The Okanagan Valley

Arriving Osoyoos from the east, one drives from the summit of Anarchist's Hill to take in this incredible view of Osoyoos and the beginning of the Okanagan Valley floor. Anarchist's Hill is part of the Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway. Seeing this view for the first time was a grand introduction to where I'd be spending my next several days.

A side street on Anarchist's Hill named Hallis Road is typical of the diverse landscape that can be found in the whole Okanagan Valley. Lavender patches mingle with desert sage on the side of a hill that most likely has a nearby vineyard.

The overview of Osoyoos is definitely the most stunning one from Anarchist's Hill, but the summit offers other views as well that are spectacular, such as this one looking south.

Quail are quite common in this part of British Columbia, and I was glad to see them running around the campground....especially these youngsters with faces only a mother could love.

Parks are also numerous in the Okanagan Valley, many of them a part of a beach like this one at Cottonwood Beach in Osoyoos. The next few shots were taken at this extremely neat and manicured garden park.

Cottonwood Beach in Osoyoos

The wind also picked up on Gyro Beach in Osoyoos. Within minutes, all the beachgoers had left.

A sudden afternoon thunderstorm brought in some restless waves to Skaha Lake in Okanagan Falls.

The major lakes of the Okanagan Valley are positioned like sausage links...tip to tip, north to south (but much prettier). The most southern is Osoyoos Lake, and the most northern is Okanagan. In between are Skaha and Vaseaux. Each, naturally, has its own charm.

And if the numerous beaches that surround these lakes are not enough to satisfy the water lovers, an added activity is the Penticton River Channel. It's a 7km (4-mile) shallow waterway that links Skaha and Okanagan Lakes to allow floating from one lake to the other. People either take their own float, or they can be rented from a local company. Not only that, but the same company will pick up the floaters at the end of the channel so that it's a one-way floating trip. The float can take as long as you want it to take, but it seems two to three hours is typical.

Naramata is a 13-km (9-mile) series of roads that makes up a major wine region of the Okanagan Valley. It meanders on the east bank of the Okanagan Lake. It makes a wonderful scenic drive with a panoramic view practically around every bend in the road. The next several shots were taken along the roads of the Naramata wine region.

At the suggestion of a travel agent at the Okanagan Falls Visitor Information Center, I took a drive on Willowbrook Road on the west side of the lakes between Okanagan Falls (where there are no falls) and Oliver. It was a beautiful scenic drive through forest, vineyards and meadows and led to Green Lake Road which, she said, would be even more charming. I was not disappointed. Here are a few shots.

Just off Willowbrook Rd is Secrest Hill Rd. I took it just for a couple miles and took this shot looking to the south.

Green Lake Road was a delightful drive with few cars, winding roads and beautiful scenes.

I've seen horses sitting in fields, and cows, too, but I've never seen a deer sitting. I watched her for a few minutes for indication that she might be hurt (at which point I'm not sure what I would have done), but she seemed relaxed and in no pain. I guess at times we all just have to sit.

I must have spent half an hour outside the See Ya Later Vineyard on Green Lake Rd. Between this old barn, the view behind it, some quail on a fence post and wildflowers between the rows of grapes, my camera and I were very entertained.

Kenyon Park on Skaha Lake in Okanagan Falls is one of many that line the lakes' shores.

Now who thought of this ingeneous way to keep cool in the summer heat?!

The view along the Highway 97 between Okanagan Falls and Penticton to the north is scenic and enjoyable with lush green vineyards covering the hillsides. I was able to pull into an 'unofficial' overview for the next few shots.

North of Penticton are two seaside communities, rich with ...yep, you guessed it: hillside vineyards and orchards, and lazy with balmy sandy beaches on the west shore of Okanagan Lake.

Lakeside Loop is lined with the beach on one side and boutiques and outdoor cafes on the other. I'm not sure it gets any better than that!

The route on this east side of Penticton is appropriately called the Corkscrew Route.

Valleyview Drive meanders through the vineyards overlooking Okanagan Lake from the east.