The Okanagan Valley is located in interior British Columbia, stretching for 170 km from Osoyoos near the Washington state border to Vernon, with Kelowna as its central city. The Okanagan, known for its farms, orchards, and vineyards, is also a popular recreation spot, with hills and lakes offering skiing in winter, and hiking & watersports in summer. There’s also a wonderful variety of running in the Okanagan Valley, with wonderful waterfront paths along the numerous lakes, and a significant network of multi-use trails. Dry forests of ponderosa pine and low grasses dominate the valleys and mountains in this region.
Some of our favorite places to run in the Okanagan Valley are lakeshore routes in Kelowna and Penticton, along Wood Lake, and a section of the Okanagan Rail Trail along Kalamalka Lake. Or, enjoy the extensive multi-use trails passing by farms, vineyards, and orchards: the Okanagan Rail Trail between Kelowna and Vernon; the International Hike & Bike Trail in the southern part of the Okanagan, and the creekside Mission Creek Greenway in Kelowna and Channel Trail in Penticton. For a unique running experience, choose a section of the KVR Trail, with its mountainside terrain and railroad trestles. And to run in Canada’s only desert, see our route in Osoyoos. For a centrally located hill & trail run, try Knox Mountain in Kelowna, and for an orchard/hill run, see our route in Vernon.
The Okanagan Valley is known for its sunny and dry climate — great for year-round running! Winters are cool and somewhat snowy, and summers are warm to hot and dry.
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