BOU AVENUE
Mount Dilworth, Mount Middleton And Black Rock
Before driving home at the end of the Family Day long weekend, Zosia Zgolak and I endeavoured to tag a number of urban summits in British Columbia’s Okanagan region on 16 February 2026.  These summits would turn out to be Mount Dilworth, Mount Middleton and "Black Rock".  All ascents are short and easy to access.

Zosia and I started the day with a hike up officially-named Mount Dilworth which is located within a municipal park in Kelowna.  Although a paved service road runs all the way to the top from the northeast, we elected to approach via trails on the west side which can be accessed via a pathway off Selkirk Drive (49.90403, -119.43593).  All the trails here are signed and well-maintained, and we made short work of the ascent.  Some sort of water reservoir building sits next to the summit (hence, the paved service road), but there are plenty of scenic viewpoints overlooking different parts of the city.  For our descent, we walked down the service road for a short distance before turning left onto a trail which traverses the north side of the mountain.  We eventually reconnected with the initial pathway off Selkirk Drive to complete a loop.
Definitely don't build a fire in this corridor! One of the ways to access Kelowna's Mount Dilworth is via this pathway off Selkirk Drive.
No smoking, no vaping, no camping, no fires, and no dirt bikes, but leashed dogs are permitted. The trails around Mount Dilworth have excellent signage.

Would be cool to come here at night!

Near the start of the hike, there is already a nice view of the city and Okanagan Lake.

 

Why did someone feel the need to build a windbreak here? Zosia stands on the summit of Mount Dilworth (637 metres).
Good spot here to watch the sunrise! Black Knight Mountain (left of centre) is visible to the east.
I wonder how many cars are at the summit now...

A break in the trees near the top grants this view to the northwest of Blue Grouse Mountain.
A nice summit in an excellent community park. Total Distance:  1.2 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  29 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  53 metres

GPX Data
Leaving Kelowna, Zosia and I next drove to Vernon and hiked up officially-named Mount Middleton which is a prominent grassy hump in the city’s southeast quadrant.  Like Mount Dilworth, there are multiple access points for Mount Middleton, and we would start from a trailhead on the west side just off Mount Ida Drive (50.23831, -119.25481).  Right off the bat, we gained about 70 metres—the bulk of the ascent—climbing a series of switchbacks and staircases.  Upon reaching a four-way trail junction, we continued eastward and went over the lower west summit before crossing a dip to ascend the east (true) summit.  While the trails here are wide and easy to follow, we had to be cautious when stepping off-trail as there are lots of inconspicuous cacti lurking under the tall grasses.  For our return, we took some different trails and made a lollipop loop before descending the same switchbacks and staircases to the trailhead.
The road on the right is actually a private driveway--don't go that way! Zosia starts hiking at the western trailhead for Vernon's Mount Middleton.
Looks like they just woke up! A herd of deer relax on the side of a private driveway not far from the trailhead.
Probably installed to prevent erosion. This concrete staircase simplifies the ascent.
Something about bluebirds if I recall... Zosia reads an interpretive sign at the lower west summit (630 metres) of Mount Middleton.
Hard to tell at this point which summit is higher... Zosia drops into a dip as she heads for Mount Middleton's east summit.  In the background at left is Vernon Hill.
Watch where you step; there are lotsa cacti here! Sonny and Zosia stand on the east (true) summit (632 metres) of Mount Middleton.  The body of water at distant far right is Swan Lake.
One of these days, we'll have to go hike that little peninsula jutting out into the lake. Zosia takes an alternate route for the return.  Kalamalka Lake dominates the view to the southwest.
The Nose Hill of Vernon! Total Distance:  2.3 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  1 hour 3 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  89 metres

GPX Data
Right after descending Mount Middleton, Zosia and I made a short drive north to tag Black Rock, an unofficially-named hillock located in a small regional park on the eastern outskirts of Vernon.  The parking lot (50.26718, -119.23927) at the east end of 35th Avenue is surprisingly big for such a tiny park, but a pump track on the north side of the hillock likely attracts some usage by BMX bikers.  The ascent of the hillock is ridiculously short, and I timed Zosia who managed to run from the parking lot to the top in 53 seconds.  Despite Black Rock's short stature, the top boasts remarkably scenic views in all directions.  For her descent, Zosia ran back down to the parking lot in 21 seconds.
Ready? Get set...GO! Zosia prepares to run up Vernon's "Black Rock" from the parking lot.
Seems like all the lowest summits in the Okanagan Valley have the best views! The top of Black Rock (510 metres) grants far-reaching views in every direction.

Maybe the summit with the best "bang for your buck" this weekend!

Zosia looks southward toward Mount Middleton (centre).

 

Zosia's moving round-trip time was 1 minute 14 seconds! Total Distance:  272 metres
Round-Trip Time:  8 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  11 metres

GPX Data