“Trail of Hidden Gems” | Spring, Summer, or Fall | Weeklong Road Trip

Poplar Grove Winery, Penticton | Destination BC/Kari Medig — Poplar Grove Winery, *Penticton* | Destination BC/Kari Medig

“WAY”, welcome (nsyilxcen) to the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan People. Give yourself 7 days for this road trip that weaves its way from West Kelowna along the shores of Okanagan Lake, through sun-kissed valleys, to the fertile vineyards of Naramata Bench.

Exploring the diverse and breathtaking geography of the South/Central Okanagan is an epic adventure highlighted by The Kettle Valley Railroad, a retired expanse of track, and the raw beauty of Skaha Bluffs.

A traveller is one who “immerses themself in the places they visit.” Responsible travellers plan, choosing experiences that leave a small ecological footprint. Our road trips are packed full of culture, and we encourage you to stop in rural or Indigenous communities, stay in locally run accommodations, eat and sip at small shops, and buy from local artisans.

Our trips are all connected, but you can experience them independently or combine them to create the adventure of a lifetime. The Okanagan is our home, and there are many bonus blogs on the website that will assist you in further customizing your stay.

Lim ‘limpt (thank you).

The Vagabonds.

West Kelowna

3 days

South of the Bennett Bridge, some travellers are tempted to cruise right through West Kelowna to get away from the traffic, but don’t, there are so many magical detours here for you to explore.

Westside Road, formerly known as the Fur Trade Brigade, winds its way north connecting West Kelowna and Vernon. The locals call it ‘Tail of the Ogopogo’ for its exaggerated curves, cliffside twists, and sweeping views of Okanagan Lake – perfect for those who love adventurous road trips made for cruising. Travelling through an important wildlife corridor, it’s a mecca for motorcycle enthusiasts who covet its 330 voluptuous curves. And it’s also the only land access to Bear Creek and Fintry Provincial Parks - must sees this side of the bridge.

Bear Creek Provincial Park is 9 kilometres north on Westside Road, with soft sand beaches and an abundance of well-marked trails that lead to a cascading waterfall and hidden pool. The pathways travel alongside Bear Creek, a quick flowing waterway that’s carved its way through bedrock, cascading down crevices and flowing through filtered forests on route to Okanagan Lake.

Bear Creek Canyon Trail takes hikers across the creek on a footbridge to a series of wooden stairs leading to a lower viewpoint of the creek and valley. From here, a compact trail leads visitors to two additional viewing points with spectacular views of the creek and waterfalls and sweeping vistas of Lake Okanagan and the city of Kelowna.

Fintry Falls | Photo Credit: Exploratory Glory

Further north at Fintry Provincial Park, the Shorts Creek Gorge Trail leads hikers through a deep and cavernous gorge to three stunning waterfalls. The hike to the main view is a short but intense climb up a wooden staircase known as “The Stairway to Heaven.” If you carry on along Shorts Creek, you can see the smaller waterfalls from a more natural vantage point. At the top, you can take a slight detour to view the remains of an old suspension bridge hanging over the water. (Some hikers cross the bridge to a natural waterslide and two swimming holes, but for your own safety and the wellbeing of the landscape, stick to the trails.)

Besides hiking and swimming, visitors can also scuba dive to an old Canadian Pacific Railway barge sunk in the lake.

Deer and the protected California bighorn sheep are residents of the park, as well as moose, bears, lynx, coyotes, cougars and birds including raptors. While you’re in this neck of the woods, check out the horseback riding adventures at Broken Rail Ranch. It’s a great way to explore the incredible landscape and views of Okanagan Lake!

A few of our favourite hikes are Mt. Boucherie, Carrot Mountain, and The City on the Edge of Forever Trail, part of the larger Rose Valley trail network. The “Edge” is a challenging 8.5-kilometre trek up a steep incline past the Rose Valley Reservoir, through a stone archway, leading to panoramic views of the valley.

Carrot Mountain Bluff is a workout that leads hikers to a rocky outcropping on the east end of Carrot Mountain with spectacular views over the crown of Mt. Boucherie to Okanagan Lake. In less than 2 kilometres you will gain 600 metres of elevation on a strenuous climb that takes a little over an hour. Make sure to take your picture with the Canadian Flag proudly mounted atop this summit.

