North/Central Okanagan U-Pick | Spring, Summer, or Fall | Weeklong Tour

St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery, Kelowna | Destination BC/Andrew Strain — St Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery, *Kelowna* | Destination BC/Andrew Strain

“WAY”, welcome (nsyilxcen) to the unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan; Interior Salish people of these lands. Our road trip begins at the gateway to the Valley on the territorial lands of the Secwepemc People - then onto the Okanagan through the unceded lands of the Okanagan/Sylix.

Give yourself at least seven days for this Indigenous-inspired road trip through the North/Central Okanagan. We encourage you to slow down and experience the wonders and culture of the area.

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 to create the adventure of a lifetime. The Okanagan is our home, and there are many bonus blogs on our website that will assist you in customizing your stay in the Valley.

Lim ‘limpt (thank you).

The Vagabonds.

Sicamous and Enderby

2 days

Just east of the outlet of the Shuswap River on the sandy banks of Mara Lake is the Village of Sicamous. The main development of the village is at the narrows, a short channel connecting Mara and Shuswap Lake and home to “summer beach” -a seasonal sandbar that appears in the shallows in July and August. Years ago, before first contact, Sicamous was a significant gathering place for the Interior Salish people who followed the area's waterways and ancestral trails to Shuswap Lake, a sacred body of water occupying a deep fjord carved into the rugged landscape of the Rocky Mountains.

Sicamous, Shuswap Lake and Mara Lake from Sicamous Lookout | Darren Robinson/Shuswap Tourism

A popular place to see the two lakes and the rambling river is the old hang-gliding ramp at the Sicamous Lookout. (The lookout is a short walk from where you park.) The valley view from here is breathtaking! Mara, the smaller of the two lakes, shimmers in the distance - an inviting blue beacon beckoning you to play in its seasonally warm waters. If you have your kayak with you, tour the shoreline close to the mouth of the river where you can see pictographs dating back about 200 years. There are lots of white sandy beaches in the area – some on the cooler Shuswap Lake, others on Mara.

There are plenty of easy walks along the old railway on the northeast shore of the lake, or you can hike to Sicamous Creek Falls. When you get to the falls, you can take a more rigorous route to the top of the mountain or climb alongside the tumbling creek, using ropes to reach increasingly higher vantage points.

At the end of the day, stop by Moose Mulligans Pub. Sit on the patio if you can and watch houseboats navigate the narrows to Shuswap Lake. Sicamous is known as the Houseboat Capital of Canada.

There are plenty of places to stay in the area. Hummingbird Resort offers vintage accommodation with beachside firepits and boasts the best beach on the lake. Shmuck’s Roadhouse offers 70’s-style A-frame cabins with a personal hot tub. If you want to tent, there’s a simple campsite beside Eagle Creek. Whether you spend the night here or in Enderby make sure to reserve ahead.

Sicamous has been an important gathering and fishing site for the Splatsin Indian Band since time immemorial. These semi-nomadic people travelled with the seasons, hunting, foraging, and fishing.

Wildlife in Sicamous | Bear and Beaver

Indigenous landmarks in the area include Swa7wilc (Shuswap Falls), Xatewtalc (Eagle Rock), and Quilakwa Mountain, the site of the last battle fought between the Splatsin and Kutenai (Kootenay) (also known as the Ktunaxa Ksanka (k-SAHN-kah)). This lushly forested area is filled with abundant waterways to explore, trails to follow, and history to discover.

Enderby

Route 97 is a beautiful stretch of highway connecting Sicamous to Osoyoos and the American Border. The section of highway that runs alongside Mara Lake is one of our favourite road trips anywhere, roll down the windows and inhale the fragrant humid air as you cruise the curves that caress the Monashee Mountains and shoreline. The highway is single lane to Enderby and the speed limit is not a suggestion here. As you maneuver a sweeping corner into the hamlet of Grindrod, you'll see an old barn-like building covered with shiny hub caps. We love the sign which says "we collect junk and sell antiques" - if you have a moment you can pull over and check out the relics..

