People in Princeton are serious about hiking.
They maintain an excellent variety of trails in the valley bottom along the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers, on the rolling grasslands and in the high country forests that surround the community.
Walk in the footsteps of fur traders and pioneers, trek through railway tunnels, view First Nations pictographs and ochre bluffs, climb to subalpine meadows and take in panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains.
Most trails around Princeton are also ideal for mountain biking and horseback riding.
The gentle railway grades of the Trans Canada Trail, which passes through Princeton on the rail bed of the historic Kettle Valley Railway, provides access to some of the best sights in the region.
Stroll through green riverside riparian zones and narrow rock canyons and stop for a photo of the impossibly red rock at the Ochre Bluffs, used by First Nations for millennia.
Trek through cool, dark tunnels, climb long switchbacks over open rangeland and picnic beside pristine mountain lakes.
Osprey Lake to Brookmere
Locals maintain 113km/70mi of trail from Osprey Lake to Brookmere. They have installed interpretive signage explaining the flora, fauna and geography of the region along with rest stops and picnic areas.
Parr Station
Princeton is an ideal base for day trips. The Ochre Bluffs are a reasonable distance from downtown. A popular daytrip is the 15.2km/9.4mi round trip to Parr Station along the banks of the Tulameen River that takes in the Ochre Bluffs, two tunnels and a picturesque canyon.
Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary
A mere 6km/4mi from Princeton's town centre, the 57ha/141ac Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary offers a number of easy trails across rolling golden grasslands. Sit in one of the two blinds and watch for birds and other wildlife in the wetlands around Swan Lake. Interpretive signage identifies various plant species found along the trails and the geology behind the glacial creation of this kettle lake.
Heritage Trails
Stride into history on the Hudson's Bay Company Fur Brigade Trail that runs all the way to Hope with the original fur trader's campsites still discernable 40km/25mi apart. Additional heritage trails include the Whatcome gold rush trail, blazed in 1858, and the Dewdney Trail (1860). Ideal for one-day or multi-day hikes, these trails are rated moderate to difficult as they climb into the Cascade Mountains.
China Ridge Trails
Best known as a cross-country ski and snowshoe area, the China Ridge Trails, located 8.5km/5.3mi northwest of Princeton, offer more than 40km/25mi of easy and moderate marked trails that are also ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Trek through the forested plateau country to a lookout with arresting views of the Coquihalla Range of the North Cascade Mountains.
These trails also connect with the Trans Canada Trail via a very steep downhill section.
Trail Info
Ask staff at the Princeton Visitor Centre, 105 Hwy 3 East, for information on area trails. Maps are provided in the Princeton Visitors Guide. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen website also hosts a good trail map and descriptions of China Ridge Trails.
Practical Points
- The Similkameen region can be extremely hot in summer. Consider timing hikes for early morning or evening. Be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen and carry water.
- When hiking in the dry grasslands, be aware that this is habitat for the western rattlesnake.
- Black bears are not uncommon even at lower elevations and definitely on the sub-alpine slopes where they feed in summer.
- When hiking in bear country, carry bear spray, make enough noise to announce your presence and be aware.
- The best time to hike in the mountains is late June through September, depending on snow conditions. Trails in the valley are accessible year-round.
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