Okanagan Lake Things to Do

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While some might enjoy car travel, this is a nice area to do just this. It's along the old highway, and although still very much in use, it's still not as busy as the major route. Here you can take your time (within reason) pull off when you spot something of interest. This native church, we would pass every weekend, so it always stuck out in my mind, I made it a planned stopping point this last trip.

2Sep05

Waiting for the multi-picture feature

Just like in California, many of the local wineyards offer tours. We got to tour the winery (which was not in use at the moment as we visited in early August before any grapes were ripe).

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway offers a unique 2 hour journey on one of British Columbia's few remaining fully operational steam railways. Passengers enjoy a tour along a preserved ten-kilometre section of the original Kettle Valley Railway constructed between 1910 and 1915. The locomotive, a 1924 Shay steam engine, pulls two 1950's passenger coaches and the Kettle and McCulloch Kars (open air). Friendly, informative guides bring the history of the railway alive as the train rolls along hillsides overlooking beautiful Okanagan orchards and vineyards. The Trout Creek Bridge, which spans the canyon at 238 feet above the water, was the highest bridge built on the original KVR line and can be viewed from the southern terminus of the railway, Canyon View Siding.

The S.S Sicamous, the largest remaining steel-hulled sternwheeler in Canada, is located on the southern shores of Lake Okanagan in Penticton, British Columbia. Built in 1914 at Okanagan Landing for Canadian Pacific Railway and British Columbia Lake and River Service, she plied the waters of Okanagan Lake until 1936, from her Penticton homeport. She was the epitome of luxury and utility as she had exceptional passenger, mail and freight service.

Beside the SS Sicamous is a beautiful rose garden with hundreds of varieties.

This 988 hectare park is popular not only for its stunning scenery but its wildlife. 10 million salmon climb up this river every four falls (most recently in 1998) to spawn and lay their eggs. In other years the salmon run is less dramatic. By the time the salmon have completed the 485 kilometre swim from the sea, their silver bodies have turned a bright red.

You can visit at any time of year, but particularly in early October during the run of the Adams River sockeye salmon. Every 4th year is a "dominant" run, with millions of fish to be seen: 2002, 2006 and 2010 will be dominant runs.

During the last three weeks of October, a small number of salmon begin their spawning cycle. Best place to view spawning salmon will be in the channel next to the parking lot.

Website:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/roderick.htm

This 7 km long channel is the straightened-out path of the Okanagan River between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. Locals go rafting on the channel on hot days, connecting an early swim on Okanagan Beach, finishing with a swim on Skaha Beach (you can rent dinghies and inner tubes at the top of the channel). The channel has been beautified with trees and a bicycle/jogging trail.

Canada's only desert is located here.

A journey east along Hwy. #3 will take you to summit of Anarchist Mountain, where you'll be treated to dazzling views of Osoyoos. The west side of Lake Osoyoos offers some fun attractions. Horse racing buffs will head for Desert Park Track & Recreation Complex, a few kilometres from the U.S. border off Hwy. 97.

Lake Osoyoos is the jewel in the crown as it is situated at the very centre of the town, provides a setting for one of the most unusual camping areas in B.C. - Haynes Point Provincial Park.