The gravel road leading up to and through the north side parking area continues a short distance beyond that point, where it splits. On your left are short, parallel routes that soon merge with the main road. Continuing strait ahead takes you around the east side of the mountain. If you stick with the main road up, it continues to rise toward the summit.

Three quarters of the way to the summit, it splits again. At this intersection the main road continues to head up on its way to the mountain's summit, another slightly smaller route heads off to the right, making its way around Campbell's west face, nearly circumnavigating the mountain in it's return to the northern parking area. I say "nearly" because the road is blocked at the extreme southern tip by erosion. Numerous, smaller roads also exist, but these generally merge with the larger routes.

Campbell Classic (see map at the head of this chapter). This route circumnavigates the mountain high on the west face, low on the east. Along the way, it presents a great overview of what Campbell has to offer. This route is not suitable for novice riders. Here is a quicklink to the larger map.

If starting at Morgenstern’s gate, enter the gate and keep left, ascending the singletrack which shadows Reservoir Rd. for a distance of 1.3 km, until you reach the north parking area.

From the north parking area, head south on the Campbell Mt. service road for 75m, at which point the service road turns and climbs to the left.  Exit the road at this corner, continuing straight ahead into the forest and along a well defined trail which initially drops slightly.  Proceed along this route for 1.4km, ignoring the connecting trails which drop or ascend as you make your way south along the hillside.

670 meters along the trail you will find yourself joining a road which switchbacks its way up under the overhead power lines.  Ascend this two-track for approximately 20 meters, at which point you will see a singletrack trail heading off to your right, due south.  Exit the road and follow this singletrack trail.  Approximately 600 meters further you will come upon an old Dairy Queen table ("the DQ table").  Rest and drink in the beautiful views laid out before you.

At the DQ table the trail splits and you can choose between two routes; the 'Campbell Classic' described here and the 'Campbell Summit' route described later in this chapter. The two routes eventually merge, with only a visit to the mountaintop to differentiate them.

The Campbell Classic's route departs southeast from the DQ table and gently ascends to meet the circuitous Campbell Mt. service road some 240 meters along. The Campbell Summit route rises due east from the DQ table and heads vigorously to the top of Campbell Mt.

Once the southeast bearing 'Classic' route meets the Campbell Mt. service road, continue to head south along the service road for a distance of approximately 680 meters. At that point, the service road will begin to drop slightly and a well worn singletrack trail will peel off to the left. Follow the singletrack as it crosses the road twice before heading for the south face of the mountain.

Several dirt-bike hill-climb tracks cross the trail at right angles, creating ruts that may be challenging to pass over, so watch your speed if traveling on a mountain bike.  Stick to the trail until it joins and appears to end on an old two-track service road (it will be the second road that you have met thus far on the south face).

At this point you need to follow the service road for a distance of 110m, which will bring you to a four-way intersection of roads. If you peer almost strait ahead, you will notice a singletrack trail dropping into a field just beyond the intersection and to your left. Drop in here and follow this singletrack as it flows around, up and over the terrain, eventually crossing another service road and then continuing north toward the steep backside canyon.

In short order this trail will skirt the edge of a very steep and potentially dangerous canyon rim. I suggest that novice and intermediate cyclists should walk their bikes for the entire canyon rim section.

The trail continues beyond the canyon, onto a plateau, and back up to the service road, which it then follows north for a distance of nearly 300m. At this point the Campbell Classic trail drops to your right and makes its way toward a water pumping station. Drop and hang a left at your first significant singletrack trail, located about 275m along and just shy of the pump station. The trail then heads northwest, making its way back to the northern parking area where you began your adventure. The final few hundred meters of the route finds the singletrack diminishing altogether, and you following about 500m of wandering flat roads back to the start point.

Campbell Mt. Switchback Rather than circumnavigating the mountain as with the Campbell Classic, the Switchback trail enters from the north (again, via the upper parking area or Morgenstern's Gate) and runs approximately mid-mountain all the way across to Campbell’s southernmost ridge.

Just beyond the southern ridge it drops and doubles back, shadowing its upper route as it makes its way back to the north starting point or Morgenstern's Gate. The gate is a much easier goal, so plan on riding up the road to the northern parking area, or use the singletrack parallel to the road in order to enjoy this trail

The Switchback trail provides a taste of many challenging sections of Campbell Mt., wrapped in the guise of one tightly looping trail.  I am especially fond of the lower return route, which consists of a tight, wildly undulating singletrack trail.  While not novice rider friendly, it offers an excellent trail for experienced bike handlers with fortitude or a very interesting hike.

In order to explore Switchback follow the same route as the Campbell Classic described earlier in this chapter. Stick with it all the way back around the southern face of the mountain, heading northeast for nearly a third of the overall length of the mountain.

