Trail Section Description

Between Hardy Falls south of Peachland, and Garnett Lake north of Summerland, is a trail rich in history and scenic beauty. This section is a portion of a trading route used by First Nations for thousands of years. Europeans first used this route in 1811 to move furs from central BC to the lower Columbia and then the coast. Later this same route was used by gold miners headed for the Cariboo.

The south end of this section begins at Priest Camp at the entrance to the Fur Brigade Trail Linear Park at Garnett Lake. The route travels north 4.1 km on a gravel roadway to a viewpoint overlooking Okanagan Lake.  From the viewpoint, a further 3.7 km section of unmaintained gravel road extends to Hardy Falls in Peachland.

This entire trail is protected by Provincial law. British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act automatically prohibits any alteration of soils that have “evidence of human habitation or use before 1846.” This section of the brigade trail has been carbon dated at 6,000 years.

The Fur Brigade Trail is 7.8 km one way. This trail is not recommended for novice cyclists at this time.