Pack your bike and take one of our vans for a wine tour to the Okanagan Valley. Endless vineyards, small wineries, delicious cheese, bike trails leading through orchards of fruit trees and grape wine, blue lakes, silence, the freedom.... you've got to experience this!
"It's hard to know which harvest is growing faster in this fertile and beautiful valley midway between Vancouver and Alberta: tourists or fruit. The 180km-long Okanagan Valley is home to orchards of peaches and apricots, and scores of excellent wineries whose vines spread across the terraced hills, soaking up some of Canada's sunniest weather. The valley has provided a summer escape for generations of Canadians, who frolic in the string of lakes linking the Okanagan's towns. " Lonely Planet
First of all, the drive itself is a great experience. If you decide to drive through Pemberton - Lillooet, you will be rewarded with a beautiful scenery. Take the winding Duffey Lake road from Pemberton to Lillooet to see beautiful vistas, snowy peaks, glaciers and turquoise lakes.
When in Lillooet, you can make your first wine stop in Fort Berens winery and perhaps enjoy a glass of wine with the views of the Fraser benchland and the Coast mountains.
From Lillooet take hwy 12 to the right. This road goes along the Fraser river. This scenic ride will show you the rustic life of First Nations in deep Fraser valley. It will take you through Lytton and Meritt to Peachland. ❗ Be aware of deer when driving late ❗
Now, if you love wine and mountain biking you are at the right address. Below you can find a list of bike trails and wineries we tested and liked the most. Let’s start in Kelowna.
KELOWNA
🍷 Wine
Frequency Wine & Sound
These guys are making wine by infusing it with sound frequencies. There is a music studio right in the tasting room. If you dare they will let you record a song and vibes of the music will go into the wine bottles sprinkled all over the place.
The Vibrant Vine
Another atypical winery. If you love wine and art you can't miss this one. Enjoy a glass of wine and attend one of the art workshops available.
The View Winery
Small family owned boutique winery located in East Kelowna with beautiful views. If you like cider, they have it too :)
👉 Map and complete list of Kelowna's wineries at https://explore.winebc.com/view-region/30 .
🚵 Biking around
Vapour trail
Located in Myra Canyon Provincial Park is our favorite bike trail of the whole Okanagan Valley – Vapour. The best way to park the van is at Myra Park day use area. It is for free :) Then jump on your bike and pedal up. The climbing trail is pretty mellow and serves you with great views of the valley. Trail leads through burned forest which is sad, but looks pretty cool. The last push is a little bit of climb but nothing too serious. You will end up on the flat wide forest road which used to be a historical railway a long time ago, the Kettle Valley trail. Then hit the single black Vapour trail and enjoy 4 Km of descend! After Vapour, take the pink hwy trail to another single black trail 'Connector' which has 2 Km and will bring you down to your car at Myra park day use area. We like this ride because there are all features included. Rockfaces, flow, jumps… everything you can take from different trails you will have in this 6 Km descent. Enjoy! Check the location and accent trails on Trailforks app.
The Kettle Valley Rail - KVR
KVR is the longest rail trail network in British Columbia leading from Hope to Castlegar. You can join guided tours or experience it on your own. If you have bike it is the best way to explore this unique trail. Along KVR you will see 18 trestle bridges and 2 tunnels. For detailed info about KVR and tours visit https://bcrailtrails.com/ .
👉 For more bike trails check the app Trailforks.
PENTINCTON - NARAMATA BENCH
Pentincton is a perfect place to combine bike and wine tasting. Park the van in Pentincton and hit the road on your bike. The traffic is not that bad and the road will bring you to the most of the wineries. On the way back you can take the Kettle Valley Rail trail leading through vineyards. This ride is very beautiful. Enjoy the rural part of Okanagan valley!
🍷 Wine
Monster Vineyards (Pentincton)
We just love their wine and monster creatures :)
Three Sisters Winery
When you decide to visit Three Sisters, ask for Rosé Merlot/Cabernet Franc, it is really delicious! Enjoy a glass of wine on a nice backyard surrounded by vineyard.
Poplar Grove Cheese
What could be better combination than great wine and cheese?? If you are a cheese lover then you shouldn't miss this place with delicious hand-crafted French style cheese.
👉 For complete list of wineries in this area go to https://explore.winebc.com/view-region/36
🐒 Climbing
Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park
'Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park is one of the best places to climb in Canada. 66 crags and over 1000 climbs can be found in three main canyons. Most climbs (around 65%) are sport routes but there are still opportunities for traditional climbing too. The sheer variety and choice of routes in combination with the southern Okanagan’s warm climate make Skaha Bluffs a world-class climbing destination. 'Offtracktravel.ca
🚵 Biking around
Rock Oven
Besides excellent climbing routes there are several bike trails as well. We tried Rock Oven, what a great trail! The climb is little bit tough and it can get really hot but at the top you will be rewarded. Amazing views of the valley and deep blue Skaha Lake. The downhill can be loose at some point but there are some rock faces too. Don't miss the last super long one:)
The Kettle Valley Rail trail (KVR)
As mentioned above, this valley trail will lead you through endless vineyards. Enjoy beautiful ride overlooking blue waters of Okanagan Lake below and the peaceful atmosphere. If you dare you can bike from Pentincton all the way to Kelowna. KVR used to be a railway and so the terrain is wide and flat trail.
OLIVER
🍷 Wine
Bartier Bros
This fancy winery has a beautiful backyard overlooking deserted hills. This place is gorgeous and the wine is really good.
Platinum Bench Estate Winery
We just fell in love with this small family owned winery and its friendly owners. The best way to enjoy a glass of wine is to sit at the terrace with beautiful view and perhaps taste one of their home made pastries or local cheese.
Cock and Bull Cappuccino Bar
Very nice little coffee place with breakfast and lunch menus. Slovak owners are very friendly and the whole atmosphere in the coffee shop will make you want to stay longer than you planned. Delicious home made pastry, sandwiches, soups and never-ending coffee refill.
Spotted Lake (Osoyoos)
Spotted Lake is an unusual lake rich in salt and minerals. This combination creates colorful dots in summer months as the water evaporate. You will find this strange lake in Osoyoos which is officially Canada's hottest place and lies at the southern-most tip of the Okanagan Valley, near the Canada-USA border.
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