One of the best day trips from Penticton is Osoyoos, a small town just above the border. Along the way, there are many lakes, wineries, hiking trails and scenic views to enjoy.
The drive from Penticton to Osoyoos is about 60 km, taking roughly an hour without stops. But this route is made for exploring, so be sure to give yourself extra time to take photos of the spectacular views, stretch your legs on the trails or choose some fruit at a roadside stand.
This post showcases my favourite places to stop on a Penticton to Osoyoos road trip. It’s not possible to see everything mentioned in a single trip but these stops highlight the most impressive, delicious and memorable destinations along the route.
Choose the ones that sound most interesting to you and save the others for a future trip. Or turn it into an overnight adventure to see as much as possible!
I’ve lived in the South Okanagan region for almost ten years now, exploring on and off the beaten path. Over that time, we’ve had plenty of visitors to tour around the area. This guide covers a mix of well known favourites as well as some lesser known spots.
Penticton to Okanagan Falls via Eastside Road
There are two main ways to travel from Penticton to Okanagan Falls. I’d recommend taking the scenic route, via Eastside Road. This incredibly scenic two lane road travels along the eastern shore of Skaha Lake. It is pretty twisty, however, so if you have any issues with motion sickness, take Highway 97 instead!
Eastside Road provides access to the Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, which is a major rock climbing destination. There are over 1000 different climbing routes to be found over three canyons. Skaha is also popular for hiking and mountain biking.
Close to the entrance of the Skaha Bluffs Park is Painted Rock Winery. This elegant winery is still family owned and has a wonderful lawn and patio area overlooking Penticton and Skaha Lake.
Eastside Road winds along the curves of the lakeshore, providing amazing views. There are several pull-ins, convenient for stopping to take it all in.
Another great winery along the route is Blasted Church Vineyards. It also has a fabulous patio with lake and vineyard views. It’s a laid back kind of place, with plenty of pun-related signs, friendly service and tasty charcuterie.
Just before arriving in Okanagan Falls, there is The Apple Bin. This self-service kiosk has a range of local fruits and vegetables, all paid through with an honour system.
Okanagan Falls
Welcome to Okanagan Falls! This soon-to-be-incorporated community is home to around 2,200 people. It is about 20 minutes drive from Penticton (with no stops).
Featuring several gorgeous sandy beaches, KVR Trail connections, a host of local wineries, a compact provincial campground, easy highway access and a real small town feel, I’ve always thought that Okanagan Falls is hugely underrated for both living and visiting.
If you’re in need of caffiene, there are several great local spots, with the Rise and Shine Coffee House being one of the most popular. For food, check out the OK Falls Hotel Bar & Grill. Tickleberry’s has been an iconic ice cream stop for many generations of Okanagan locals and visitors. They have so many flavours!
For local hiking, Peach Cliff is always a good choice. This is the rocky outcrop that sits to the southeast of Okanagan Falls. There’s a network of trails here (none of them signed), with the most rewarding route leading to very top.
For local wineries, my favourite is Noble Ridge. They have a wide range of varietals, approachable pricing and the most amazing views of Vaseux Lake and McIntyre Bluff. They have a picnic area. I also really like Meyer Family Vineyards for their paired tasting.
Okanagan Falls to Oliver via Highway 97
A must stop when driving south from Okanagan Falls along Highway 97 is the Vaseux Lake Migratory Bird Sanctuary. A short boardwalk leads to a bird hide, where you can try and spot some of the many birds that live and visit the area. Of course, the boardwalk also offers incredible vistas of beautiful Vaseux Lake.
Highway 97 follows the eastern shoreline of Vaseux Lake, getting very close to the water at times. There is a tiny campground in Vaseux Lake Provincial Park. It’s wonderfully scenic but a bit noisy. If you have a kayak/canoe/SUP, there are several pull-outs along the highway and a launch on Sundial Road.
While driving south, it’s easy to spot imposing Mcintyre Bluff above the western side of Vaseux Lake. This rockface seems almost impossibly vertical. There are several fruit stands to the south of the lake as well as a very popular pub, the Flealess Hound.
Around the next corner is the District Wine Village, a collection of wineries, a distillery, brewery and restaurants all set around a central plaza. It’s a cool concept, especially for travellers too short on time to visit individual wineries.
Beyond the Wine Village, the highway becomes lined with fruit stands and wineries, a clear sign you’ve entered the valley’s prime growing region. Two parallel roads lead into Oliver – Highway 97 (fastest option) and Tucelnuit Drive (slower, more rural).
