Needle

Needle

Coquihalla

2 hr from Downtown Kelowna
49.594515, -121.124193
An incredible view of the Cascades to the Coastal Mountains along a sub-alpine ridgeway. On clear days, views of Mount Baker are even visible. After about an hour of intense uphill, you will reach a much easier (but still ascending) array of meadows, which will turn into a boulder fields and two scrambles. The initial section of the trail features natural blueberries in the summer.

After hitting a major trail fork where your current trail intersects the ridgeline of Needle's ridge perpendicularly, you are able to turn LEFT instead of right to follow a secondary trail to "Small Lake."

Due to large amounts of snow in the spring, summer, and fall, we recommend only doing this trail between June 1st and the end of September. Prepare for dramatically colder temperatures and high winds near the top.
Route
  • Half-Day
  • Difficult
  • Out & Back Same Way
  • 9.60 km round-trip
  • 4 hr solo
  • 5 hr 32 min group
  • 928 m gain
Kids & Pets
  • On-Leash

Address

49.594515, -121.124193

Driving Time

From Downtown Kelowna, approximate travel time by car is 2 hr.

Notable GPS Co-ordinates

Detailed Directions

1) Leave Kelowna via West Kelowna and take the 97-C Connector.
2) Head SOUTH on the Coquihalla.
3) Take the Zopkios exit (just before the Great Bear Snow Shed)
4) Continue LEFT under the highway underpass.
6) Park at small gravel pipeline service road on your right near the Snowshed.
7) Follow the small service road. The trailhead is immediately after a small creek.

Google Directions

Use our written directions in preference to the Google directions below as they are likely more accurate.

Linear Trail
This is a linear (out and back/not a loop) trail; the values below indicate the one-way statistics from the trailhead to the end of the route.
  • Starting Elevation: 1215 meters
  • Ending Elevation: 2075 meters
  • Maximum Elevation: 2075 meters
  • Minimum Elevation: 1207 meters
  • Elevation Gain: 928 meters
  • Elevation Loss: -68 meters
  • Slope Up: 21.00%
  • Slope Down: -8.00%

We have a downloadable GPS map for this trail!

Last Updated on Thursday, March 23, 2023

Need help using it? See our FAQ.
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Map Waypoints

GPS Notes
We have often color-coded our GPX tracks. While it is not always the case, we have tried to use the following convention on our newer maps:

Green/Blue: human-verified by our volunteers.
Purple: overgrown trail, bushwhack, or on private property.
Red: default color or not reality-checked
Yellow: Road
Other Colors: May have been satellite traced or imported from third party sources.

While we strongly believe our GPS are accurate, please be aware that no logging system is perfect and to be aware of potential errors. Use at your own risk.
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