As you near the completion of the upper backside singletrack, keep your eyes peeled for the approaching overhead hydro lines.  60m prior to crossing under the hydro line, you will face a crossroad and entrance to a section of singletrack trail that switches steeply to the left and enters a tight gully.  Do not drop and enter the gully; do not pass beneath the overhead power lines, as you must change direction here in order to follow the Switchback trail.

At this point, you will be standing at a 4-way intersection consisting of the singletrack you are on and a two-track road that crosses it diagonally.  Exit the singletrack and drop due south along this steep two-track route, while watching for a right hand singletrack trail which will cross the two-track approximately sixty meters down from the intersection you departed.

Turn right onto this first singletrack trail and descend a further 470 meters along the trail to the point at which it meets the Campbell Mt. service road.  Follow the service road west for half of a kilometer, at which point the road gently turns and drops to the left, while an obvious singletrack trail rises to your right and continues across the face of the slope.

There are actually two singletrack trails exiting the road at this point; you seek the first of the two.  It begins with a bit of a rock-lined ramp of sorts.  Circa 2010, a chainsaw cut log with the initials PACA carved into it marks the correct line.  The second, immediately adjacent, lower trail simply follows the road for a short distance before merging with it.

The trail soon rises (in some parts, steeply) to cross over Campbell Mt’s southern ridge line, at which point you will see a radio transmission tower on your left.  Cross the two-track road that runs down the ridge line and then head right - not directly across and down.  The trail that you seek is obscured behind a fallen tree on your right.

You will now be headed north again on a return route that features three kilometers of twisty, forested singletrack. Ignore the adjoining trails as you make your way along.  Numerous short but severe climbs and a great deal of very steep side-hill must be tackled as you make your way back to the main singletrack that rises from Morgenstern’s Gate.  All of this trail is rideable, but some of it will challenge your legs and balance to the max!

If you parked at Morgenstern’s Gate or rode in from town, simply turn left when you finally hit the northernmost fence / Reservoir Rd., and descend. If you started at the upper / northern parking area, ride Reservoir Rd. or the parallel singletrack trails to return to your vehicle.

Getting There From the Peach in downtown Penticton, the following directions are going to sound outrageous because there are so many small roads with individual titles between downtown and the trailhead.  Head east on Lakeshore Drive, it turns and intersects with Front St.  Cross the bridge to your left, through the roundabout, and head up Vancouver Ave.  You are now on Lower Bench Rd.  Continue to Tupper Ave., turning right on Tupper and driving to the Middle Bench Rd. intersection. Turn left on Middle Bench Rd. and follow it north .5Km to where it turns right and changes its name to Munson Ave.  Munson runs all of six hundred meters, where it changes in name to McMillan Ave.  You now arrive at an intersection known as Spiller’s Corner.

McMillan Rd. carries on 300m before turning sharply left and changing name to Naramata Rd.  Reservoir Rd. runs straight off to the east from this corner, ascending toward the Campbell Mt. landfill.  Climb Reservoir Rd., eying the right hand side for a red metal gate and Morgenstern’s sign.  This appears 600m up, on your right.  Beyond the gate lies singletrack nirvana!  If you park here, get far off the road in order to avoid traffic roaring down Reservoir Rd. 

Alternately, make your way to the north parking area 1.6 kilometers further up the road, on the right.  This ‘north parking lot’ is a common starting spot for folks exploring Campbell Mt.

The Campbell Summit trail is for those of you keen to see the top of the mountain and take in it's amazing vistas. In the image above (click to enlarge) you can see the Campbell Summit trail shown in dark green and the Campbell Classic trail displayed in lime green.

In order to access the summit of Campbell Mt. via the Summit Trail; once you have reached the DQ table, as per the explanations above, head due east, 'straight into the mountain' as it were. You will see an intimidatingly steep trail ahead of you, but as you approach it you will be relieved to see another trail heading off to your left; take it.

Ascend this trail until you hit the main Campbell Mt. service road; ignoring the power line service road along the way up. Bear right and follow the service road southwest for approximately 165m. At that point you will see a singletrack trail dropping on your left to meet the service road; head up this singletrack trail.

Follow this trail until it meets the service road again, but don't follow the service road the rest of the way up; look to your right and you will see the continuation of the singletrack on the south side of the fenceline.

The balance of the route to the summit requires no description as it is represented by a well-worn trail.  Rest and enjoy the spectacular 360 degree views.

Afterward, follow the mountaintop service road south for 165m.  At this point you will be near the summit’s southernmost radio tower and building.  Ignore the road which drops down at the northern corner of the security fence; pass 20 meters beyond it instead.  There you will see a singletrack heading down on your right and switching back tightly to the north.  Descend on this trail for a distance of 520m, at which point it reconnects with a lower section of the Campbell Mt. service road.

Once on the service road head left (south) for a distance of 560m. There you will see the same left-hand junctioning singletrack trail noted earlier in the Campbell Classic description. This trail wraps around the mountain and places you near the northern parking area.