As the leaves turn golden and the air takes on a crisp edge, fall activities in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley are all about slowing down and savouring the season. There are a few things worth doing every fall, from cycling the Myra Canyon Trestles to sipping the local wine. Be sure to check off one or more of the items on this Okanagan fall bucket list to elevate the season.

Bucket List Outdoor Fall Activities in Kelowna

Fall is the season for spending full days outside, whether that means cycling above the canyon, hiking to a viewpoint, or watching the salmon run below the falls.

Cycle the Myra Canyon Trestles

Pedal or walk over 18 wooden trestles and through 2 tunnels on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail as it curves around Myra Canyon high above the city. The Myra Canyon Trestles are a historic section of the trail that was once part of a railway built in the early 1900s and today offers one of the most scenic cycling and walking routes in the Okanagan.

The flat, 12-km one-way route (24 km round trip) is especially pretty in mid-to-late October when the larch trees turn from green to yellow, creating golden highlights against the surrounding evergreens and cliffs. You'll also be treated to views of Okanagan Lake, rolling hills, and the valley stretching far below. Along the way, there are plenty of spots to stop for a rest, take pictures, and soak in the history and natural beauty that make this trail so memorable.

Biking or e-biking is the best way to cover the full 24 km distance, and Myra Canyon Bicycle Rental & Tours operates on-site through mid-October if you're travelling without your own bike or e-bike. If you don't have a vehicle, book one of their guided tours instead. This 4-hour outing includes bike and helmet rental, water, and transportation to and from your accommodation in Kelowna or West Kelowna, both before and after the ride.

Prefer to walk? The trestles are just as accessible on foot, though most walkers cover a shorter out-and-back stretch rather than the full round-trip distance.

Take a Fall Hike Across the Valley

There are trails suited to almost every pace this time of year. For a scenic climb, head to the network of trails in Johns Family Nature Conservancy. The Crags Trail parallels a popular rock climbing area, and adventurous hikers can follow a steep path to the top of the cliffs for sweeping views of Okanagan Lake, Downtown Kelowna, and hillsides turning green, yellow, red, and orange.

For an easier walk, Mission Creek Greenway Regional Park offers flat, gentle trails along the salmon spawning channel, including the 1-km Kokanee Trail — a good option for families or anyone who'd rather stroll than climb.

In West Kelowna, Glen Canyon Regional Park cuts a dramatic path along Powers Creek, with canyon cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, and interpretive signs on the canyon's geology and syilx history. The 2.2-km Greenway Trail climbs moderately along the canyon floor, while the shorter Doe Trail offers an easier, creekside alternative.

See the Salmon Spawn

There are many spots to see the annual phenomenon of Kokanee returning to their spawning grounds, and one of the best is on the Hardy Falls hike near Peachland. The short 0.8 km out-and-back trail parallels Deep Creek and offers many spots to view lake salmon, including several bridges. The trail ends at a pretty waterfall, and the fall colours along the route are lovely.

In Kelowna, the Mission Creek Regional Park is also a great spot for salmon spotting. Looking for more in-depth knowledge about the salmon spawn in Kelowna? Lakeside Eco-Sports now offers an e-bike tour that takes you on a route around Kelowna and along Mission Creek to view the salmon as they make their way up the creek.

Go Apple U-Picking

Few things feel more like fall in Kelowna than heading into an orchard to pick your own apples. With trees heavy with fruit, it is a chance to taste the season right where it grows. Varieties range from sweet Galas to tart Spartans, and the experience of filling a basket straight from the branch is one to remember. It is an activity that brings out the kid in everyone, and you will leave with apples for snacking and baking!

Apple growing has been part of Kelowna's landscape for more than 160 years, and the valley continues to shape the fruit: the Spartan variety in your basket was bred right here, at the Summerland Research and Development Centre. That deep agricultural history is part of why Kelowna carries its UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, and an afternoon of picking is a direct link to it.

Some great apple u-picking options include:

• Twin Oaks Certified Organic Orchard, Kelowna
• Rose Hill Orchard, Lake Country
• Paynter's Fruit Market, West Kelowna
• Davison Orchards, Vernon

Must-Try Fall Food & Wine Experiences in Kelowna

Kelowna's fall calendar doesn't just look good, it tastes good too. Grape harvest and the last of the season's local ingredients line up at exactly the right time, which is a big part of why Kelowna carries its UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, and a stop for wine or a seasonal dinner belongs on this bucket list just as much as a hike or a bike ride.

