Provincial Parks of the North Okanagan Valley
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
About Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada
One of Canada’s most prized possessions has to be the gorgeous Okanagan Valley, which is located in the province of British Columbia and is well-known for its incredible beauty. It features a milder climate and more sunny days than the national average. The valley has an abundance of lakes, along with a ton of wineries and orchards. The region is in fact so gorgeous that it draws in over 3.5 million tourists per year.
The valley boasts more than 50 lakes, many of them suitable for swimming and water sports.
We have spent years scouring the lands and exploring the Okanagan, especially in the North. Here is our list of “Provincial Parks of The North Okanagan Valley, British Columbia”.
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Map of North Okanagan
Kekuli Bay Provincial Park, Vernon
Kekuli Bay Provincial Park
Situated in the Vernon area just off of Highway 97 on the shores of beautiful Kalamalka Lake, Kekuli Bay Provincial Park offers great beaches and lovely water that changes color throughout the year. Nicknamed the “Lake of Many Colors” due to the range of different hues that the water takes on depending on temperature. The incredibly blue waters witnessed in the summer months at Kalamalka Lake can be easily explained by science. The lake waters contain high amounts of calcium carbonate and when this element warms up it reflects light and thus creates a unique turquoise color.
The park includes beaches, hiking trails, a boat launch, picnic day spots, campsites, and the popular new attraction, the Okanagan Rail Trail. The trail runs along 48.5km of former train tracks, taking visitors through some of the best scenery the Okanagan has to offer. There are around 22 parks located along the trail as well as plenty of gorgeous beaches.
The name “kekuli” was chosen by local students in a name-the-park contest. The name refers to semi-subterranean homes built by Interior Salish natives. There is evidence of kekuli pits, and other artifacts located within the park.
Kekuli Bay Provincial Park, Vernon
Kekuli Bay Vlog
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park
Encompassing 2,420 acres of pristine Okanagan wilderness, Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park provides visitors with impressive blue water, desert landscapes, rocky cliffs, and big sandy beaches.
Rattlesnake Point juts out into the warm waters of the lake and provides hikers with ideal swimming spots. Cliff divers from all over, come to the park to take advantage of the rocky outcroppings all along the edge of the lake.
Cosens Bay is a beach that can only be reached by foot or by boat and on certain days can be virtually empty. It is the perfect location for a day trip for a beach picnic and a swim.
Jade Bay Beach is a family-friendly beach within the park that only takes 5 minutes to get to if you're using the main parking lot. The beach features calm waters and convenient picnic tables.
Juniper Bay Beach is another family-oriented beach that requires a 10 minutes walk from the parking lot. This beach boasts a large grassy area, many picnic tables, outhouses, and tame marmots who will eat right out of your hand.
The park offers up many different hiking trails of varying difficulties and even has a trail with a beach for dogs. The other beaches and trails in the park are dog-free.
Animals you might spot while in the park are coyote, black bear, deer, Colombian ground squirrel, marmot, mink, bobcat, red fox, as well as several types of snakes including rattlesnakes.
SilverStar Mountain Provincial Park
Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia
SilverStar Mountain Provincial Park is situated 22 km Northeast of Vernon and encompasses 5,573 hectares of alpine wilderness. Perhaps most well-known for its winter recreation activities that include skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. The village has a great atmosphere and features European-style chalets, as well as restaurants, pubs, hotels, a bowling alley and more. Many of the chalets are available for rent and come fully equipped with all of the amenities one would need. Some can even accommodate large families and have spacious indoor living quarters, large decks, hot tubs, and BBQ areas.
In the warmer months, Silver Star is open to hikers and bikers and features fun festivals and activities. Mountain bikers can cruise up and down the mountain on various forest trails. Hikers will be able to take in the vibrant greenery and lovely wildflowers that come to life in the warm weather. Many varieties of wild edible berries are yours for the taking if you know what you’re looking for.
