Spion Kop: Unofficial Trail

The trail to the peak of the Spion Kop mountain is an extremely difficult incline and is recommended for those at full fitness. If you are up for the challenge, follow a pathway through ponderosa pine and bunch grass to spectacular views of the Okanagan Valley.

The battle of Spion Kop took place in South Africa on the hilltop of Spioenkop in 1900, along the Tugela River during the Second Boer War. It is suggested that a veteran of the war, pioneer Henry Northcote Caeser's brother Leslie, named the mountain after this.

During the summer of 2012, the Walk Around Lake Country group achieved a three-year goal to create well-marked trails forming clearer paths for hikers. This included a cairn marker at "The Grand Overlook". Views from this point include a stretch of the Okanagan Valley, Lake Okanagan, Wood Lake and Duck Lake and surrounding mountains.

Following the markers will connect you to the summit of Spion Kop or to another peak with a view to the north, allowing for sights of Lake Kalamalka and parts of Oyama.

For a published map of the trails, visit the Lake Country Visitor Centre. Motorized vehicles are requested to stay off marked hiking trails.