(This is the fifth column in a series about the best trails to explore, city by city, regional district by regional district, in the Southern Interior.)

The District of Lake Country has developed an impressive variety of urban and backcountry trails, from the easy, flat Okanagan Rail Trail to the challenging Spion Kop Recreation Reserve to its new $500,000 bike park at 8865 Okanagan Centre Road West

However, it didn't always have such high-profile hotspots.

One reason it does, however, is the volunteers in Walk Around Lake Country (W.A.L.C) working relatively quietly with the district since 1999 to develop and promote walking and hiking trails.

As long as people have lived in the Okanagan, they have made the challenging climb to the top of the Spion Kop ridge immediately west of Wood Lake for the reward of panoramic views of five lakes.

WALC, a small community service organization, gets the highest possible marks for a detailed trail map, trail signs and ongoing maintenance on the Crown land that local outdoor lovers fervently hope will eventually be turned into a provincial, regional district or local park.

Many may not know that the popular Okanagan Rail Trail through Lake Country may not have happened at all. The Sheriff perhaps played a small role in making that happen.

In the spring of........

© Castanet