Hidden Gem Outdoor Spots in the Okanagan
Lesser-known trails, waterfalls, parks and viewpoints — less crowds, more Okanagan.
How we pick our Hidden Gems
Every Hidden Gem is chosen by hand, one place at a time. We look for spots that are easy to miss: small independents, places off the main strip, or somewhere a local tourism, parks or community source points to as a lesser-known find. Each one has to be worth the trip on its own merits. Star ratings and review counts don’t decide it, and the list isn’t ranked: “Mixed” order changes every day. Every card tells you why it made the cut.
Open Now is based on each place’s listed hours. Hours can change for holidays, seasons or special closures — check with the venue before you go.
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Brigade Trail & Priest Camp Historic Park
1 km path that follows part of the original Okanagan fur brigade route.
Why it’s a gem: A preserved fur-brigade camp and a stretch of the original trail, a route used for at least 6,000 years, up in Garnet Valley.
Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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Mount Conkle Park
Mount Conkle rises above Prairie Valley on the south side of Summerland, and the District park on its slopes is a local favourite for mountain biking and trail running…
Why it’s a gem: A quiet hillside park above Prairie Valley with Summerland views, overshadowed by nearby Giant's Head.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit
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White Lake Grasslands Protected Area
White Lake is the South Okanagan at its most elemental: a broad, bone-dry basin of bunchgrass, sage and antelope-brush west of Okanagan Falls, ringed by open ponderosa…
Why it’s a gem: A wide-open bowl of sage and bunchgrass west of OK Falls where the South Okanagan feels untouched.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit
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Munson Pond Park
Munson Pond is Kelowna's birding jewel hidden in plain sight: a 9.8-hectare urban wetland near the corner of Benvoulin and KLO roads that protects one of British…
Why it’s a gem: A small urban wetland ringed by rare cottonwood forest, where herons, ospreys and wood ducks are often just steps away.
Kid-Friendly Free to Visit
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Cools Pond Park
Cools Pond is the North Okanagan's easiest birding stop: a small rural wetland on L&A Road just north of Vernon, with a short, flat pathway running the length of the…
Why it’s a gem: A small rural wetland north of Vernon that's the North Okanagan's easiest birding stop.
Free to Visit
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Glen Canyon Regional Park
Glen Canyon runs for 95 hectares along Powers Creek in West Kelowna, and its trails offer everything from easy creek-side walks to challenging stairs and terrain, with…
Why it’s a gem: A 95-hectare canyon along Powers Creek in West Kelowna, with unusual geology and a 24-metre waterfall a short hike in.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit
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Summerland Ornamental Gardens
The Summerland Ornamental Gardens have been growing on the bench above Trout Creek since 1916, when the Dominion Experimental Farm planted them to show Okanagan settlers…
Why it’s a gem: Fifteen acres of heritage trees and gardens on the canyon rim above Trout Creek, planted by the Dominion Experimental Farm in 1916.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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Gellatly Heritage Regional Park
6-hectare park that tells the story of the pioneering Gellatly family.
Why it’s a gem: A small Westbank park built around a pioneer family cemetery where Gellatlys have been buried for more than a century.
Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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Osoyoos Oxbows Trail
The Osoyoos Oxbows trail follows dikes along the old meanders of the Okanagan River at the north end of Osoyoos Lake, and it's a favourite stretch for birders.
Why it’s a gem: Flat dike walks along old Okanagan River meanders at the north end of Osoyoos Lake, a quiet spot for birding.
Free to Visit
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Maude-Roxby Wetland (Bird Sanctuary)
Tucked into the Okanagan Lake shoreline at the end of Francis Avenue in the Pandosy neighbourhood, the Maude-Roxby Wetland is a bird sanctuary you can walk into from a…
Why it’s a gem: A boardwalk through a lakeside bird sanctuary hidden at the end of a residential street in Pandosy.
Free to Visit
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McKinley Mountain Park
McKinley Mountain Park is the City of Kelowna's 'Mini Knox': a 17-hectare hillside park in the McKinley area north of the city where a short hike of about 1 km uphill…
Why it’s a gem: Kelowna's 'Mini Knox': a short 1 km climb in the McKinley area to a big view up and down Okanagan Lake; the City lists it as a hidden gem.
