Turner Creek in the Early Spring

Living in the downtown, I have three options if I want to walk and find some forest - the foreshore trail, Pileated Woods, or Turner Creek.

Sunday morning I decided I needed both a workout and some "nature time", so I chose to hike up Turner Creek. The trail along its length was developed a number of years ago through a partnership with Rotary clubs and Katimavik.

There are a few different ways the trail can be accessed; I started from McGuire Lake, where spring melt water is flowing steadily into the lake.

Turner Creek flowing into McGuire Lake

Early spring flowers are blooming; the two pictures below are of naturalized non-native plants - Glory of the Snow, and Violet.

Glory of the Snow at McGuire Lake

Violets at McGuire Lake

The trail cuts off from the McGuire Lake pedestrian path, and runs below the Trans Canada Highway, heading towards the High School. To follow the creek up the hill requires going through a pedestrian tunnel under the highway. 

Entrance to pedestrian tunnel under highway

High school art students have decorated the walls of the tunnel with some fascinating pieces of work. Here are just a few samplings:

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

Tunnel Art

The trail starts to go steeply uphill once past the highway.

It skirts the newly named Hilltop Inn (formerly Podollan), and climbs through groves of poplars, birch and fir.

All the time, I heard the sound of burbling creek water -- such a welcome sound after the snows and ice of winter!

Wetland on the creek, above Hilltop Inn

Poplar and birch beside the trail as it climbs

With all the native trees, there is plentiful birdsong along the creek. I heard robins, chickadees, nuthatches, song sparrows, and other song birds that I would need a birder to identify for me.

And I saw - and heard - flickers and a pileated woodpecker.

Okanagan College

The trail emerges at the attractive Okanagan College, and skirts one of several ponds along its length.

Various projects over the years have attempted to focus awareness of the forest, especially for young people.

Sign at the trail near Okanagan College

Okanagan College drumming area

Higher up the creek, near 28th Street

Cedar forest along the Turner Creek Trail at 28th Street

Listening to bird song along the trail, between 28th and 30th St. 

NOTE: this is a large file for those with slow connections.

Turner Creek trail is a treasure within the heart of Salmon Arm. A detailed map of the trail can be found at http://www.shuswaptrails.com/trails.php?area=0&id=23

It skirts housing developments, but there is enough of a forest to provide the experience of "forest bathing" -- soaking up the smells of the forest, its sounds, and the feel of the spongy forest floor.