Local Tips: Autumn Adventures in the North Okanagan

—  By Natalie Appleton

Ask any local, and they’re apt to agree: Fall is a glorious time to experience the North Okanagan. Summer is slow to part ways here, so as the leaves and fields turn golden, it’s still wonderfully warm—bringing idyllic weather and views. As a quieter season, it can often feel like you have the whole trail, or even the whole mountain to yourself. It’s also one of the best times to enjoy our region’s warm hospitality and cuisine as the doors stay open to cideries, cafes and eateries serving up the best of the harvest. And then, tucked away where you might least expect, are these charming and magical experiences that offer a taste of our culture and our roots. 

If you have just a few days in late fall in the North Okanagan, here is what I would absolutely recommend. 

Day 1-2 Silver Star Village

Silver Star lights up my heart like no other place in the Okanagan. The woods you traverse and the Monashee Mountains beyond are just majestic. It feels that way any time of year, but with the slowness of the season and the way the autumn sun hits the hill, fall is especially beautiful.  

Of course, SilverStar Bike Park is a mecca for downhill and cross-country bikers. My teenage sons are the thrill-seekers in my family, so while they ride to the top on the bike chairlift and ‘hit the jumps’ (there are 400 dirt jumps and 69 km of downhill trails), I hike with the dog, savouring that crisp mountain air, whispers of sun between the trees, and the grassy meadows of wildflowers and wild berries. 

On September weekends, hikers (and dogs) can ride the Des Scheumann Summit express Gondola to the summit, or, if you want to work for it, you can climb to the top. Before you head out, grab a trail map in the village along with a free hiking ticket for you and your doggo (just so crews can ensure everyone has made it home safely). The Bike Park is open for bonus weekends through September after Labour Day, and you can get in a lot of laps at this time of year. 

For a light and easy stroll, take the Bear Byway Trail, which winds around Brewer’s Pond and delights you with sculptures of bears created by local artists. It’s a way to learn more about and appreciate the bear families that call this mountain home. 

Want to know where to stay and where to eat at Silver Star in the fall? Lunch, dinner or appies and drinks at Red Antler is always a good idea. Here you’ll find filling and delicious fare, craft beer and cocktails to quench your thirst and a great outdoor patio to soak up the vibe. Kiddos are welcome; they just need to be accompanied by adults. 

At this time of year, Vance Creek Hotel & Conference Centre is a go-to hotel that’s located right in the village—or you can tailor your stay to suit your crew with plenty of rental options via SilverStar Stays. 

While you’re on a wander in the village après hike or bike, take in the SilverStar Mountain Museum guided tour to four locations highlighting the stories and visionaries behind this world-class resort (the photos of circa 70’s ski gear and hair are classic!). 

Day 2-3 Predator Ridge & Vernon

There’s really no better time than fall to explore our lakes and hills, and there’s a reason Greater Vernon is known as the Trails Capital of BC. Our incredible trail network takes you deeper into the woods and higher on the rocks, especially up at Predator Ridge. There, you’re rewarded with epic scenics, glimpses of wildlife and the calm of nature while staying close to an Okanagan-inspired menu and a plethora of drinks at RANGE Restaurant, bar + patio. Plus, if you stay in some of the cozy and spectacular homes at Predator Ridge, you don’t even have to drive to start or end your day on a trail. 

You can also discover the wilderness and sweeping vistas on the Grey Canal trail, either the Swan Lake East or Foothills leg, where our story as an orchard community begins. 

The Upper BX Creek/ Spanky’s hike is a chance to step away into an urban forest along a vibrant waterfall-fed creek. While you’re in the BX area, stop at the Silvertar Veggies Pumpkin Patch for photos in the enchanting rows of pumpkins. I also highly recommend a stop at Cambium Cider Co., where you can sip hand-crafted ciders and mocktails amidst rows of apple trees.

If you roll with strollers, wheelchairs, or bikes, you can’t beat the flat yet scenic Okanagan Rail Trail, which travels between Lake Country and Kal Lake. For those who love birding or want a bit more of a challenge and the chance to say hello to locals, there’s the Coldstream Ranchlands Loop. 

