Outdoor Destinations in Coldstream, BC
5 verified outdoor destinations in Coldstream.
-
Coldstream Ranchlands Trail
The Coldstream Ranchlands Trail is a 6.85 km loop on Vernon Hill above Coldstream Valley Estates, rated Difficult by Tourism Vernon, that zigzags through grasslands and forest to a high point of 1,011 metres — 324 metres of climbing — with views over Okanagan Lake, Kalamalka Lake, Middleton Mountain, the Coldstream Valley and Bluenose Mountain. The west side of the loop doubles as a mountain-bike climbing trail; the east side is a rockier ascent above a steep ravine and is not recommended for bikes. Wooden cattle gates lead into the undeveloped central portion, which is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, so stay on the designated trails. From the loop trailhead an extra kilometre of steep switchbacks connects down to the Grey Canal Trail; the Regional District's Coldstream Ranchlands section of the Grey Canal Trail is reached from the parking area at 190 Ravine Drive. Dogs must be leashed under the regional dog-control bylaw.
-
Dutch's Campground
Dutch's is the campground you want when the plan is Kal Beach: a family-run park on Kalamalka Road in Coldstream, a five-minute walk from the sand and the impossibly turquoise water of Kalamalka Lake, with the Okanagan Rail Trail running past the gate for a flat ride to Vernon or south toward Kekuli Bay. It takes both tents and RVs, books online or by phone, and — unusually for the Okanagan — stays open all year, with winter camping by application from October to May for those who want Sovereign Lake's ski trails and SilverStar within a short drive. Expect a friendly, no-frills lakeside campground rather than a resort, and check the operator's site for current site details and rates before you arrive.
-
Jeffers Park Skating Rink
Lavington's Jeffers Park rink is the kind of place that makes a Canadian winter: a covered outdoor sheet, built and run entirely by volunteers of the Lavington Community Association, free to use and first-come, first-served. The roof — funded with help from the District of Coldstream and the Regional District — keeps the ice skateable through snowfalls, and the lights stay on until 10:45 p.m. The rink opens at 9 a.m. each day (it is closed from 8 to 9 for setup), and while sticks and pucks are welcome at most hours, there is a protected public skate with no sticks daily from 4 to 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9 to 10. On weekdays the ice belongs to Lavington Elementary classes during school hours, so plan for after-school or weekend visits. There are no rentals and no bookings, no footwear or strollers on the ice, and the surface is weather-dependent — it can close without notice in a thaw. In summer the slab becomes a sports court.
-
Kalamalka Lake Lookout (Highway 97 Rest Area)
The Kalamalka Lake Lookout is the North Okanagan's classic drive-up view, and it has been stopping traffic for generations: from a bench of the old highway above the lake's north end, the whole of Kalamalka — the "lake of many colours" — lies below you, shifting from turquoise to jade to deep blue as the light moves across its limestone-rich water, with the Coldstream valley opening to the east and the hills rolling south toward Oyama. This is the old Highway 97 lookout, now on Kalamalka Lakeview Drive, and since 2015 it has been a full provincial rest area: turn off Highway 97 at the Vista Road / Kalamalka Lakeview Drive exit south of Vernon and you will find marked parking stalls (with room for larger vehicles), two toilets, six picnic tables, animal-proof bins and a xeriscaped terrace — all wheelchair accessible and free. Bring lunch; the picnic tables face the water, and on a clear day the view runs past Coldstream to the Monashees. The lookout is also a waypoint on the Kal Crystal Waters Trail, the 12.5 km walking and cycling route from Vernon to Lake Country, which uses this parking area as one of its access points if you want to stretch the stop into a walk along the old highway toward Kekuli Bay.
-
Kalavida Surf Shop
Kalavida Surf Shop sits directly across the road from Kal Beach on Kalamalka Lake, so you can rent and be paddling the “lake of a thousand colours” within minutes. The rental lineup runs from inflatable stand-up paddleboards and kids’ boards to multi-person SUPs, including four-person mega boards for groups, plus kayaks that you can launch from the shore of Kal Beach or take with you to explore another lake for the weekend; group and party paddles can be arranged. Because the shop is also at the north end of the Okanagan Rail Trail, it doubles as a bike hub with Class 1 e-bikes, cruiser bikes and kids’ bikes for a lakeside ride along Kalamalka Lake.