South Okanagan
Around South Okanagan
Photo: Darren Kirby · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Countryside and towns · British Columbia · 42k people
South Okanagan
“Wine Country”
Orchards, vineyards, and warm desert lakes.
Okanagan Sunset OrangeOrchard GreenLake Blue
Welcome to the South Okanagan, where the desert meets the orchard and every road leads to a lake or a vineyard. Pull up a chair on a winery patio, grab a bag of peaches from a roadside stand, and settle into the slow, sunny rhythm of valley life.
Clubs for South Okanagan
No clubs for South Okanagan yet.
The room
One room for everyone around South Okanagan. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around South Okanagan. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Haynes Point Provincial Park A sandy spit jutting into Osoyoos Lake, great for swimming.
- Kettle Valley Rail Trail Historic railbed cycling and hiking trail through vineyards and orchards.
- Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre Celebrates Syilx heritage and desert ecology with exhibits and trails.
- Spotted Lake (Kliluk) Sacred saline lake with mineral pools, visible from the highway.
- Osoyoos Desert Centre Interpretive boardwalk over rare antelope-brush desert.
- Princeton Museum Local history and fossils from the Similkameen Valley.
- Outdoors Hike the Kettle Valley Rail Trail
- Outdoors Swim in Osoyoos Lake
- With kids Visit the Osoyoos Desert Centre
- With kids Pick fruit at a U-pick orchard
- Evenings Sunset wine tastings
- Evenings Live music at local pubs
- Locals love Orchard fruit stands
- Locals love Wineries and tasting rooms
Through the year
- Festival of the Grape (Oliver) September A harvest celebration with wine tastings, food pairings, and live music.
- Osoyoos Lake Water Ski Show Summer Family-friendly water ski performances and boat parades on the lake.
- Princeton Fall Fair September A traditional country fair with livestock, exhibits, and carnival rides.
- Osoyoos Desert Festival May A spring music and arts festival held in the desert landscape.
- Okanagan Wine Festival (South Okanagan events) Fall Regional wine events in Oliver, Osoyoos, and Summerland.
The South Okanagan has a semi-arid desert climate – hot, dry summers and mild winters, with more sunshine than most of Canada. Best: Spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) are ideal for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
Getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Summerland Steam KIJHL
- Princeton Posse KIJHL
- Osoyoos Coyotes KIJHL
Also rooting for Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions, Toronto Blue Jays
Eat and drink
- Okanagan orchard fruit Peaches, cherries, apricots, and apples from local orchards.
- Icewine and local wines The South Okanagan is a premier wine region, known for icewine and bold reds.
- Farm-to-table dishes Seasonal menus from local produce, cheeses, and meats.
Where people go
- Wineries and vineyards Rows of vines climbing the hillsides, tasting rooms, and wine tours.
- Orchards and fruit stands Roadside stands selling peaches, cherries, and cider.
- Lakes and beaches Osoyoos Lake, the warmest lake in Canada, and sandy beaches.
- Desert centre and hiking trails The Osoyoos Desert Centre and the Kettle Valley Rail Trail for hiking and cycling.
- Farmers markets Weekly markets with local produce, crafts, and baked goods.
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Nearby
Every areaPentictonBritish ColumbiaWhere sun-soaked orchards meet the lake's edgeKelownaBritish ColumbiaSun-soaked shores and vineyard rows.VernonBritish ColumbiaLakeside living, orchard charmThompson-NicolaBritish ColumbiaWhere the rivers meet the rangeNorth OkanaganBritish ColumbiaWhere the Okanagan gets down to earth.Salmon ArmBritish ColumbiaA lake-lover's paradise in the heart of BCKamloopsBritish ColumbiaWhere rivers meet and champions play.TrailBritish ColumbiaSmall-town heart, big-mountain soul.
Rural Okanagan-Similkameen, BC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.