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Klinker Opal Property

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· Vernon, North Okanagan, British Columbia

50 acres hosted by Robert Y.

2 RV/tent sites

Staff verified

Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.

Off-leash friendly

Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.

The Klinker Opal Property is located in the mountains approximately 40 kilometres by road from Vernon, BC, and is situated at an elevation of about 1500 metres above sea level. All trips to the Klinker Opal Mine leave from a pre-designate site, and you must have your own vehicle. No transportation is provided. Pre-registration is required! Digging trips operate from mid June to mid September weather permitting. The property is readily accessible by most two wheel drive vehicles but parts of the road is very rough. SUV's are best, but any vehicle with reasonable ground clearance will do. There are some 20 kilometres of gravel/dirt logging road to travel and portions of this road are quite steep and rough. Learn more about this land: Welcome to Klinker Opal Mine! We are located in the mountains approximately 40 kilometres by road from Vernon, BC, and situated at an elevation of about 1500 meters above sea level. It takes about 1 hour to access from the meeting location (which will be provided upon booking). Discovered on Thanksgiving Day October 14, 1991, the Klinker deposit is the first commercially operated precious opal deposit in Canada. After digging for opal and agate during the day, set up your campsite, prepare your evening meal, and go for a hike to check out the beautiful views and wildflowers until the sun goes down. Don’t forget to bring your camera! Due to rugged road conditions, your vehicle must have good tires, be reliable and have good road clearance - SUV or Pick-Up, NO Trailers. Some restrictions on size and weight of Vans and truck-mounted campers due to steep grade (return trip is downhill all the way) and limited height clearance. We offer dry camping only and have two campsites to choose from for tents and camper vans! Please make sure to bring your own water and take away your own garbage. Limited outhouse-latrine facilities. Limited small campfires are allowed in approved locations only (possible fire bans). Lights out/quiet time at 10 pm! We look forward to hosting you!

Activities

Biking

Hiking

Wildlife watching

Natural features

Forest

Mountainous

Field

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2 ratings · 1 review

Rob W.recommends

July 28, 2022

Klinker Opal Mine

Opal Hunting in the Hills

Klinker Opal Mine is not just a place to plunk down a tent and camp--it's an experience like no other. Meeting host Robert just outside of Vernon, you follow him up a long, dusty dirt road, high into the hills. Here, you feel as if you've stepped back in time. The off-grid mining operation is reminiscent of the frontier era of days past, when prospectors had a claim, a dream of striking precious minerals, and then set out into the mountains. At Klinker Opal mine, Robert has realized that dream, and so can you. After an introduction, I set out mining, searching for opal veins in the rock fields, looking for colored precious ones, but finding myself just as satisfied with the white 'common' opals as well. Although I didn't strike it rich, I found a few cool examples to take home, then set up my camp at the small camping area with its rain/shade shelter, firepit, table/chairs. After set up and dinner, I hiked among wildflowers up the road behind camp, witnessing great sunset views of the valley below, with Vernon far off in the distance. Visiting the mine is a very unique experience, that I'd surely recommend to anyone looking for adventure.

Location

Vernon, North Okanagan, British Columbia, CanadaTraditional, ancestral territory of Nłeʔkepmx Tmíxʷ (Nlaka’pamux), Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc), Syilx (Okanagan), and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation First Nations according to To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking