Okanagan Valley

The Okanagan Valley cuts through the southern interior of British Columbia, between low mountains, about 400 km east of Vancouver. It is one of Canada’s driest and sunniest regions, with grassy hills and scattered pine trees, and along the valley floor a chain of lakes, the largest being Okanagan Lake, about 135 km long.

The climate favors orchards and vineyards, and the valley has become British Columbia’s main wine region, with hundreds of wineries on the slopes above the lakes. Kelowna, the largest city, sits mid-lake on Okanagan Lake, with a waterfront, beaches and marinas. Penticton, to the south, lies between Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake, with beaches on both sides of the town.

The old Kettle Valley Railway, opened in the early 20th century, was turned into a biking and walking trail. The best-known section crosses Myra Canyon on wooden trestle bridges and through tunnels, above Kelowna. Near Penticton, the Skaha Bluffs cliffs are a climbing center.

In summer, the region attracts families from across western Canada for the lakes, beaches and wineries.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Kelowna, Penticton.