No visit to Vernon in the fall is complete without a trip to Davison’s Orchards, where you can go apple-picking or simply pick up a fork and dig into their famous pies and crisps. If you’re lucky enough to plan your trip during the Sundog Festival of Arts & Culture musical kick-off weekend you just have to go. See why so many artists call Vernon home and take home a souvenir, or dance the night away at one of the free outdoor concerts. Our family loved rocking out to Five Alarm Funk and some very cool Indigenous bands at a previous Sundog Festival.

When all that time in the Okanagan outdoors leaves you ready for a lavish feast and a round of golf, the views and menu at The Edge Restaurant & Bar at The Rise Resort are one-of-a-kind. 

End the day under the stars with a few creature comforts at Okanagan Glamping Co, an exclusive glamping property offering canvas tents and yurts with Bohemian furnishings and incredible views of Kalamalka Lake.

Day 4-5 Enderby, Armstrong, & Spallumcheen

Let’s start in the quaint downtown of Enderby, where you can grab coffee and treats at Enderbeans or the Sweet Iron Café. If you’re a donut-lover, then Sutherland’s Bakery is a must. Our kids won’t let us pass through Enderby without a pit stop for their world-famous donuts and Long Johns. 

Now that everyone’s fueled up, an activity not to be missed is touring the salmon spawning grounds near Kingfisher Interpretive Centre, just east of town. Watching the salmon’s ruby red bodies swimming up the river is a sight to behold. 

There’s so much to learn about the meaning of these waters and lands for the Secwépemc people, and what better way to learn about that history than with an Indigenous guide? Ancestral HeartBeat Tours brings it all together with storytelling and drumming on visits to sacred sites, including through Tplaqín/Enderby Cliffs Park, Hunters Range and Mt. Mara Lookout. A visit to the Enderby Museum is a great way to add another layer to the story of this special community.

If there’s a wine-lover in your group, be sure to save time for Waterside Beverage Co. In addition to tasting their whites, reds and rosé’s, they’ve got some great lunch and dinner bites with something for everyone. Then, fall asleep with sounds of the nearby Shuswap River at the Indigenous-owned Quilakwa RV Park & Campground, which offers campsites, space for RVs, and also comfortable yurts. .

Now, for a day in the communities of Armstrong and Spallumcheen. As an area rooted in agriculture, it’s no surprise that this area has some fantastic attractions on nearby farms. In October, Bloom’s Okanagan Sunflower Festival gives you stunning selfies with a backdrop of more than 20 sunflower varieties as well as u-pick fun and food trucks. The Harvest Pumpkin Festival also has great photo ops and littles love hunting for the perfect pumpkin. 

In October, Caravan Farm Theatre hosts three ways to Halloween, with Horse-Drawn Halloween Sleigh Rides for families, a grisly Labyrinth walk in the night forest for those who love getting (really) scared and a Walk of Terror Spectacular costume dance party with bands and food trucks. For Halloween-lovers, there really isn’t anything like it anywhere else. 

If exploring the golden fields by daylight is more your style, you’ll love the Thomas Hayes Ecological Reserve loop along farmlands through forest, or a hike up Mount Rose Swanson for rare views of all three North Okanagan lakes and the chance to say cheers over a handcrafted cider and super-tasty hand-helds and appies on the patio of Spallumcheen-based Farmstrong Cider Company, which offers a farm-to-table bites and an impressive selection of all natural cider..

If it’s for coffee or tea you’re after, make your way downtown to the charming Wild Oak Café for a warm cup of whatever you fancy and delicious nibbles, then be sure to visit the iconic Village Dairy cheese shop for a few slices and some souvenir Armstrong cheese to take home. 

There you have it, a whole lot of reasons to visit the North Okanagan in the fall and a few of my favourite things to do while you’re here. Looking for more ideas? This really is just a snapshot. Check out explorenorthokanagan.com/fall for all there is to see and do!