The trails worth coming back to every summer aren't always the ones with the biggest elevation gain or the most Instagram checkpoints. They're the ones that take you through the heart of the Okanagan — past orchards, along creeks, up to views that make you forget what day it is.

Here are the ones worth your time this summer.

1. Knox Mountain — Paul's Tomb Trail, Kelowna

Knox Mountain is the one locals do on a Tuesday morning before work and visitors do once and talk about for years. The Paul's Tomb trail winds up through ponderosa pine and rocky outcrops before opening up to views of Okanagan Lake that genuinely stop you in your tracks. Hit it at sunrise if you can. The light on the lake at 6am is something else entirely. Bring water, wear grip shoes, and take your time on the way down — the descent is where people get sloppy.

2. McKinley Mountain Park, Kelowna

McKinley Mountain Park is one of those spots that locals keep quietly to themselves. The trails wind through dry ponderosa forest above Okanagan Lake, with the Hardcore Cider estate orchard sitting right in the area. In summer, you're walking through one of the most scenic pockets of Kelowna — lake views through the trees, orchard rows in the distance, and that warm, dry Okanagan air that makes everything feel slower and better. Multiple trail options mean you can keep it short or push further into the park. Either way, it's an easy add to any Kelowna day.

3. BX Falls Trail, Vernon

BX Falls runs right through the Hardcore Cider orchard in Vernon, and in summer it's one of the most underrated walks in the North Okanagan. The trail follows BX Creek through a forested canyon before dropping you at the falls — a solid payoff for a relatively easy hike. The orchard surrounds you on the approach, and if you time it right during apple season, the smell alone is worth the drive.

4. Myra Canyon Trestles, Kelowna

The Kettle Valley Railway trestles at Myra Canyon are iconic for a reason. Eighteen trestles and two tunnels carved into the canyon walls above Kelowna — flat, accessible, and the views into the canyon are wild. Walk it or cycle it. Either way, pack a lunch and don't rush it. This is one of those trails that earns its reputation.

5. Giants Head Mountain, Summerland

Short hike, massive payoff. The trail to the summit is quick — under an hour return — but the 360° view at the top covers the whole South Okanagan. Orchards, vineyards, Okanagan Lake, the benchlands. The kind of view that puts everything in perspective. Pack a cold Unhazy Hopped and sit with it at the top.

The Okanagan doesn't need to be rushed. Pack the cooler, find a trail, and take the long way back.

— Hardcore Cider Co.
100% Okanagan apples. Real BC fruit. No shortcuts.