Mission Creek Greenway
Mission Creek Greenway: Scenic Canyon Regional Park Section is a 5.0-kilometer out-and-back trail with a river near Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada that is suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The trail is open all year and offers a variety of activities. This trail is also open to dogs, but they must be kept on a leash. The Mission Creek Greenway is also a 36-hectare park corridor with a main path, side trails and loops, picnic and resting areas, interpretive areas, and city parks. The greenway has 14 access points spread out over 16.5 kilometers of flat walking and biking paths. From west of Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club to Okanagan Lake south of downtown Kelowna, the route follows the salmon-bearing Mission Creek.
The Mission Creek Greenway is a popular grassland path for hikers, runners, bikers, and bicyclists.
This area is abundant in wildlife and plant species, and it has a long history dating back to European colonization and First Nation use. The peaceful path from Okanagan Lake to Mission Creek Falls is about 22 kilometers long, but you can walk as far as you want.
Because much of the land in the Mission Creek corridor was privately owned, residents could only walk along certain sections of it until recently. The Greenway was established in 2011 to allow residents to fully enjoy the area. The Friends of Mission Creek Society initiative, combined with funding and community support, resulted in a trail rehabilitation that included a 7.3km extension from Lakeshore Road to Ziprick Road and a 9.2km extension into Scenic Canyon Regional Park. The second expansion includes the construction of a wetland boardwalk and three bridges.
What you might learn along the way is part of what makes the Mission Creek Greenway so appealing. There is significant educational information that explains the social and environmental history surrounding you, in addition to navigational maps that show where you are on the path.
The Okanagan Environmental Education Centre, about halfway down the route, has exhibits that describe the area’s flora and fauna. It also provides information on all of the parks in the central Okanagan, encouraging you to visit nearby natural areas.
As you travel around Kelowna’s south and southeast, you will undoubtedly come across the Mission Creek Greenway. Take a stroll from one of the trailhead parking areas. You don’t have to walk the entire length of the greenway to enjoy the scenery and get some exercise. The city is celebrating the completion of the first and second phases of the greenway. The route will eventually be 26 kilometers long, ending at Mission Creek Falls.