Summer Things to Do
Adrenaline-Packed Summers
Find a perfect balance between the long, lazy days of summer and adrenaline-fuelled activities in the North Okanagan, where adventures take place against a backdrop of sparkling lakes, evergreen forests, rugged mountains and fertile valleys. Warm, sunny weather invites beach days, alpine hikes, and patio afternoons. After each excursion, cool off and refuel with craft beverages and farm-to-table food.
Get Active Outdoors
Jump in a lake, paddle down a river, or head to trail-laced mountains for adventures on two legs or two wheels in the Trails Capital of BC. The North Okanagan has summer adventure dialed, from cool morning trail runs to balmy evening tee times.
Mountain Biking
In summer, Silver Star turns into a biking hub, with lift-assisted downhill biking alongside epic enduro rides like Beowulf. Challenge yourself on technical singletrack, or fast and flowy cross-country routes on the mountain, or down in the valley where extensive trail networks and parks in Greater Vernon abound. The North Okanagan hosts mountain bike races and competitions throughout the summer, too.
Grab Your Bike
Hiking and Trail Running
With hundreds of kilometres of pathways, the North Okanagan has a hike for everyone. It’s also a growing trail running destination thanks to events and trail races throughout the summer such as Slay the Dragon, hosted by hosted by Bush Babes & Bros. Escape the heat on higher elevation trails in Silver Star’s alpine meadows, in the parks and pathways surrounding Vernon, or among the peaks and valleys in Monashee Provincial Park near Lumby.
Discover Trails
Paddling
Surrounded by natural lakes, and cut through by the meandering Shuswap River, the North Okanagan is a paddlers paradise. Glide across glassy water in a canoe, engage your core on a stand-up paddleboard, or navigate a portion of Kalamalka Lake’s paddle trail in a kayak.
Find Biking Paths
Swimming
With over 30 beaches in Vernon alone, the North Okanagan knows how to make the most of hot summer days. Take a dip at Kin Beach on Okanagan Lake, soak up the sun on the sand next to aquamarine Kalamalka Lake, or enjoy Tuey Park Beach in Enderby after floating the Shuswap River.
Swing into Spring
Wellness
Give in to zen during a massage or inside a sauna, at spas like KurSpa at Sparkling Hill Resort or Elevate Spa at Silver Star. Local businesses put a fun twist on yoga, too—don’t miss Yoga with Goats at Historic O’Keefe Ranch, or Yoga & Mimosas on Sunday mornings at Predator Ridge.
Take to the Skies
Fruit Picking
Grab a basket and get ready to savour seasonal cherries, stone fruit, apples and pears at one of the North Okanagan’s u-picks, like Peter’s U-Pick in Vernon. You’ll also find fresh vegetables, preserves, honey, and more, at fruit stands and farmers’ markets.
Find Orchards
Summer Events
Make the most of summer’s sunny days and warm nights at festivals and events that celebrate movies, music, craft makers, and heritage.
Polson Artisan Market
Every Friday evening, pretty Polson Park in downtown Vernon turns into a night market where local vendors sell items they have made, baked, grown, or upcycled. Shop for the perfect gift, fresh produce, and farm-fresh eggs or honey.
Find out More
Starlight Drive-In
Hearken back to a simpler time when families piled into the car for a double-header at the drive-in. Just south of Enderby, the Starlight Drive-In screens movies five nights a week in July and August so you can watch the latest blockbuster under the stars.
Visit the Drive-In
Kalamalka Indigenous Garden
Vernon is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation. Learn about syilx culture, their connection to the land, and the food and medicinal uses of local plants, on a tour through the Kalamalka Indigenous Garden.
Find out More
Silver Star Beer & Cider Fest
Toast British Columbia’s growing craft beverage scene at this annual festival that pairs suds and cider with food, live music, and a pop-up artisan market. Extend the fun by hiking, trail running, or mountain biking on Silver Star’s trails before hitting the beer garden.
Event Information
Interior Provincial Exhibition & Stampede
Armstrong celebrates its farming and ranching heritage every summer at the IPE & Stampede, a five-day event with food, live music, midway rides, animal exhibitions, and a rodeo. Don’t miss the famous Barn Dance, where you can kick up your boots to country music.
Explore the IPE
Lumby Days
Lumberjack shows, gold panning demos, and a carnival midway hearken back to Lumby’s early days of forestry and mining during this spring fair. Don’t miss the hang gliding and paragliding demos in one of Western Canada’s top gliding spots.
Visit Lumby Days
Explore North Okanagan
Slow down and veer off the beaten path in five welcoming communities connected by lakes, forests, mountains, and hundreds of kilometres of trails. Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Silver Star and Vernon welcome adventurers in all seasons to play, rest and refuel. Find your happy place in the great outdoors, at a community event, or with family and friends at a farm-to-table restaurant.