Dog-Friendly Lake View Free to Visit
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Kaleden Hotel Park
Kaleden Hotel Park preserves the striking concrete shell of the Kaleden Hotel, built in 1911 and closed a few years later during the First World War.
Why it’s a gem: The heritage shell of a 1911 hotel that closed during the First World War, right beside the KVR Trail in Kaleden.
Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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Thomas Hayes Ecological Reserve Trails
7 km White Tail Wander. It is a bird-watching walk more than a climb, and the Township of Spallumcheen lists it among the area's trails.
Why it’s a gem: Easy loop trails through protected Douglas-fir forest, bordered by Spallumcheen farmland.
Free to Visit
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Inkaneep Provincial Park Campground
Inkaneep is the smallest provincial campground in the South Okanagan and one of its best-kept secrets: seven vehicle-accessible sites on the bank of the Okanagan River…
Why it’s a gem: A tiny riverside campground under tall cottonwoods north of Oliver, loved by birders and often with sites free.
Dog-Friendly
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Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden
A quiet Japanese garden on Penticton's Okanagan Lake waterfront, with koi-filled ponds, graceful bridges and plantings that burst into bloom each April and May.
Why it’s a gem: A peaceful Japanese garden with koi ponds and little bridges, tucked beside Penticton's busy waterfront.
Lake View Free to Visit
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Kuipers' Peak Mountain Park
Kuipers' Peak Mountain Park in Kelowna's Upper Mission is a short hike with a big reward: five to ten minutes to the top, with some sections that will get your heart…
Why it’s a gem: A five-to-ten-minute climb in the Upper Mission that pays off with a sweeping lake and city view.
Dog-Friendly Lake View Free to Visit
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Father Pandosy Mission Heritage Site
Father Pandosy Mission marks the first permanent non-Indigenous settlement in the Okanagan, founded by Oblate priest Father Pandosy in 1860.
Why it’s a gem: The historic buildings of an 1860 Oblate mission, open daily with a $5 voluntary admission, tucked off Benvoulin Road.
Kid-Friendly Great for Groups Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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Kingfisher Interpretive Centre
Twenty-five kilometres east of Enderby on the road to Mabel Lake, the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre is a volunteer-run salmon hatchery on the banks of the Shuswap River…
Why it’s a gem: A volunteer-run salmon hatchery on the Shuswap River where you can see salmon in their habitat.
Kid-Friendly Great for Groups Free to Visit
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Rocky Ridge Park (Turtle Mountain)
Rocky Ridge Park is Vernon's quickest 360-degree view: a small Regional District park on the summit ridge of Turtle Mountain, in the Alexis Park neighbourhood on the…
Why it’s a gem: Vernon's quickest 360-degree view, a short climb to a ridge-top park most visitors never find.
Free to Visit
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Rock Ovens Park
Rock Ovens Park is a regional park along the old Kettle Valley Railway right-of-way above Naramata, made for hikers and cyclists.
Why it’s a gem: Stone ovens built in 1911-1915 still stand beside the old Kettle Valley Railway grade above Naramata.
Free to Visit Arts & Culture
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BX Creek Trail & BX Falls
The BX Creek Trail follows BX Creek from the mountains above Vernon down to the valley bottom, and its centrepiece is BX Falls.
Why it’s a gem: A 9-metre waterfall in a little canyon just minutes from downtown Vernon, reached by a short trail and stairs.
Dog-Friendly Kid-Friendly Free to Visit
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Mill Creek Regional Park
Mill Creek Regional Park is a cool, shaded surprise east of Kelowna's airport: a flat, easy trail under cedars that follows Mill Creek to a set of cascading waterfalls…
Why it’s a gem: A cool, shaded creekside walk under cedars, a surprising bit of rainforest right by Kelowna's airport.
Dog-Friendly Kid-Friendly Free to Visit
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Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park
A natural, forested greenway that follows the canyon of Trepanier Creek through Peachland.
Why it’s a gem: A shaded canyon greenway along Trepanier Creek, Peachland's cool escape on a hot day.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit
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Hardy Falls Regional Park
Hardy Falls is the easy waterfall walk at the south end of Peachland: the Owl Trail, just 430 metres each way, flat and shaded, crosses Deep Creek on a series of bridges…
Why it’s a gem: An easy, shaded 430-metre walk over Deep Creek bridges to Peachland's waterfall, where kokanee spawn each fall.
