The Friends of Knox Mountain Park

Walking Softly

Knox Mountain Park is for the most part a natural park consisting of the vegetative zones of Ponderosa Pine, Interior Douglas Fir and forested and open grasslands. Living within the park boundaries are many plants and animals that are listed as rare or on the verge of disappearing from the area. The terrain is variable, flowing abruptly from gently undulating to steep with a crumbly under-footing.

Knox Mountain Park is very special, not only for it's offering of a natural experience so close to the heart of Kelowna, but also as it is home to a tremendous diversity of activities - hiking, running, biking, walking with the dog, car hill climbs, birding, photography, picknicking, etc.. It is because of the heavy use of the park, and the nature of the park, that we would like to suggest a few notes of park-use etiquette. Please put into practice the following concepts.

Take only pictures - leave only footprints. The nature of the climatic zone (hot and dry), and the type of ground structure (volcanic rock with shallow surface soils) means that the area is sensitive to alteration and very slow to recover. Plants can take years to reestablish themselves.

Stay on the trails. Walking and biking off the trails may cause major damage to the vegetation in the non-trail areas. This practice also creates erosion of the crumbly ground, which then potentially leads to further erosion through altered drainage patterns. Bike only on designated trails. Biking in the non-trail areas causes massive destruction of the natural grasslands and paves the way for introduction of noxious weeds such as Knapweed and Dalmatian Toad Flax.

Parking. Please park your vehicles in one of the designated parking lots. Take note of the times that the Park gates will be closed.

Facilities. There are no camping facilities in the Park. Fires are strictly prohibited.

Your dog is welcome on lead. Dogs running loose may not only distress other people using the park, but might also scare the wildlife. Please keep your dog on a leash and pick up the dog waste your dog leaves behind.

The view is spectacular but look where you are walking. There are many small beautiful plants taking advantage of a short growing season, often growing in the paths or on the rocky knolls used as viewpoints. And some paths can quickly change from a gentle incline to steep and slippery terrain. Take note of where you step.

Your caring treatment of Knox Mountain Park is greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much.

Walking Softly

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