In the summer, you can choose to ride the chairlift up for a small fee. Once on top you will be treated to excellent views of the valley below. You will have your pick of one of the many alpine trails to hike back down to the village. Another option is to hike to the top without the help of the chairlift and then hike back down.
Silver Star Mountain, British Columbia
Ellison Provincial Park
Ellison Provincial Park, Vernon
Ellison Provincial Park is an amazingly beautiful spot that features clear water, ample space, sandy beaches, and several scenic hiking trails. The park is only a 15-minute drive from the city of Vernon and provides great scenery along Okanagan Lake.
Campers can take advantage of the 71 campsites and shower facilities located within the park.
Hiking trails go all over the park and provide access to the three gorgeous beaches that this park boasts.
Rocky lagoons throughout the park provide lake goers with idyllic swimming spots. The park’s abundance of cliffs are also a popular attraction for local daredevils.
Ellison Provincial Park, Vernon
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Fintry Provincial Park
Fintry Provincial Park, Okanagan Valley
Steeped in a rich colorful history, Fintry Provincial Park offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s historical past. The park is a heritage site of the former Fintry Estate and is now open for public use. Campsites, beaches, hiking trails, and Fintry Falls all attractions in the park.
The park is situated on a delta of Okanagan Lake and is surrounded by idyllic beaches and a mountainous backdrop. Visitors can hike on the recently constructed waterfall staircase, which provides an up-close view of Fintry Falls. The trail allows hikers to cool off in the mist of the falls, during the hot summer days.
Fintry Provincial Park, Okanagan Valley
Mabel Lake Provincial Park
Mabel Lake, Lumby
Mabel Lake features incredible white sand beaches and clear mountain-fed waters. It is nestled in the Monashee Mountains in a fairly remote location about an hour's drive from civilization. The park features a large campsite with nice facilities and a small convenience store with boat rentals.
Lake goers will be able to take full advantage of the amazingly clear waters and breathe in the fresh air provided to you by the lush green forest surrounding the lake.
Mabel Lake, Lumby
Echo Lake Provincial Park
Echo Lake Provincial Park, Lumby
Echo Lake is an excellent fishing and kayaking lake tucked away in the mountains of Creighton Valley. Echo Lake is perfect for those seeking solitude and the relaxing sounds of nature. Other than the famous echos that give the lake its name, noises are kept to a minimum on this lake paradise by limiting the sizes of boat motors. Anglers will love catching the rainbow trout, lake trout, and kokanee salmon available in this lake. Also great for swimming and sunbathing, Echo Lake provides several little coves and a couple of beaches for day use.
Camping is also possible at Echo Lake Resort which has campsites and cabin rentals.
Echo Lake Provincial Park, Lumby
Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park
Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park, Enderby
Standing atop the volcanic monument called Enderby Cliffs, it becomes clear why this mountain has been revered by local First Nation peoples for thousands of years.
Once on top you can take in the stunning valley views and watch predatory birds float over the vast cliffs, catching thermals which send them high in the sky.
The hike is not for the faint of heart and will test your endurance to the fullest. It is a day hike that takes around 3-4 hours to the peak depending on fitness and around an hour to get back down.
Enderby Cliffs Provincial Park, Enderby
Monashee Provincial Park
Spectrum Lake, Monashee Provincial Park
The Monashee is a large mountain range and Provincial Park that features protected old-growth cedar forests, alpine wildflowers, and crystal clear lakes. Loaded with hiking trails of all difficulties and even an advanced climbing trail that leads to the peak of Mount Fosthall.
Spectrum Lake is 6 km from the parking lot and is the perfect day hike. Campsites allow you to stay overnight and rest up, so the next day you can conquer the difficult and daunting 5 km uphill battle to Little Peters Lake. Once up top, you will have the option to camp or continue on another 2 km to Big Peter’s Lake and another 5 km from there is Margie Lake. The scenery in the alpine plateau is magnificent and definitely won’t disappoint. This is one of the most remote locations in the North Okanagan and is a well-known grizzly bear territory, so be sure to take extra precautions when visiting this park.
Rainbow Falls, Monashee Provincial Park
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