Knox Mountain – Apex Trail

Where:

• Knox Mountain (Apex trail)

 

When:

• many times

 

Who:

• Ed and whoever else is available

 

Trailhead:

• west end of downtown at the end of Ellis Street
• there is a large parking lot and street parking
• the trailhead is at the far (uphill) end of the parking lot
• just past the gate on the left-hand side, the trail cuts up the mountain
• there are a few different routes, but the Apex trail is well marked at each junction

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

• 275 meters elevation
• 4.5 km to the upper pavilion lookout and back
• it takes me about 25-30 minutes to go up and 20 minutes to go down
• it is a steady climb from the bottom to the top
• the trail can be slick with loose dirt in places, so sturdy footwear is recommended

 

 

Interesting notes:

• there are 14 trails of varying degrees of difficulty on Knox Mountain
• there is a lookout part way up that provides a gentler workout with great views

• it is a very well-traveled trail as its the local’s workout route
• the views during the whole hike are spectacular of the surrounding lake and valley
• Knox Mountain is named after Scotsman Arthur Booth Knox, who purchased a large area of land in 1883 in Kelowna that reached right up to the foot of Knox Mountain