The lush vineyards scattered across the Okanagan Valley have earned it the nickname of Canada’s Napa Valley but there’s much more to this laid back region than grapes. Here you’ll find the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies and a stunning waterfall that is twice the height of Niagara Falls. If you fancy trying to find a desert rose, this is the place to do it – the Okanagan Valley is the only part of Canada with a real desert. There’s plenty of water beyond the desert, though, so you can enjoy beautiful lakes with sandy, family-friendly shores and water sports alongside other outdoor activities such as hiking, golfing and skiing.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in Okanagan Valley
Vernon — The northern end of Okanagan Valley houses pretty Vernon, a town bounded by three lakes and boasting vineyards all around and the Silver Star Mountain to its northeast.
Kelowna — The largest city in the valley, Kelowna is the unofficial capital of Okanagan Valley and a major centre of wine production. This is the place to find the pleasures of civilisation but it’s also a great jumping off point for outdoor activities. It runs alongside Okanagan Lake, a serene expanse of water bordered by mountains.
Penticton — Okanagan’s beach resort is a calm, relaxing town sandwiched between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. The waterfront offers a gorgeous night-time tableau of lights and it is a great place to explore the area from, particularly if you fancy hiking in the Skaha Bluffs.
Osoyoos — This small town of 4,000 people is close to the border with the United States and is next door to the Osoyoos Indian Band, one of the First Nations peoples. Osoyoos Lake is the warmest freshwater lake in Canada and has sandy beaches on all sides. To the east, the Nk’Mip desert starts and runs south to the US.
Things to See in Okanagan Valley
With mountains, lakes, deserts and grassland, the Okanagan Valley has almost everything a visitor could want to see. For a sense of the arid desert landscape, visit the Osoyoos Desert Centre and the Nk’Mip Desert and Heritage Centre. Of the lakes, don’t miss Okanagan Lake or Kalamalka Lake, but you might also enjoy Osoyoos Lake and Skaha Lake. Myra Canyon Park has some spectacular views and a mountain railway. Knox Mountain Park and Silver Star Mountain are great for hiking and snow sports in winter time.
Things to Do in Okanagan Valley
With more than 100 wineries to visit, you can conduct daily wine-tastings and still never drink the same drop twice. But there’s lots more to do than drink. The lakes are perfect for all sorts of water sports: kayaking, sailing, inner tubing, fishing and water skiing. From the mountains you can hang-glide and parasail in summer or indulge in some skiing or snowboarding in winter. Okanagan teems with wildlife so you can look for bears, snakes and eagles. Try some camping – but remember the bears – or go hiking and walking in the hills and mountains. There are several fascinating museums that detail the lives of the settlers and First Nations. And if you fancy a mystery, have a look for Ogopogo – a legendary monster that is fabled to live in Okanagan Lake that predates the Loch Ness monster by several centuries.
