Fall is a beautiful time of year in the Okanagan Valley. Imagine a walk surrounded by colourful trees and splashes of red, orange, and yellow leaves. With the month of October and November being a bit quieter in Kelowna, it's a great time of year to take advantage of the boardwalks in the area.
Whether you are planning to head to Downtown Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, or Peachland, visitors can enjoy a gorgeous lakeside walk along designated trails.
Downtown Kelowna
Waterfront Park. Photo by: Shawn Talbot Photography
Easily accessible from multiple points downtown, this waterfront area is a great place to take in the lake view. The north end of the trail is near the Rotary Marsh Park, a perfect area for nature lovers to go birdwatching or keep an eye out for the beavers!
The 2km boardwalk takes you past Waterfront Park, the lagoons outside the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, Stuart Park, Kerry Park, and City Park. You will also walk past the Kelowna Yacht Club where you can admire the boats that moor at Canada's largest fresh-water marina.
Looking for more information about things to do in Kelowna? This walk will also take you past the Kelowna Visitor Centre at the foot of Queensway Avenue beside the lake.
This trail is stroller, bike, and dog-friendly, as long as you keep your furry friend on a leash.
West Kelowna
Just 15 minutes away from Downtown Kelowna is the West Kelowna boardwalk at Gellatly Bay. The promenade stretches from Rotary Park to the Gellatly Nut Farm with other smaller green spaces in between. The round trip takes about an hour to walk. History buffs - be sure to keep an eye out for the signs along the route that showcase the pioneers and their stories that contributed to the development of the area.
Parts of the trail consist of pavement and crushed gravel and is bike and stroller-friendly. Dogs are allowed on-leash, however, there is an off-leash park and a dog beach along the way if Fido would like an opportunity to play fetch.
Peachland
Cenntenial Way in Peachland. Photo: District of Peachland
One of the most popular walks in Peachland is the Beach Avenue Lakeside Walk. Every day you will find locals and visitors alike enjoying a leisurely walk along this trail beside Okanagan Lake.
If you start near the Blind Angler Grill on the south end of Beach Avenue and make your way to where Beach Avenue intersects with Buchanan Road, it is about an 8km walk round trip.
There are also several points of interest that are along the way including the Peachland Museum which was built in 1910 as the Peachland Baptist Church.
As this trail is paved - bikes, strollers, and in-line skates are appropriate.
Lake Country
Okanagan Rail Trail along Kalamalka Lake.
This area in the Okanagan truly lives up to its name with the number of lakeside trails. In addition to the Pelmewash Parkway along the west side of Wood Lake, the majority of the waterfront section of the Okanagan Rail Trail is also in Lake Country.
Pedestrians and cyclists visiting the rail trail will enjoy a trek beside not one, but two lakes - the east side of Wood Lake and the west side of Kalamalka Lake. Although a small section of the trail remains under construction, most of the 16.3km section of the trail along the Lake County area is open. When the project is completed, this trail will run from Downtown Kelowna all the way to the north end of Kalamalka Lake for a total of 48.5km.