Mt. Boucherie, also known as the “Sleeping Grizzly,” is the remnants of a prehistoric stratovolcano and a prominent First Nations Landmark. Boucherie Rush Trail takes you to the top of the mountain where a sweeping view of the valley and lake extends south to include Rattlesnake Island. The hike up Boucherie is filled with switchbacks and unique rock formations created by streams of lava long since solidified. This is where you’ll see examples of sacred Indigenous plants including Antelope Brush typically found further south in one of the four most endangered ecosystems in Canada. The mountain is the furthest north this desert shrub grows.

Sncewips Heritage Museum, owned and operated by Westbank First Nation, has an impressive collection of authentic Indigenous art and artifacts on display. They provide tours of the museum as well as cultural tours of the area's Indigenous landmarks. Moccasin Trails, a local award-winning Indigenous tourism operator, provides guided tours of Mr. Boucherie as well as paddling excursions on Okanagan Lake in their voyager style vessels.

There are 16 wineries in West Kelowna, too many to feature, but check out our SIPS section for more suggestions and detailed information. Here is a condensed list of some of our favourites:

Indigenous World Winery, the first solely Indigenous-owned winery in the area, has recently expanded to making handcrafted spirits. We love their Red Fox Pinot Noir Rosé and their gin.

One of our favourite farm-gate operations is Rollingdale Winery. This quaint and unpretentious vineyard produces some of the finest examples of small-batch organic wine in the area. The open concept tasting room is located in the production area of the Quonset hut where the wines are crafted. Try the Port-style wine handcrafted from their estate-grown Marechal Foch.

Indigenous World Winery | @miraecampbell/Destination BC

The old-world character of Crown and Thieves Winery reminds visitors of an ancient ruins waiting to be explored. A member of The Hatch family and the Westside Wine Trail, a visit to the Crown is full of unexpected pleasures. Overlooking Gellatly Bay, it reminds us of a visit to Dubrovnik and scenes of Kings Landing after the games. One of our favourite sips from this winery is Crown + Thieves NV Scoundrels Punch.

Our go-to for date night is Old Vines Restaurant at Quails Gate Winery. This third-generation winery overlooking Okanagan Lake is a pioneer in the BC wine industry. The views are simply spectacular, providing sweeping vistas of the valley, vineyards, and landscapes that define the area. We suggest sampling Lucy’s Bloc Rosé or Reserve Old Vines Foch, both crafted from grapes grown on their Kelowna and West Kelowna vineyards. Their menu is seasonally inspired serving contemporary examples of locally sourced product.

Off the Grid Winery is an organic farmgate vineyard presented by the pioneering Paynter Family of West Kelowna. One of our favourite stops for wine and a visit with their farm animals, we love the simple, unpretentious vibe of this operation. Take in an open-air tasting in the picnic area or reserve a spot in the straw bale solar-powered tasting room. This is a great place to grab an artisan pizza or sign up for Sunday yoga in the vines. Off the Grid is our Vagabond Pick for this area.

The Westside Farm Loop offers an honest representation of agricultural tourism with a self-guided tour. You can load up on honey, u-pick berries, orchard-fresh fruit, and even go a little nutty on this loop with a visit to Gellatly Heritage Nut Farm. There are 20 farms, markets, and produce stands on the trail provided you ample opportunity to fill your cooler, and Vagabond market tote.

Truck 59 Ciderhouse is the place to go for refreshing SIPS. Try the Bourbon Blackberry which pairs perfectly with BBQ food from the Smoke Show food truck. Another favourite Vagabond stop is Kekuli Café. The Indigenous-owned restaurant makes the best bannock, fresh salads and superb saskatoon berry smoothies or lattes. If you call ahead, you can order a picnic lunch for pick-up.

19 Okanagan Grill and Bar, the clubhouse restaurant at Two Eagles Golf Course, is a chef-inspired farm-to-table offering anchoring one of our favourite walkable golf courses. Great food and golf, complete with signature views of Okanagan Lake and Mission Hill Winery make this a popular stop.

Throughout West Kelowna, you will see Indigenous art and sculptures on display – some in plain view, others slightly off the beaten path. The public art project is a collaboration between WFN (Westbank First Nation), practicing Indigenous artists, and local community members. Visit the Westbank Museum and Visitor Centre for tips on self-guided tours.

Before you head out on the highway make sure to stop into one of the West Kelowna beaches. Willow Beach (on Gellatly Road) is a local favourite with Gellatly Bay Waterfront offering a quaint public zipline and jumping platforms.

There are some terrific walking or cycling paths that travel along the shoreline, you can pedal them from the beach to Frind Winery for a tasting, or charcuterie on the sprawling lakefront lawns.