A little further west you’ll reach Enderby, a quaint and irresistibly groovy small City built where the Shuswap Highlands meet the Okanagan Basin at Enderby Cliffs. One of the most popular and challenging hikes in the highlands, with panoramic views that stretch south to Vernon and north to Salmon Arm, the 2200-meter hike to the summit is for more advanced hikers, but the first 650 meters is family-friendly and takes you to The Shrine.

The landscape changes the higher you climb passing through groves of birch and aspen that gradually give way to ancient forests of cedar, hemlock, and fir. The giant hill is a 50-million-year-old lava field carved by glaciers and home to an abundance of wildlife including cougar, bear, deer, and birds of prey, which love to glide on the thermal updrafts.

The southernmost tribe of the Secwépemc Nation, the Splatsin’s First Nations Reservation is adjacent to the City; the Splatsin Community Centre, a 35,000 square foot architectural marvel merges modern technology with natural features and a living roof. Resembling a traditional kekuli (pit house), the structure uses locally sourced products with replicas of ancient Indigenous pictographs painted around the exterior.

After your hike, head to the Shuswap River Float – the best place to tube in the summer sunshine. The float from Belvidere Park to Tuey Park takes an hour and a half, while Eby Hand Launch to Belvidere takes close to five hours.

There are three wineries in the area including Larch Hills, which is the highest elevation winery in North America. Growing European varietals like Siegerrebe, Madeleine Angevine, St. Laurent, and Lemberger grapes, it’s a unique experience that is much different than wine sampling further south in the valley. Baccata Ridge Winery is a quaint little farmgate meadery that serves delicious blueberry wine, if you have time it’s a great place to stop.

There are plenty of places in town to grab a handcrafted beverage, homecooked meal, or enjoy a local busker in the revitalized downtown. You can stay in the Indigenous-owned Quilakwa RV Park on the riverbank, or book a night at The Treehouse at J <3 Y, a planet-friendly B&B after viewing the double feature at the vintage Starlight Drive-In.

Fun Facts:

The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail is scheduled to open soon. Travelling through the abandoned Sicamous to Armstrong rail corridor, it will eventually link to the Vernon-Kelowna rail trail and 200 kilometres of trail south to Osoyoos.

In the Winter:

Waterside Vineyard and Winery
View the winter home of the Trumpeter Swans who gather on the river.
Snowshoe at Larch Hill Ski Area.
The Shuswap Trail Alliance organizes interpretive snowshoe tours of the Enderby Cliffs. Learn about the geology, ecology, and cultural significance the Cliffs have to the Splatsin First Nations.

Note: Travelling BC Highways in the winter requires the use of appropriate tires, and a four-wheel drive is strongly recommended. Pack a safety kit including warm blankets, snacks and water. Some travellers choose to carry chains through these areas.

Places to Stay:

Hummingbird Resort - Mara Lake
Joe Schmuck’s Roadhouse - Sicamous
An off-grid solar powered cabin at the Tin Poppy – Enderby area
Indigenous-owned and operated Quilakwa RV Park - Enderby
The Treehouse at J <3 Y a green tiny house experience for the adventurous - Enderby
Riverside RV Park and Campground - Enderby

Where to Eat:

Moose Mulligans Pub – great pub food -Sicamous
Joe Schmuck’s Roadhouse - contemporary pub style food - Sicamous
Kaze Japanese Restaurant - popular Japanese food meny - Enderby
D&E Drive-In - really good 50’s style burger bar - Enderby

Need to Know

Please check with the local Visitor Centre for suggestions, many of the town's smaller offerings have struggled with the pandemic and are temporarily or permanently closed. There is a lot to do in this area during COVID 19 restrictions, make sure to know before you go and plan.

