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Trail: Golden Mile Stamp Mill trail
Trail Distance:
The Stamp Mill trail - 2km
The Golden Mile Trail - 13km
Trail Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Directions
Located just past Oliver at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. From Hwy 97 turn right on Road 7. Cross a little bridge and go left onto Tinhorn Creek Road. Follow the signs into Tinhorn Creek Vineyards and park in the parking lot. The trailhead is located on the left.
Description
If you ever find yourself driving through Oliver or checking out any of the wineries in the Oliver area, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is a must! Not only is it a really nice winery, it is also a trailhead to a great historical area!
The Golden Mile trail is technically part of the Fur Brigade Trail that stretches from Washington State all the way to Fort Alexandria, B.C. However, with land owner's not allowing access through private property in Oliver, it is not possible to do the full stretch of this trail. Tinhorn Creek has embraced the trail and welcomes the public to enjoy a hike, and maybe even stop in for a little wine tasting or dinner afterward!
From the parking lot, we headed north from the trailhead sign and left following the signs through Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. The views are already beautiful overlooking the vineyards and the Oliver area. As we made it through the vineyards, there are numerous signs to follow.
We passed through a small gate (to keep the rattlesnakes out) and a large gate to start the 'official trail.' Working our way up the steep section, the views are outstanding! Overlooking all of Oliver and towards Osoyoos and the tip of Osoyoos Lake!
Continuing past this lookout, we came to a flat meadow and followed the signs to the Stamp Mill. Soon we reached the ruins of the 100-year-old mill along Tinhorn Creek! A stamp mill is a type of mill machine that miners used to crush material to extract metallic ores.
After exploring the ruins of the Stamp Mill, we headed down to check out Tinhorn Creek. On a hot day, it's a nice spot to cool down in the shade and enjoy the tiny little waterfall along the creek. We soon headed back down the trail to the parking area and decided to check out the awesome patio at the Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is very gracious for hosting this trailhead, please respect the area! Always remember to be mindful of your surroundings, pack out what you pack in, stick to the trails and Happy Exploring!
Things to bring
Good footwear
Bear spray is always a good thing to carry
Water
Phone/Camera
Born and raised in the Okanagan, Kristy Draginda has always had a strong passion for the outdoors. Whether it be hiking to the top of a mountain or standing below a waterfall, she says there is no better feeling than being inspired by nature. Follow along as Kristy shares different hiking locations in and around the Okanagan. For more adventure photos, check out Hiking the Okanagan on Instagram or Facebook.
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