Okanagan Best Beaches

Our Favorite Top Ten Beaches

In order to provide you with first hand knowledge about the top 10 best beaches and places to enjoy summer vacations in the Okanagan Valley, we felt it was important to do this leg of research as indepth as possible ;-)

The Okanagan is well known for some of the most beautiful British Columbia lakes and boasts hundreds of miles of soft sandy beaches. Sometimes we forget just where we live!

There are more than 30 beaches in the Okanagan, from Osoyoos, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon BC and Salmon Arm (Shuswap) to relax and yes, you can enjoy some pretty cheap beach vacations. For us, this adds up to a whole lot of summer beach lounging, one of our favorite fun summer activities.

If you plan on bringing a pet along, there are a few pet-friendly beaches as well, though not many, where the canines can cool off and play in the water too!

And most have amenities like beach volleyball, slides for children, floating docks, and lots of grassy areas, fire pits and great picnic and barbecue spots.

As well, you can rent watersport equipment like power boats, Jet SkisŪ, windsurfers and paddleboats, or try out parasailing rides for a birds eye view of the lakes.

Our Top 10 Best Beaches List

Well, ok, we'll admit that the research work wasn't actually all that hard! But as your personal Okanagan vacation guide, it is our duty to make sure you enjoy your best beach vacations here!! Check out some of the Okanagan best beaches and best beach towns!!

There are No Lifeguards at Okanagan beaches, however swimming areas are generally well marked with water buoys.

Okanagan Beach (Penticton)

The largest lake in the interior British Columbia region is Okanagan Lake (or Lake Okanagan), which stretches from the city of Penticton all the way through Kelowna and north to Vernon BC.

On the southern shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton BC, you'll find Okanagan beach. It is both a favorite for locals and for visitors. The mile long beach extends along Lakeshore Drive and is backed by motels, restaurants, a playground and splashpark, and is walking distance to downtown, Loco Landing amusement park, and an excellent local skateboard park. The beach is lined with shady trees, the water is shallow and there's watersport equipment rentals available as well.

Boyce-Gyro Beach (Kelowna)

Located just south of Kelowna BC city centre, Boyce Gyro Park is a large beautiful park with picnic tables, a large playground, volleyball, washrooms and concession and shallow swimming area, as well as a rental shop with paddle boats and other watersport equipment. Numerous motels are located within a short distance from this park, as well as the Mission shopping centre. It's a great family beach, and a favourite of the younger local crowd.

Kal Beach (Vernon BC)

Kalamalka Lake, near Vernon BC is a popular lake for fishing, water sports, boating and swimming, and is surrounded by wilderness and provincial park land.

With a very large area marked for swimming, a warf, two swimming docks with ladders, beach volleyball, washroom and change room building, a family pub style restraunt, and concession stand, kayak rentals, and plenty of shade, Kal beach is one of the best beaches in the city of Vernon BC.

Canoe Beach (Salmon Arm - Shuswap)

A large public sandy beach located on the shores of Shuswap Lake in the city of Salmon Arm, Canoe beach has a beautiful sandy beach with a roped off swimming area and big beautiful shady trees. There's grassy picnic areas, a beach volleyball court and a boat launch, as well as change facilities and washrooms.

Skaha Beach (Penticton)

Skaha Lake, between Penticton and Okanagan Falls, is surrounded by vineyards and overlooked by Skaha Bluffs rock climbing area, and has beaches at both ends.

On the north end of the city of Penticton is beautiful long Skaha Beach which offers a clean, well kept, family beach backed by a large grassy park with shade trees, picnic tables, tennis court, outdoor hockey court, basketball court, a watersplash park, playground marina and boat launch. See Skaha beach pictures in our photo gallery. You'll also find two concession stands, washrooms, and it's within walking distance to a number of local motels.

Sun Oka Beach (Summerland)

Sun-Oka beach is a day use only regional park located in Trout Creek, south of Summerland BC. This is a beautiful park, very popular for watersports, with an area to pull a boat up onto the beach. There is changeroom facilities and a concession, picnic tables, firepits (check campfire bans befor use) and lots of shady trees.

Sicamous Sands Beach (Sicamous)

The Shuswap Lakes and Mara Lake in the North Okanagan - Shuswap region attract those in search of a houseboat vacations in the summer.

Sicamous Sands public beach & park in Sicamous BC has playground & kids water park, beach volleyball court, picnic tables, change rooms and washrooms a beautiful brick walkway and a boat launch.

Mara Lake Provincial Park (Shuswap)

Mara Provincial Park is a very busy day use only park and beach with a beautiful longad stretch of sandy beach. It's a very busy place, popular for fishing, swimming, picnicing, boating, canoeing, and watersports. There are designated swimming areas, and with busy boat traffic, it is recommended that swimmers stay within those boundaries.

Gyro Beach (Osoyoos)

In the South Okanagan Osoyoos Lake (or Lake Osoyoos), is famed as the warmest freshwater lake in Canada.

Osoyoos Lake is the warmest lake in the valley with an average summer temperature of 24°C/70°F and is most popular for wakeboarding, waterskiing, swimming and tubing. Gyro Beach is the largest beach in Osoyoos BC and is the site of many popular summer events. You'll find plenty of shady trees, warm shallow waters and closed off swimming areas, making it a perfect place for children. You can rent persoanl watercrafts, skiies, and tubes for loads of fun.

Hot Sands Beach (Kelowna)

One of Kelowna's best beaches,

Hot Sands Beach (City Park) offers volleyball and basketball courts, plenty of grassy fields, a skatepark, as well as washroom and change room facilities. It's is located near Kelowna's downtown centre, close to many restaurants and retail stores and is situated next to a free children's water park and playground, lots of shade trees.