In the Winter:

Telemark Nordic Club
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort
Big White Ski Resort (book a dog sledding adventure with Candle Creek Dogsled Tours)
Winter wine tours
Snowshoeing or hiking to frozen waterfalls

Places to Stay:

Camp at Bear Creek Provincial Park – Kelowna
Camp at Fintry Provincial Park – Vernon
Casa Grand Resort (a splurge stop) – West Kelowna
A View of the Lake B&B – West Kelowna
Lake Okanagan Resort – Kelowna

Where to Eat:

Pizzamoreh – West Kelowna
Kojo Sushi – Westbank
Breakfast at Pepper Pot – West Kelowna
The Modest Butcher – West Kelowna
Check out our EATS section

Peachland

After passing the Connector Intersection of Highway 97 and 97C, the highway opens up treating travellers to incredible views of Okanagan Lake before leisurely descending into Peachland. The narrowing valley is arid with rolling sage hills glistening in the sunlight and tumbleweeds rolling about in the fragrant breeze.

Arrive in town via Route 97 or by water (there is free mooring on the south end of the beach just off Beach Avenue). There are also several easy launch points for those wanting to paddle the lake. Many choose to hug the shoreline, while more adventurous paddlers head to Rattlesnake Island.

Peachland has one of the best waterfront walks in the Okanagan Valley. If you start at Blind Angler Grill on the south end of Beach Avenue, it’s about 8 kilometres round trip, taking you past the incredible Peachland Pier. There are loads of great places to shop or have lunch along the promenade. Gasthaus on the Lake serves a hearty German meal or delicious seasonal beet salad. If you’re eating on the stone patio make sure to peek inside, the eclectic interior is a visual smorgasbord of collections.

Another interesting stop on Beach Avenue is the old schoolhouse, now the Peachland Visitor Centre and Art Gallery. The building is also home to a maternal bat colony credited with keeping the waterfront mosquito-free. In the evening, people gather on the beach to watch the bats take flight into the night. During the day you can view them on monitors in the Visitor Centre – and learn about the history of the area’s Fur Trade Brigade and the Four Food Chiefs of the Indigenous people.

The Peachland Museum is also worth a stop on the way. The unique 8-sided church houses a scale model of the Kettle Valley Railway as it existed between 1955 and 1965. On the far north end of the Road is where you’ll find Bliss Bakery and an eclectic assortment of independent shops.

There is an interesting history surrounding Rattlesnake Island, considered to be the den of the elusive Ogopogo. The Okanagan/Syilx knew of a water spirit living in the lake, its existence shared in stories told by Knowledge Keepers and Indigenous Elders since the early 1700s. Known as N'ha-a-itk, meaning "snake of the water", the Indigenous people made blessings of tobacco or fresh meat for safe passage across the waters. Legend speaks of the creature living at Squally Point in a cave; contemporary First Nation interpretations of these legends consider N’ha-a-itk to be the spirit of the lake that manifests in the water.

Some of the area’s best places to visit are slightly off the beaten track. Hainle and Deep Creek Estate Wines is Canada’s first producer of certified organic wine and the birthplace of North American Icewine. A bottle of 1978 Hainle Icewine sold for 1.5 million pounds at a London wine auction creating quite the local buzz. Don't fret, a tasting at this rustic chalet-style winery is anything but pomp.

For an epic view of Deep Creek Gorge, visit Zip Zone – Canada's highest freestyle ziplines. Dyna Climb, a shifting climbing wall, is a great way to prep for some serious rock climbing down the road in Penticton.

If height and hiking are on your itinerary, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the lake and surrounding Valley from Pincushion Mountain Trail, a 3.5-kilometre hike that takes about an hour.

Hardy Falls Regional Park is a magical place to stop and stretch your legs. The shaded walking trail is wheelchair accessible and follows the clear waters of Deep Creek to a small waterfall. This is a sacred Indigenous waterway and wildlife corridor. Berry bushes are found throughout the forest so be Bear Aware – especially when the Kokanee Salmon return to spawn in the fall.

Our logo is the hobo hieroglyphic carved at train stations throughout North America. It indicates that fresh water, safe stay or passage is found here. A critical communication to workers riding the rails following the Great Depression.

Fun Facts:

Ogopogo is a Canadian Cultural icon declared an endangered aquatic species by Greenpeace.