Oliver
The small town of Oliver proclaims itself to be Canada’s Wine Capital. There are about 40 wineries in this area, with vineyards stretching from one side of the valley to the other.
There are two wine growing ‘benches’ on either side of Highway 97 and the Okanagan River – the Golden Mile Bench (to the west) and the Black Sage Bench (to the east). Both receive plenty of sunshine and heat which help the grapes ripen fully, producing the region’s signature big, bold red wines.
Other plentiful crops in this area include cherries (late June, July), peaches (July, August) and apples (September, October). There are quite a few U-picks – watch for signs along the highway.
Oliver has around 5,000 residents and has a busy Main Street filled with independent shops, a super cute cinema and local brewery. There are some big box stores as well. If you’re interested in history, take a quick detour up the hill to the Fairview Townsite. It has some lovely views alongside the outside exhibits.
Oliver to Osoyoos
One of my favourite local hikes lies just south of Oliver – the Golden Mile Stamp Mill Trail. The trailhead is located at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, an elegant winery with a highly rated restaurant.
The full length of the trail is 4km one-way but the first 1km is the most impressive (and the section I do most often!) It starts with an uphill climb alongside the vineyards and then passes over a snake fence, providing access to the remains of the old Stamp Mill on the creek. A small hill leads to a viewpoint, with incredible vineyard views.
From here, take your pick of the many local fruit stands and wineries. I love the beauty of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery ($5 tastings), the fresh bread at Platinum Bench Estate Winery and the paired tasting at Culmina Family Estate Winery.
If you feel like a walk, head to the International Hike and Bike Trail. This is a wide and flat path along the Okanagan River with great views of the surrounding valley. The full length is 18km but you can just choose how far you’d like to go.
Osoyoos
Osoyoos is a little bigger than Oliver and is the last town on the Canadian side of Highway 97. Osoyoos Lake, which the town is centred around, is shared by Canada and the US.
This town consistently experiences some of Canada’s driest, sunniest and hottest weather. The semi-arid antelope brush ecosystem around Osoyoos is part of the same desert system that extends south to Mexico.
This ‘pocket desert’ can be seen (and explained) at the Osoyoos Desert Centre. There is a 1.5km interpretive boardwalk from which you can spot animal tracks, rare snakes, unique plants and vibrant flowers while taking in the wide open views of the landscape.
The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre also has a 1.5km loop trail through the natural environment, with displays depicting the connection of the local Indigenous community (the Osoyoos Indian Band) with the desert landscape. There is a traditional village with pit house, teepees and sweat lodge as well as an indoor exhibit.
Downtown, there is a great range of independent shops and restaurants, all within a short walk of an excellent beach (Gyro Beach Park). There’s a local brewery too.
Don’t leave Osoyoos without visiting Ktlil’x” (Spotted Lake), a saline alkali lake featuring hundreds of small, colourful mineral-rich pools. Depending on the time of the year and recent weather, Spotted Lake’s appearance can vary. Another must see is the Anarchist Mountain viewpoint on the east side of town.
Staying in Osoyoos? The Watermark Beach Resort is my top pick. It’s located right by the lake within easy walking distance of downtown. All suites have a full kitchen as well as separate dining and living rooms.
Osoyoos to Penticton via White Lake Road
If you have a little extra time and don’t mind driving small roads, I’d recommend a short detour on the way back to Penticton – White Lake Road. It offers some of the most unique scenery in the South Okanagan!
First, drive north and through Oliver. Then, take Seacrest Hill Road towards Willowbrook. Expect to see plenty of vineyards, orchards and ranches. Continue onto Fairview White Lake Road.
This route borders the White Lake Grasslands Protected Area, which is part of the northern section of the proposed South Okanagan National Park Reserve. It features very dry grassland, open pine forest, several mountains and steep rock outcroppings.
There are also multiple alkali ponds, the biggest of which (White Lake) sits right next to the road. Some of my favourite local hiking trails can be found in this area, including Guy’s Cache, the White Lake Loop, Dogtown Trail (Mt. Keogan).
I love the wide open views along this stretch of road. The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory is located in this valley – be sure to turn your phone off to avoid disrupting their experiments. This federal research facility, which has 4 radio telescopes, is usually open for visitors every Saturday and Sunday from April to October.
From the Observatory, I’d recommend continuing on White Lake Road to join up with Highway 97 just south of Kaleden. From the highway junction, Penticton is about 15 minutes drive north.
