Kelowna & Okanagan Valley

The heart of Canada's wine country, with wineries, orchards and rail-trail cycling along Okanagan Lake, plus skiing at Big White in winter.

Kelowna lies in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada, on the east shore of Okanagan Lake midway along its length. It is the largest city in the Okanagan Valley, Canada's best-known wine region and a popular summer lakeside getaway. Using Kelowna as a base, you can head south to West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland and the Naramata Bench, or north to Lake Country and Kalamalka Lake in Vernon, covering about 100 km of lakeshore from north to south.

Climate: The region is semi-arid. July–Aug is hot and sunny with little rain, often topping 30°C, and is peak season for lake activities; Sep–Oct is grape harvest and wine-tasting season, with fewer crowds and vivid colours. Winters are mild around the lake, while Big White and SilverStar in the mountains get abundant snow. Wildfire smoke sometimes drifts in during summer, so check air quality before heading out.

Things to do: The Westside Wine Trail in West Kelowna and the wineries on the east side of the lake make for a full day of tasting, and Naramata deserves a separate day. The Myra Canyon trestles and the Okanagan Rail Trail are great for cycling, and downtown's waterfront parks and Bernard Avenue are easy to explore on foot.

Getting there: Kelowna International Airport has direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and elsewhere, and the drive from Vancouver takes about 4 hours. Sights are spread out, so renting a car is recommended; for wine tasting, arrange a designated driver or join a winery tour. Plan on 3–4 days.

Top sights

• Okanagan Lake – A long, narrow glacial lake about 135 km from north to south, with wine-country towns such as Kelowna and Penticton along its shores.
• Mission Hill Family Estate – A landmark winery with a bell-tower building on a hilltop overlooking Okanagan Lake, offering guided tastings and a terrace restaurant.
• Myra Canyon Trestles – Eighteen timber trestles and two tunnels along an abandoned railway make Myra Canyon a classic route for cycling and hiking.
• Naramata Bench – A cluster of wineries on the benchland along the east shore north of Penticton, where dozens of boutique wineries line the lakeside terrace…
• Knox Mountain Park – A hillside park just north of central Kelowna. From the summit you can look out over the city, its bridge and Okanagan Lake.
• Giant's Head Mountain – An extinct volcano at the centre of the town of Summerland, with a 360-degree summit view over Okanagan Lake, vineyards and orchards.
• Big White Ski Resort – One of the largest ski resorts in British Columbia, known for dry powder “champagne snow” and village hotels where you can ski in and out.
• Kelowna Waterfront Park – A lakeside park with a wooden boardwalk in central Kelowna, linking the yacht marina, a sail-shaped sculpture and the statue of the lake mo…
• Kelowna City Park – The largest lakeside park in the city centre, with a hot sand beach, a water park and wide lawns, right next to the bridge across the lake.
• Quails' Gate Winery – A long-established family winery on the west side of Kelowna, famous for its Pinot Noir and the lakeside restaurant Old Vines.
• Summerhill Pyramid Winery – A winery on the east shore known for its pyramid cellar and organic sparkling wines, with an organic restaurant overlooking the lake.
• CedarCreek Estate Winery – An organically certified winery on the east shore, with a lakeview tasting room and the outdoor restaurant Home Block.
• Kangaroo Creek Farm – A family farm where you can feed kangaroos and joeys up close, Kelowna’s most popular family attraction.
• Okanagan Rail Trail – A trail of about 50 km converted from an abandoned railway, running from Kelowna past Wood Lake and Kalamalka Lake to Vernon.
• Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park – A provincial park on the shores of Kalamalka Lake, known as the “Lake of a Thousand Colours,” with Cosens Bay beach and the Rattlesnake Poi…
• Bear Creek Provincial Park – A provincial park on the west shore of Okanagan Lake, offering a canyon waterfall trail along with lakeside sand beaches and campgrounds.
• Kettle Valley Steam Railway – A vintage steam train in Summerland that travels through orchards and vineyards and crosses a high trestle bridge, offering a nostalgic jou…
• Davison Orchards – A family-run orchard farm in Vernon where you can ride a tractor around the grounds, pick fruit, and enjoy apple pie and ice cream.
• Silver Star Mountain Resort – A mountaintop resort near Vernon, with a colorful Victorian-style village, winter skiing and summer mountain biking.
• Hardy Falls – A short canyon trail in Peachland that ends at a small waterfall, where bright red kokanee salmon run up the creek in autumn.
• Father Pandosy Mission – The first European settlement in the Okanagan, founded in 1859, with a preserved log chapel and farmhouses.
• Bernard Avenue & Downtown Kelowna – Kelowna's downtown main street, lined with restaurants, pubs and boutiques, running from the lakeshore to the cultural district.
• Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm – A lavender farm southeast of Kelowna, where purple fields meet lake views. Visitors can wander freely and buy handmade products.
• Fintry Provincial Park – A historic estate park on the west shore of Okanagan Lake, with an octagonal barn, lakeside beaches and a waterfall staircase trail.

Where to eat

• Waterfront Wines Restaurant – A cozy 50-seat restaurant helmed by chef and sommelier Mark Filatow, consistently named the Best Restaurant in the Okan…
• Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery – The signature restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery, focusing on wine-paired seasonal cuisine, named one of OpenTable'…
• Bouchons Bistro – A classic French bistro in Kelowna, famous for its cassoulet and French tasting menus, boasting a 4.5 rating on Tripadv…
• El Taquero – A budget-friendly taco spot downtown, inspired by Mexico City street stalls, featuring counter service and over a dozen…
• The Jammery – A jam workshop and brunch restaurant that has been open for over 20 years, serving all-day breakfast, with scones and a…

Itineraries

• Vancouver to the Rockies via Okanagan – A one-way traverse of BC, traveling from the coastal city through wine country and mountain passes to Calgary.
• BC & Canadian Rockies Grand Loop – A round-trip loop from Vancouver, passing through Whistler, Wells Gray, Jasper, Banff, and wine country.
• Okanagan Wine Valley South-to-North 6-Day Traverse – Drive over the mountains from Vancouver to Osoyoos, and head north to Kelowna for wine tasting.