Armstrong, Vernon

2 days

Armstrong is a small city located between Enderby and Vernon. Full of history and culture – and home to the annual Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede (IPE) since 1899 you’ll find a spattering of working ranches dotting the landscape.

There is an essence of goodness in these rolling farmlands that can’t be denied. Armstrong’s agricultural roots are steeped in the farm-fresh goodness of produce, livestock, and the emergence of wildcraft farming, a contemporary word for foraging from the land.

Farmstrong Cider Company makes small batch craft cider on a heritage farm - or visit Orchard Blossom Honey where you can bring your own bucket to be filled. There are several Alpaca ranches in the area that are sustainably and humanely producing some of the finest fibres on the planet. Guardian dogs roam with the herd protecting them from local predators.

One of our favourite places to stop in the Okanagan is The Village Cheese Company in downtown Armstrong. Watch master cheesemakers at their craft and replenish your snack pack after a quick lunch. Also featured in the Consciously Curated Local Shop's section of our website.

Today, Armstrong is a waylayer and innovator in the Okanagan. Located slightly north of the most temperate growing zone, its agricultural roots remain steeped in the farm-fresh goodness of produce and livestock ranching - a perfect recipe for agricultural tourism or an evening at Caravan Farm Theatre where planning is underway for the 2021 season.

Caravan Theatre, Armstrong | Photo Credit: Yolanda De Rooy — Caravan Theatre, *Armstrong* | Photo Credit: Yolanda De Rooy

Vernon

After a few hours in Armstrong, continue south towards Vernon. If you have time, you can take Otter Lake Road to the Historic O’Keefe Ranch and step back in time to 1867. This heritage site tells the story of early BC ranching and culture. We love wandering the property, which resembles a quaint period town, complete with a general store, post office, and blacksmith shop. Many of the original buildings still exist.

Located on the unceded lands of the Sylix Okanagan Peoples (Sylix/Okanagan) is Vernon. The Okanagan Indian Band, members of the eight member bands of the region, reserve lands lay between the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake and Kalamalka Lake and Wood Lakes (encompassing 24,742 acres).

Vernon is a farm-to-table foodie destination that offers a diverse sampling of independently owned restaurants, pubs, and cideries. Davison Orchard features a local café and market along with orchards to explore and the best apple juice in town! You can hop on “Johnny Popper Train” for tractor rides around the property or head next door to Planet Bee Honey Farm and Meadery for a sampling of mead and some sweet treats.

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is Western Canada’s original craft distillery, using 100% locally grown fruits and grains to make premium, world-class spirits. Stop in for a flight and tour of this amazing facility which is featured in our Consciously Curated Local Shops as well as the SIPS section of our website.

One of our favourite stops, and our Vagabond Pick, is BX Press Cidery and Orchard – in the rolling farmlands of East Vernon. You’ll get a history lesson of the area while tasting some of the best apple cider in the province. If you check ahead, they often have live music in the evenings, complete with wood-fired pizza served under the Okanagan sunset. A trip to Vernon isn’t complete without a stop at this third-generation orchard.

Check out our EAT and SIP sections of our website to help customize your itinerary to please your palette. Many of the city’s restaurants and eateries are located on the downtown Mural Walk which depicts the history of the city. Check out the Greater Vernon and Archives for tour bookings.

If you have time, a tour of Mackie Tea House is a vintage experience on the shores of Kalamalka Lake, check their calendar to see what is new for 2021.

Kalamalka Lake (Kal Lake) or the lake of a thousand colours, is home to some of the best sand beaches in the Valley. This is an exotic 'marl' lake, an unusual phenomenon that occurs when limestone sediment from receding glaciers crystalizes in the water under the heat of the sun. In hot weather, the lake reflects an iridescent spectrum of blue, turquoise, and green. The hotter it gets, the more the lake reflects. Much of the area surrounding Kalamalka Lake is within provincial protected parks, conserving our unique drylands ecosystems.

