Spion Kop (Lookout Hill) is an area of Crown Land surrounded by private ownership.   The hill rises to 879m and looks out west over Okanagan Lake and east over Wood Lake.   It is really the south end of Ellison Ridge in Lakes Country.   Trails have been used by local residents for decades, but a group called Walk Around Lake Country (supported by the District of Lake Country) has established designated parking areas/trailheads, signage, and trail markers for the 350 hectares of land.   Brochures are available on-line or at the trailheads.

• Spion Kop Map/Brochure

We arrived late in the afternoon in October to the Upper Lakes Trailhead and chose to hike the Arrowleaf – Lupine – North Overlook Trail.   Some sections were double tracks and some were single.    The trails wind upwards through ponderosa pine forest and grassland slopes.

At the north overlook we had fine views of Kalamalka Lake and the hills beyond.

Our hike finished in the fading light.   We would have preferred to have gone to the Spion Kop Summit,  a total of about 7 km with an elevation gain of 250m, but we will have to return to do this one another time.