Summerland

1 day

The journey between Peachland and Summerland is one of our favourite road trips on the planet. Be sure to travel before sunset; the road between Hardy Falls and Summerland is a curving stretch of highway that runs along the natural shoreline of the lake before opening up to divided highway the closer you get to Summerland.

On the way, we love to stop at Dragon Lotus for some of the best Chinese food in BC. We always order dinner for four with extra servings of Egg Fu Yung and Ginger Beef (knowing we’ll feed six with leftovers).

The wineries between Peachland and Summerland boast some of the best views on this road trip and include the famous Bottleneck Drive – home to fifteen wineries, four cideries, a distillery, and acres of orchards.

Fitzpatrick Winery at Greta Ranch crafts sparkling wine using the Traditional Method developed in the Champagne region of France. A few kilometres south is Savard Vines, a humble tasting room down a winding road (not suitable for RV’s or larger vehicles). The winemaker hosts tastings and tours at this family-run operation, which serves a delicious rosé.

Just outside of Summerland is Sage Hill Estate Winery and Vineyards, one of our favourite wineries in the Central Okanagan and a consistent Vagabond Pick. This certified organic winery is a kilometre off the highway down a gravel road, but it’s a must-stop! We love their portfolio of low-intervention offerings, especially their orange examples of wine. The view north up Okanagan Lake is featured on the label of our Glampfire Candles.

Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery, a pioneering member of the community, is a perfect stop for a sampling of unique fruit wines, crafted with 100% BC grown fruit. This is, hands down, the best place in the Valley to stop for ice cream. A single scoop in a homemade waffle cone is plenty!

Bottleneck Drive newcomer Millionaires Row Cider Co. is a cheeky upstart whose cider labels pay homage to the pioneering founders of the town. Their beverages are exceptional, and the briefcase-style cider boxes are refillable and definitively cool.

Estate Thurn, a farmgate winery and distillery also known as Okanagan Vinegar Brewery, makes the best chocolate balsamic vinegar you’ve ever tasted. They also produce fine craft spirits and old-world-inspired wines. A stop at Dirty Laundry is always fun. With a local storyline that airs the dirty laundry of Summerland, their wines are fresh and offered in the most interesting bottles. Finally, on our condensed list, is Thornhaven Estates Winery, a Santa Fe-inspired winery serving a seductive Rosé Infusion frizzante.

If you’ve booked in advance, an excursion on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway is an excellent way to take in the local landscape or experience a Train Robbery or Murder Mystery. A heritage railway, it runs on the last section of functional track connecting Faulder to Trout Creek, stopping and ending at the Prairie Valley Railway Station.

The historic alpine inspired townsite is worth checking out with tons of eclectic shops including Maple Roch, True Grain Bakery, and Artvine Creative Spaces – home of the Valley’s favourite scavenger style hunt known as BeadTrails. Stop for a pretzel and brew or a taco at Breakaway Brewing Company. Many of the shops in this laid-back town are closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The town is split in half with the side west of Route 97 featuring the main section of Bottleneck Drive and the townsite, the section east of the highway runs alongside a sloping road to the lakeshore. The east side is full of some of the best hidden beaches in the Valley and Summerland Waterfront Resort – the perfect stop to spend a day or two. Head about 6 kilometres south to Summerland Ornamental Gardens to enjoy 15 acres of divine landscape and horticultural heaven.

Giant’s Head Mountain was formed when an ancient eruption shattered the original volcano, projecting lava bombs across the prehistoric landscape. A challenging trek, but well worth it, the summit offers stunning 360-degree panoramic views. If you'd like to get to the summit without much of a walk, keep driving up Giant's Head Park Road until you reach the parking lot at the top of the hill.

View From Giant’s Head Mountain | Destination BC/Kari Medig

For an easier stroll through the countryside, check out Trout Creek Trestle where a trestle bridge crosses over a deep cavern providing amazing views of the valley and lake in the distance. The truss bridge is the highest recorded structure on the Kettle Valley Railway and is still used by the local steam train – so be aware of when the train is running. The trail leads to flat pathways with views of Okanagan Mountain Park, and the idyllic Sun-Oka Beach peninsula.

Much of the land in the area was claimed by European settlers through a process known as pre-emption or Squatters rights. You can explore the history of the area at the Summerland Museum and Archives before heading south to Granny’s Fruit Stand and Bakery to stock up on local goodies.

Fun Facts:

Downtown Summerland (Siwash Flat) was originally part of the Penticton Indian Reserve No. 3 (exchanged between 1904–06 following a mutually agreeable land deal). The subject lands eventually became known as West Summerland.