Kal Lake is also the gateway to some of the area's most scenic hiking trails, hidden coves and beaches, and cliff diving. Most of these gems are accessed at the main parking lot in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.

There are six known sites of lithic artifacts (stone tools or weapons) along with evidence of small village clusters of kekulis (pit houses) and a larger cultural village in the park. If you stumble upon an artifact, please leave it as you found it; these are historic treasures and the cultural property of the Syilx/Okanagan people.

Kalamalka Lake, Vernon — Kalamalka Lake, *Vernon*

The arid hills surrounding the lake are home to scattered groves of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and prickly cactus hidden in the tall grasses that fill the landscape. The spring wildflower show is spectacular showcasing important Indigenous flowers like arrowleaf, balsamroot, sp‘iƛ̓əm Chief bitterroot, known as the chief for things under the ground to the Sylix/Okanagan.

The four Chiefs, Skemxist (Black Bear), Siya (Saskatoon Berry), Spitlem (Bitter Root), Ntyxtix (King Salmon), worked together to determine how to provide sustenance to the Stelsqilxw (people not yet here) addressing the challenges they would face, and collaborating to overcome them, resulting in this sacred chaptikwl of the Four Food Chiefs.

Kal Lake is home to some of the best beaches in Vernon. Kal Beach is the main beach, located in the heart of Coldstream and the most popular beach for tourists. It’s also right across from Kalavida Surf Shop where you can rent paddleboards and bikes.

Jade and Juniper Bay beaches, side-by-side, are often the inspiration for photographers who can’t resist the picturesque views of the turquoise water and surrounding valley. Both beaches have plenty of shade to get you out of the sun and are a short walk from the main parking lot. There are some really cool swimming holes just off the nearby pathways through the trees.

Also found in the park’s protected area is the incredibly stunning beach at Cosens Bay. Hike-in (or boat access) only, this little piece of paradise is a great place to bring your dog for a swim. Cosens Bay Trail is a short 2.5-kilometre hike from the main parking lot.

Rock climbing opportunities are abundant in the area with Cougar Canyon being a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

Okanagan Lake is the largest lake in the Okanagan Valley with a surface area of 348 square kilometers. Ellison Park is the deepest spot in the lake at 232 metres and a great place to camp along the water (but it books up fast). Kin Beach is one of Vernon’s main tourist attractions and the largest beach in the area. Bring your four-legged friends to the south end of the beach or camp at Sandy Beach Campground. Nearby Paddlewheel Park & Beach is a great spot for a picnic and popular for families with young kids.

The lake is home to the legendary Ogopogo, the creature that lives at Squally Point in the caves around Rattlesnake Island. The Okanagan/Sylix know the serpent as N’Haatik, whose legend is of great cultural importance to the people. Having participated in a Water Tour hosted by the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper shared the story where N’Haatik exists in two forms: a spiritual entity that possesses the currents and mood of the water and a physical embodiment that manifests during times of significance. In respect of the spirit, the Okanagan/Sylix bless the waters of Okanagan Lake with offerings of tobacco and sage, thanking N’Haatik for providing sustenance to their people, and lands they call home.

Okanagan Rail Trail, connecting Vernon and Kelowna | @miraecampbell — Okanagan Rail Trail, connecting *Vernon and Kelowna* | @miraecampbell

Vernon is also the (current) starting point of the Okanagan Rail Trail, known as xwił iʔ sw̓kʷnaʔqin (the road of the Okanagan People in nysyilxcn). The road follows an abandoned rail bed constructed along the ancestral trails of the Okanagan/Syilx. The 50-kilometre trail has some of the best views in the entire Okanagan Valley, as it weaves its way alongside Route 97 next to the vibrant blue colours of Kal Lake. Access points are in Coldstream (below the college at Kick Willie Loop Road and Westkal Road) or at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park south of Vernon. Note: Some parts of the trail are still under construction.