Every time I drive down Westside Road this very obvious round-topped mountain taunts me, I had to climb it. We found the trail information for Sugarloaf Mountain in our Thompson Okanagan Backroad Mapbook. If you don’t have this thing, I highly recommend getting it. Or get the app, it’s even better. Anyways, this is a beautiful 4.5km (round trip) hike, a new fav for sure!

Directions: From Kelowna, drive down Westside Road towards Vernon. After Fintry & Killarney Beach you will be turning left onto a gravel road. Look for signs for the North Westside Road Transfer Station. There is also a small hiking trail sign nailed to a tree. Once you turn off, stay on the main gravel road, in about 3-4km you will see a sign for the trailhead on your left (pictured below).

It is imperative that you prepare for all weather conditions while out hiking, especially during the shoulder seasons. A prime example: when we started this hike, it was a beautiful sunny afternoon in the Okanagan but as we approached the top a snowstorm had quickly moved in.

We were fortunate the storm didn’t last too long and the fog lifted. It would have been a shame if we had missed both the incredible views of Okanagan Lake and the valley views on the backside of the mountain.