4 GREAT DESTINATIONS FOR BOATERS
Launch your boat and hit the water – it’s that easy to enjoy this boating haven.
Visiting the Okanagan with a boat in tow expands on-water experiences – and new experiences can be enjoyed on the many different lakes. Some have warm lake temps, while all are easily navigable, and feature many facilities including picnic sites, campgrounds, and nearby summer resorts or cottage rentals.
Many are also easy to access. Highway 97 cuts through the valley and hugs the many bodies of water to offer a beautiful, seamless north-south bound route. And since boat launches are located at many of the lakes, simply launch the boat, park the tow vehicle, and hit the water. It’s really that easy. To begin planning a journey, here are four areas to enjoy a true getaway in BC’s Okanagan.
Wood Lake in Lake Country
Parallel to Okanagan Lake and about 30 km (19 mi) northeast from Kelowna, Wood Lake is located between Oyama and Winfield just off Hwy 97. While the lake is known to get busy during peak season with its local marina, RV parks, and nearby resorts, perhaps beat some of the crowds and visit late spring, early summer, or in the fall.
The lake has a surface area of approximately 9 sq km (3.5 sq mi), an average depth of 21.5 m (71 ft), and is warm enough to enjoy paddle boarding, swimming, and a variety of watersports. Its depth also makes it popular among anglers who go after rainbow trout and kokanee. While sizes may not be as common as those caught in other lakes, still expect a good fight. There are also a number of parks on the lake including Beasley (with its designated swimming area and picnic facilities) and Wood Lake Beach.
Skaha Lake, Penticton
Skaha Lake and Penticton are popular among visiting boaters as the lake is known for its warm waters, expansive beach, waterfront and variety of accommodations.
Boat launches can be found at the north end of the lake at the local marina, and considering the lake is approximately 12 km (7 mi) long and 2 km (1.2 mi) wide with an average depth of about 26 m (87 ft), it can easily accommodate watersports like waterskiing and wakeboarding.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:Highway 97 and many accessible rural roads lead to scenic destinations. Lake Country has a variety of destinations with convenient access to the water. The shores of Skaha Lake in Penticton.
It also attracts anglers. According to local fishing guides, the lake is popular for rainbow trout between May and June while Kokanee are active from June to August. Smallmouth bass is another popular species below Skaha’s surface. Expect best results from June to September.
While Hwy 97 runs the length of Skaha (and further north or south), Lakeshore/Eastside Rd on the east side of the lake offers a nice, scenic drive. It leads to Painted Rock Estate Winery, Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park as well as popular Okanagan Falls.
Ellison Provincial Park, Okanagan Lake
This is one of the many BC Parks in the area and is located at the north end of Okanagan Lake, approximately 20 km (12 mi) south of Vernon. Although it’s not all that difficult to access with a boat in tow, it’s wise to use digital navigation (or an updated map) since – after leaving Hwy 97 near Kekuli Bay Provincial Park – there are a number of connecting rural roads to follow – but it’ll be worth the drive.
Although the park doesn’t have a boat ramp, there are boat launches nearby (about ten minutes away) to access the lake. Once on the water, there are mooring buoys in protected South and Otter bays. Mooring is always a relaxing option, but the open water allows the chance to wakeboard and enjoy other watersports. Or, launch a paddleboard from one of the park’s sand beaches.
Of course, fishing is always game here. In late spring or early summer try trolling to depths of 6 to 18 m (20 to 60 ft) but during peak summer, fish go as deep as 12 to 30 m (40 to 100 ft) so downriggers are required. Nonetheless, with the right presentation and skill, chances are good the avid angler can land a sizable rainbow trout, kokanee, or burbot.
Camping is also available while many commercial services and more attractions can be found in and around Vernon.
Kalamalka Lake and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park
Kalamalka Lake is another popular destination in the Okanagan. This is a marl lake, which means when its temperature rises in the summer the calcium carbonate and limestone form crystals that reflect the sunlight, changing the water surface to a vivid, turquoise-blue, making it one of the most scenic lakes in the area.
Located off Hwy 97, 48.5 km (30 mi) north of Kelowna and 12 km (7 mi) south of Vernon, Kal Lake – as it’s locally known – spans 16 km (10 mi), has a width of 3 km (2 mi) and its overall surface area is 25.7 sq km (10 sq mi). It’s extremely popular among waterskiing, wakeboarding, and tubing enthusiasts, while the variety of inlets and coves allow the chance to enjoy boating at a much slower pace. Jade and Juniper bays are popular choices with their sand beaches and Rattlesnake Point is another great area to check out.
Access to the water is via the boat launches at the north and south ends of the lake, but a good starting point to hit the water is at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park. It has a campground with four double sites –all offering great views – as well as two boat launches. Although known for cruising and watersports, fishing can also be exciting, and casting/down rigging the right presentation may land feisty lake and rainbow trout as well as kokanee.
As many other Okanagan destinations include provincial parks, lakes, beaches, and picnic sites, you'll know that your choice will be an enjoyable one amongst the region’s stunning scenery.