Twin Bays and Crest Trail

Twin Bays/Juniper Bay/Crest Trails

Trail rating: Moderate

Prepare to be amazed as you wind your way through scenic Coldstream roads and arrive at Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. This photogenic sprawling 3,700 hectare nature park provides many opportunities to enjoy the Kalamalka Lake.

Friends of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park have a great website with maps and info.

The 2.5 km Juniper and Crest Trails loop is a marvelous introduction to the park.

Start at the Twin Bay's parking lot and head down the paved Juniper Trail for a picnic in the grassy park. In the summer, cool off with a plunge into the pristine water at the sandy Juniper Beach before setting out on the sunlit lakeside trail to a viewing deck. 

Hike up to the Turtle's Head for incredible viewpoints of Kalamalka Lake and the park. The oldest known living tree in the Okanagan lives here. It's a twisted, gnarly old Juniper perched tenuously to a cliff at Turtle's Head (aka Rattlesnake Point). Return to the parking lot along the Crest Trail for more scenery at every turn.

Look for: grassland wildflowers, sunflowers and Saskatoon flowers dot the landscape along with Oregon grape, lupines, avens, yarrow, Mariposa Lily and Mock Orange blossoms. 

Listen for: Western Meadowlark's cheerily warble 

Watch for: Ponderosa Pines and Douglas-firs house bats, birds and mammals Bald Eagles and Osprey. White-tailed and Mule Deer browse on shrubbery. Columbian ground squirrels and Yellow-bellied Marmots romping around the picnic area are wild so don't feed or try to touch them. Western Rattlesnakes and other snakes are protected here. 

Stay on the trails and remain aware. Please make sure you only bring dogs on trails designated as pet friendly.

You can view the Twin Bays/Juniper Bay/Crest Trails map here.