Plan Snowy Protected Area southwest of Keremeos with remote hiking, unmarked trails, alpine meadows, bighorn sheep habitat, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting.
Snowy Protected Area is 30 kilometres southwest of Keremeos. BC Parks says it was established on April 18, 2001, to improve representation of the Okanagan Ranges ecosection and protect a remote area with no facilities.
The landscape ranges from dry grassland valleys to extensive alpine meadows.
Why Visit Snowy Protected Area
Snowy is a wilderness protected area for experienced, self-sufficient travellers. BC Parks highlights old-growth forests, Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir grasslands, alpine wetlands and lakes, and the entire Ewart Creek watershed.
The protected area also supports a provincially significant California bighorn sheep herd, with important winter range and lambing grounds. Other rare wildlife and notable birds are listed by BC Parks, but the official access guidance is clear: trails are not marked or maintained, and there is no trail map available.
Things To Do
Hike above treeline from the Ewart Creek Trail head, fish with the proper licence, ride horses on unmarked and unmaintained trails if prepared, watch wildlife from a distance, and hunt during open seasons where regulations allow.
Planning Notes
Access is from Ashnola Road via Ewart Creek Road and the Ewart Creek trailhead in Cathedral Park. The route crosses Ewart Creek, follows the eastern bank, crosses back, then branches toward the protected area. Bring navigation, wilderness equipment, water, weather protection, and emergency supplies. Pets must be leashed, and backcountry areas are not suitable for pets because of wildlife concerns. Treat unmarked trails, creek crossings, and alpine weather as core trip hazards. Travel early enough to turn back safely.