Dog-Friendly Free to Visit
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Kasugai Garden
Tucked behind a wall off Water Street, Kasugai Garden is downtown Kelowna's secret calm: stone lanterns, sculpted pines, a waterfall and a koi pond celebrating the…
Why it’s a gem: A walled Japanese garden off Water Street with a koi pond, waterfall and stone lanterns, free and steps from the lake.
Free to Visit
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Naramata Creek Park Waterfall Trail
Naramata Creek Park is the village's waterfall walk: a 2.5 km round trip on an unpaved, packed trail up the forested creek to a series of falls, easy to moderate, with…
Why it’s a gem: A 2.5 km forested creek walk to a series of waterfalls just outside Naramata village, loved by families and dog walkers.
Dog-Friendly Kid-Friendly Free to Visit
All places on this page, A–Z (92)
- A Touch of Austria
- Anthony Buchanan Wines
- Baccata Ridge Winery
- Beat Patisserie
- Bertram Creek Regional Park
- Black Widow Winery
- Bonamici Cellars
- Brigade Trail & Priest Camp Historic Park
- Buffalo Rouge Brewing Co.
- BX Creek Trail & BX Falls
- Castoro de Oro Estate Winery
- Cedar Creek Park
- Chabendo Gelato
- Chaibaba
- Chill&Go Tacos
- CODE Wines
- Controlled Entropy Distilling
- Cools Pond Park
- Dickinson Family Farm
- Echo Bay Vineyard
- Fairview Cellars
- Farming Karma Fruit Co.
- Father Pandosy Mission Heritage Site
- Fox & Archer Wines
- Gellatly Heritage Regional Park
- Gellatly Nut Farm Regional Park
- Glen Canyon Regional Park
- Gratify
- Hardy Falls Regional Park
- Hidden Chapel Winery
- Hidden Lake Recreation Site
- Hidden Vines Family Estate Winery
- Inkaneep Provincial Park Campground
- Kalamoir Regional Park
- Kaleden Hotel Park
- Kaloya Regional Park
- Kasugai Garden
- Kettle Valley Winery
- Kickininee Provincial Park
- Kingfisher Interpretive Centre
- Kitchen @ Ve Oh Lay Acres Honey Wine & Farm
- KJ Coffee Bar
- Kopje Regional Park
- Kuipers' Peak Mountain Park
- La Casa Bianca Winery
- Lariana Cellars
- Liber Farms & Winery
- Lumby Golf Club
- Mabel Lake Golf & Country Club
- Mackie Lake House
- Manitou Park
- Maude-Roxby Wetland (Bird Sanctuary)
- McKinley Mountain Park
- Mill Creek Regional Park
- Mocojo Winery
- Mount Conkle Park
- Munson Pond Park
- Naramata Creek Park Waterfall Trail
- Nuyens Park
- Okanagan Falls Museum (Bassett House)
- OKGN To Go
- One14 Coffee Co.
- Osoyoos Oxbows Trail
- Pamplemousse Jus Natural Winery
- Penticton Ikeda Japanese Garden
- Powell Beach Park
- Raymer Bay Regional Park
- Rigour and Whimsy
- Roche Wines
- Rock Ovens Park
- Rocky Ridge Park (Turtle Mountain)
- Rotary Beach Park
- Rustlers Table
- Sarsons Beach Park
- Scorched Earth Winery
- Shannon Lake Golf Club
- Shuswap Cider Company
- Solvero Wines
- Sparrowgrass Field & Flower
- Summerland Ornamental Gardens
- Sunset Ranch Golf & Country Club
- Teassential
- Tender Hope Winery
- The Bistro - by Intermezzo
- The Flealess Hound Pub
- The Gallery Winery
- The Ridge Pub & Restaurant
- Thomas Hayes Ecological Reserve Trails
- Trepanier Creek Greenway Regional Park
- Vaseux Lake Provincial Park
- White Lake Grasslands Protected Area
- Yuki Sushi
Only after parks, waterfalls and quiet beaches? See Secret Spots →