Kelowna's Juicy Tips

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Did you know that we have over 15 designated beaches in the Kelowna and West Kelowna area? That’s not counting the many small beach accesses that you find scattered throughout residential areas. There are over 30 beaches in the Central Okanagan. This adds up to a whole lot of variety when it comes to one of our favourite summer activities: beach lounging.

Ever notice how different demographics are drawn to different beaches? Families seem to be drawn to Rotary Beach and Hot Sands Beach – probably in part due to the playgrounds, washroom facilities, and the excellent water park in City Park.

Teens and college students seem to like Gyro Beach on Lakeshore at Richter (and really, who doesn’t love that big apple concession!). You’ll also find beach volleyball leagues there certain evenings.

Personally, I love the off-the-beaten track beaches. In West Kelowna there’s the beach at the Gellatly Nut Farm, a dog beach at Gellatly Bay nearby (at the mouth of Smith Creek), and perhaps the most “secret” of the area: Kalamoir Park.  This last one is a jewel because it incorporates nice private nooks for people to bring lawn chairs. Check the map below to see how to access it and be prepared for a little hike along a wooden path to get to the beach area. (See this webpage on Tourism Kelowna’s website for road directions to Kalamoir Park.)

In the Knox Mountain area, I love Pauls’ Tomb. This quieter bay is great since you have to work for it a little bit. The trail heading there is about 2.7 km long from the first lookout. The water at Pauls’ Tomb is usually crystal clear because the bottom is pebbly. It’s also popular for snorklers who can see a sunken statue of Ogopogo there.

Tugboat Bay in Waterfront Park is a sleeper too – you can’t see it from the road, so you have to know it’s there.  It seems generally quieter than other downtown beaches. This beach also has a voleyball net, concession, and washroom facilities. Not to mention a great vibe.

For those of us with canine companions, there’s a dog beach at CedarCreek Beach along Lakeshore Rd. This is a great spot for the pooches to cool off!

I’m sure everyone has their favourite beach – please let us know what yours is by commenting on this post!

View Beaches in Kelowna in a larger map