Go Wine Touring

Fall might be the best time of year to go wine touring in the Okanagan. Grapes are coming off the vine, tasting rooms are pouring fresh releases, and the summer rush has eased, making it easier to get a spot on a tour or a table on a patio without booking weeks ahead. Add in crisp, comfortable days made for sipping outside and hillsides turning gold and red across the valley, and harvest season might be the most beautiful time to visit a winery.

With more than 40 wineries spread between Peachland to the south and Lake Country to the north, Kelowna has a lot of wine to sip during the fall grape harvest — many of them among our Must-Visit Wine Spots. It's easy to book a guided wine tour or embark on a self-guided tasting trip with your group along one of the wine communities. There are even family-friendly wineries where the kids will be entertained while you sample adult beverages. No matter where you go, you'll be greeted with colourful fall views around every bend in the road.

Attend a Fall Harvest Meal

Along with good wine comes great food. Kelowna's food scene is every bit as compelling as its wine country, and fall might be when it's at its best. Local growers are filling their larders this time of year, and that seasonal bounty shows up across menus throughout the valley. Many of the region's restaurants are dedicated to the practice of local, seasonal ingredients, turning the season's harvest into menus worth planning a meal around.

September and October are also when many local wineries, restaurants, and chefs host harvest dinners. These intimate, seasonal celebrations of the year's crop often take place right in the vineyard. Formats vary: Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate hosts harvest lunches and long-table dinners set among the vines, a fall tradition at wineries across the valley. Mission Hill, Vice & Virtue, and The Okanagan Table are among the businesses known for hosting these kinds of experiences.

Because dates and menus change year to year, check each winery or restaurant's own events page, or Tourism Kelowna's events calendar, closer to your visit for what's currently on offer.

Some great options for farm-to-table dining include:

• 31 CHARKAY

• BLOCK ONE Restaurant at 50th Parallel Estate Winery

• Frankie We Salute You!

• Home Block at CedarCreek Estate Winery

• HUMO Kelowna

• The Modest Butcher

• Waterfront Wines

Must-Attend Fall Festivals in Kelowna

Fall in Kelowna comes with a packed events calendar, from music and art after dark to food, wine, and craft drinks across the valley.

Live Music & Arts Festivals

September brings Denim on the Diamond to the Kelowna waterfront, a multi-day outdoor music festival with live performances and festival energy in City Park. Later in the season in October, Nuit Blanche transforms downtown after dark with immersive art installations and interactive performances lighting up the streets.

Food, Wine, and Drink

Kelowna's harvest season shows up in its festivals too. Okanagan Feast of Fields, which takes place yearly in mid-September, brings together local farmers, chefs, and wineries for a roaming, farm-to-table harvest festival where you can taste the best of the region in one afternoon. The Fall Okanagan Wine Festival, taking place at the end of September and into October, is a highlight of the season, offering tastings, tours, and special events at wineries across the region. It's the perfect chance to meet winemakers, try new vintages, and experience the valley's wine culture at its most vibrant.

VegFest Kelowna celebrates plant-based food, local vendors, and sustainable living each September, with live music and family-friendly activities alongside the food. Craft beer lovers can celebrate BC Craft Beer Month each October, when local breweries across the region host their own events all month long. The flagship is The COBrA Open, a city-wide mini-golf tournament that takes you from brewery to brewery for a round of putting and a discounted pint along the way. EPIC Okanagan closes out the season in November, bringing cocktails, food pairings, chefs, bartenders, and craft beverage makers together for one of the valley's most flavour-focused festivals.

Plan Your Fall Bucket List in Kelowna

However you spend it, fall in the Okanagan rewards a little planning. Trails and trestles are best tackled on weekday mornings before the light gets low, wineries get busier as harvest events ramp up through October, and a few of the festivals above only run for a single weekend, so it's worth checking exact dates before you build your trip around them. Check these and more off your bucket list this fall, and explore offers, packages and promotions to make the most of your trip.