Pincushion Mt. and the adjacent Trepanier Watershed share a connection via numerous trails in the area, thought this bond has been temporarily severed by construction. This chapter introduces you to a series of trails in and above the lakeside community of Peachland.

Pincushion Mt. was my gateway to discovering what the area had to offer trail enthusiasts. The mountain itself earned it's title from the appearance of burned out trees along its ridgeline - remnants of a large fire in the late 1900's. These days, Pincushion Mt. looks nothing like a pin-cushion and even the title is a misnomer. Pincushion Mt. actually lies several kilometers to the northwest and is significantly higher in elevation. Nonetheless, locals describe this ridgeline as "Pincushion Mt.", so that's how I'll refer to it as well.

Trepanier Cr. inherits it's name from a more colorful past: in 1817, or so the story goes - a Shuswap chief had been seriously wounded in the head and an operation known as trepanning was performed to relieve swelling of the brain. A hole was cut in his skull with a cylindrical saw known as a trepan and a piece of the chief's skull was removed. The procedure was said to have taken place at what is now known as Trepanier Creek.

Click the image above to see an expanded overview of the area's trails.

Pincushion Mt. sports a popular hiking route to it's summit; Pincushion Trail #3. I'd heard much about this trail over the years, each missive extolling the virtue of its vistas and excellent trail surface. I can now attest to the amazing views one experiences throughout much of the ascent, along with the mildly strident nature of the trail.

Several companion trails also exist in the immediate vicinity, running up from Okanagan Lake, and down from the first Coquihalla Hwy overpass. These include Stave Pipe Trail #1, Trepanier Forest Trail #2 and the Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park (also referred to as a 'Linear Park').

Check out this topographical map for visual clarification.

A section of the Trepanier Forest Trail #2 is also a sub-component of, and briefly runs parallel with, the Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park. The Regional District is working on a long-term project to connect Okanagan Lake with the Trepanier Protected Area, 10km up the Coquihalla highway.

I will initially describe Pincushion Trail #3, as though it were a stand-alone route (because it temporarily is) followed by a brief description of the area's other trails. This chapter will be rewritten once construction ceases and Trails #2 and #3 are rejoined.

Tree Group, developers of the Ponderosa-Pincushion construction project, have submitted plans for additional and improved trails throughout the area.

Pincushion Trail #3

Nearly half of the vertical rise between Okanagan Lake and the summit of Pincushion Mt. is lost in the excursion up Ponderosa Dr. to the #3 trailhead at the end of Ponderosa Dr.

At the time of writing (Nov. 2011) there exists a small, well established parking lot at the Pincushion #3 trailhead. Its closely bordered by construction, yet despite the fact that the trailhead may be slightly realigned, the trail itself will remain in place for perpetuity.

Pincushion Trail #3 is well signed and heavily trodden, so staying on-track should be effortless. Rest stops with amazing views dot the trail allowing one to catch their breath and recognize what makes this part of BC so spectacular!

I'd advise that you bring walking poles for this one, as the trail sports numerous steep, and sometime loose sections. The real challenge is not so much the ascent, but rather the descent. Sections of the trail are coated with small, round gravel which can place one on their butts in a hurry.

The trail's brief 2km length is deceptive in that the initial stretch is fairly steep, followed by a mellow section, and capped by a gnarly stretch to the summit. Unlike other trails in this area, Pincushion Trail #3 is not a mountain bike friendly route due to countless short, steep pitches and scrambles.

Trepanier Forest Trail #2

I can provide only lip-service to Trepanier Forest Trail #2 due to the fact that what once was a trail by name, is now accounted for by a combination of the Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park and a blocked entry to construction zone. It will 'live again', but for now, I know not where or when.

After paralleling Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park for 1300m, Trepanier Trail #2 veers to the southeast and attempts to climb to the base of Pincushion Trail #3. However, due to the Ponderosa-Pincushion housing development, the trail is blocked and signed 'No Trespassing', so this option is off the table for now.

On the way up to the intersection you will no doubt be drawn to the sound of the small waterfall in Trepanier Cr. My fall visit no doubt doesn't do the falls justice, as I imagine that they are quite magnificent in the spring.

.Stave Pipe Trail #1

The southwestern corner of the fence line at Peachland Elementary school on Clement's Crescent marks the original bottom trailhead for Stave Pipe Trail #1. However, in order to connect the Okanagan Lakeshore with the area's other trails and parks, the Peachland community plan includes a short section of Clement's Crescent along with a paved path into the overall route.

That path, known locally as Harold's Walkway, runs from the southern end of Clement's Cres., under highway 97 and onto Beach Ave. in downtown Peachland.

Choose your initial access point to taste; suffice to day, Stave Pipe Trail #1 rises from the school fence line, along a well-constructed switchback trail that soon heads northwest up the Trepanier Cr. watershed.

1200m along, Stave Pipe Trail #1 junctions with the Trepanier Forest Trail #2, aka; Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park. If you head left at this point, a five minute walk will find you entering a residential area (Pincushion Place) Many locals enter the trail network from this end.

From Pincushion Place you may ascend 6th Ave. and Ponderosa Dr., to access the bottom of Pincushion Trail #3. I've scouted the hillsides east and west of the Stave Pipe / Trepanier Cr. junction, seeking another (off-road) way up to the Pincushion Trail #3 trailhead, but none exist. As such, most folks drive up to Pincushion Trail #3 and hike it separately. This is unfortunate, as the area's other trails are interesting and somewhat more 'family-friendly' (easy).

If one were to instead hang a right at the end of Stave Pipe Trail #1 and the junction of Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park, they would end up following the Greenway northwest toward the Coquihalla overpass.

Historically, the Trepanier Forest Trail #2 ran 1.4km northwest along this old two-track before switching sharply back to the left and climbing to Pincushion Trail #3.

As that switchback is now blocked by construction, one must choose to turn back and return along their entry trail or continue approximately 1.5km further northwest to the Trepanier Greenway Regional Park near the Coquihalla Hwy. overpass. This 'pocket-park' is a component of the overall linear park network. The area is currently in legal transition, hence the name confusion

If you wish to approach Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park from the west, the Coquihalla entrance can be reached by following either Hwy.97c west to the first overpass or by using Trepanier Bench Rd. The Bench Rd. option is more scenic; the Coquihalla quicker.

There are currently no washroom facilities at the regional park and the parking area needs to be enlarged. Its my understanding that Regional District of Central Okanagan has projects on the books that include both enhancements. Once parked, over the bridge and on your way, you are faced with two trail choices; these routes merge in short order.

Fun Facts; while researching this chapter, I learned a few things; first off, the phrase "Anthropogenic disturbances"; this means us and all of the stuff in nature that we mess with. In short; don't mess with nature :-) just absorb the beauty, the scents and general juju of an area.

Old School The Trepanier watershed was a prehistoric nomadic route between the Douglas plateau and the Okanagan Valley. Later, fur traders also used the area as a transportation corridor.

Volkssports Every area has it's hard-core hikers and Peachland is no different. This beauty' little community hosts the Peachland Volkssport Club. Its my understanding that they have a lot to do with the local popularity of hiking, and that their group supports area trail maintenance; hats off to ya'!

Volkssports is a German word for 'People's Sports', and includes walking, cycling swimming and cross-country skiing. Check out their website

Things Change; Google Often Stays the Same If you look on Google Earth (circa late 2011) it appears that a golf-course & lodge exists in Peachland. In fact, it was recently bulldozed to make way for a billion (yup', billion with a 'b') dollar housing, golf course, retail megga-project etc.

Low: | High: 805m | Length: Varies | Water: N/Potable| Cell: Spotty down low