The beautifully turquoise water of Kentucky Lake
Merritt, nestled in the Nicola Valley of the south-central interior of B.C. is home to many fantastic, and sometimes under-appreciated, mountain biking and hiking trails.
Merritt is accessible from Vancouver as a short road trip, and makes for a great weekend getaway to explore the hiking trails and other outdoor activities like mountain biking and horseback riding.
There are also many shorter hikes available within Merritt that make for a great way to stretch the legs on a long car drive.
There are a wide variety of hiking trails available in and around Merritt for each seasons and all hiking abilities. Five prominent mountains surround the city of Merritt, each with its own extensive network of trails.
In this post we’re taking a look at our top 5 hikes in Merritt and the Nicola Valley. But many more hikes exist, including trails connecting valley to valley. For more information, drop by the Merritt Visitor Centre at the Baillie House, and visit the Tourism Merritt website.
A word to the wise before we begin. Safety is always the most important consideration when hiking. Make sure to know the trail conditions before you head out, follow standard safety practices, and always carry the Ten Essentials.
1. Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park
Where: Kentucky-Alleyne Provincial Park
Time needed: 1.5 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Yes, on-leash
Details: Kentucky Lake is a beautiful lake with a surreal turquoise color. It is popular for hiking, camping, fishing, and paddling.
4 km hiking trail navigates the outer perimeter of Kentucky Lake, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.
Link: Read more here
2. Too Much Info Trail
Where: Iron Mountain
Time needed: 1 – 3 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Details: The parking area for the Too Much Info trail is located just off highway 97C, making it the perfect trail to stop and stretch your legs on a long drive.
The trail carries over 4 kilometers to the top of Iron Mountain, but two nice lookouts are located much lower down, allowing for a quick hike with nice views.
Link: Read more here
3. Tom Lacey Memorial Trail
Where: Swakum Mountain
Time needed: 1 – 3 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Details: Located close to downtown Merritt, the Tom Lacey Memorial Trail is a great family hike. Starting at the top of the Flagpole Access Road, you get great views of the Nicola Valley farms and the City of Merritt before you even begin hiking.
The Tom Lacey Trail itself connects to many other trails on Swakum Mountain, so you can make the hike as long or as short as you wish, passing many viewpoints along the way.
Link: Read more here
4. Sugarloaf Mountain
Where: Lundbom Lake
Time needed: 1 – 3 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Details: Start and Lundbom Lake and follow the access road to Hamilton Lake. From Hamilton Lake, the Access Road gives you the most direct access to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, but connecting trails Deja Vu, Coco Bonk or Wounded Knee are worth venturing out on.
Great views are to be had from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. Once you’re done, you can cool off with a swim in Lundbom Lake.
Link: Read more here
5. Kane Valley
Where: Kane Valley
Time needed: 1 – 4 Hours
Dogs Allowed?: Yes
Details: Kane Valley is located just 20 km south of Merritt. Kane Valley is primarily used for Nordic skiing in the winter, but in the summer the trails make for fantastic hiking. The valley boasts over 50 km of trails to explore.
There are no open, expansive views, but the beautiful lakes, and pine and aspen trees make for enjoying and scenic hiking.
The Kane Trail is one of the more popular trails, going 4.2 km one-way, and can connect to other trails to make a loop back to the start.
Link: Read more here
There are plenty of other great trails to explore in and around Merritt, these are just the top 5 most popular and our personal favorites. For more information about hiking in the area, drop by the Merritt Visitor Centre at the Baillie House, and visit the Tourism Merritt website.
