Hike Bluenose Mountain

Let Bluenose Mountain turn you into a morning person with its spectacular sunrise views! 

Directions to trail head: Starting from Vernon, head East on Highway 6 for about 12km then turn left onto Learmouth Road. Follow Learmouth Road until you hit a T-junction where you will turn left onto Aberdeen Lake Road. Follow this road for 4km. There will be a small "Bluenose Mountain" sign on the right hand side and a cleared area for parking on the left. Park here and prepare to start your hike!

Trail for sunrise: Bluenose Mountain has three different peaks; two are accessible to the public and one is private property. If your aim is to catch the best possible view of sunrise, the third peak is where you want to be. From the parking lot, take the smaller trail to your left. It wraps around the base of the mountain before turning into a steady incline with a few switchbacks closer to the top. It takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to reach the summit. Once at the top, keep walking until you see a large boulder and open viewpoint of Aberdeen Plateau, Lavington, and the Monashees. This is where you will want to set up camp and wait for the magic. 

Heading back: The Bluenose trail is a complete loop, so you have two options for getting down the mountain. You can double-back and take the same route as on your way up or you can continue following the trail which will take you down new switchbacks and then over onto the first peak. Both options will bring you back to the car park in the end. 

Tips: To actually see the sunrise, you will need to begin your adventure while it is still dark out. Please take every precaution you can and make sure you are properly prepared with flashlights and appropriate clothing. If you are unsure about the trail, check it out during the day and familiarize yourself with the area first. Also, look up local sunrise times and give yourself an adequate window for travel and hiking. If it's forest fire season in the Okanagan and there is heavy smog, you may want to reschedule as the views will be mostly, if not completely, blocked (I speak from experience here).