Kelowna 
The Okanagan region of southern British Columbia is home to several gorgeous lakes, with the expansive Lake Okanagan at the heart of it all. A short drive east of Lake Okanagan is arguably one of the region’s most scenic lakes: Kalamalka. The bright blue or turquoise of the water surrounded by rocky cliffs and lush greenery creates an incredible scene for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Credit: Destination BC
Kalamalka Lake’s shores are lined with parks that make many parts of this long lake accessible to the public.
Parks, Beaches, & Beach Towns
The shores of Kalamalka Lake are lined with protected natural areas, small communities, and Vernon to the north of Kal Beach. Among the lakes of southern British Columbia, none seems to offer quite as much recreation as this gorgeous body of water.
There are a total of 10 public beaches on Kalamalka Lake, plus several more beach opportunities. Anyone with a boat (motorized or paddle) will be able to explore the long shoreline to find several more beaches. This is an excellent opportunity to find a secluded or private swimming spot, a quiet picnic spot, or both.
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And while some locations around the lake feel secluded or remote, there are many amenities and services around the lake’s parks and towns that help with picnic groceries or camping needs. This includes the larger town of Vernon to the north of Kal Beach. Together, Kal Beach and Vernon offer a wide range of attractions to fill a full vacation.
A trip to Kalamalka Lake is a unique opportunity to embrace and experience southern BC’s beautiful wilderness without ever really leaving the comforts of the urban world.
Kal Beach & More to See in Vernon
Kal Beach is within the small town of Coldstream on the south side of the larger town of Vernon. From Kal Beach to the north end of Vernon, there are multiple ways to fill a day trip or multi-night vacation.
- The gorgeous Kal Beach includes a lengthy stretch of soft sand from where mature poplars provide shade if beachgoers need. Kal Beach is located near a handful of options for beach snacks, like Kal Lake Food Services, or the Rail Trail Market, Café, and Ice Cream Parlour.
- Explore more of the lake’s beautiful waters with the rentals available at Kalavida Surf Shop, located steps away from the beach. Kalavida provide kayak, SUP, e-bike, and bike rentals.
- Dive into the area’s history, arts, and culture with Vernon’s Historic O’Keefe Ranch, The Museum & Archives of Vernon, or the Vernon Public Art Gallery.
- There are many attractions in Vernon which help make it an ideal getaway destination for families. Along with the beaches and Kalamalka Lake, Vernon also has local sights like Polson Park and the Okanagan Science Centre, Splashdown Vernon, or the Davison Orchards.
Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park
Credit: Abby Cooper/Hello BC
Find Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park directly south of Kal Beach, where the lake begins to widen. This is one of two provincial parks on the shores of Kalamalka Lake, where visitors have several options for outdoor and lake recreation.
- This single park alone is home to three different beaches on Kalamalka Lake: Jade Bay, Juniper Bay, and Cosens Bay. Each of those three beaches has its own parking lot, washrooms, and picnic areas. Plus, there are two more beaches just for pets: one next to Rattlesnake Point, and the other beside Cosens Bay.
- Away from those beaches and the shoreline is the extensive trail system that winds around the remainder of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. The trail network includes routes for hikers only, as well as multi-use trails for cyclists and hikers. The Rattlesnake Point trail and lookout is a major highlight on the trails with 2.5km to a great view over the lake and back to the Juniper Bay parking lot.
- Many of the park’s multi-use trails wind around or lead to Cosens Bay.
- All of Kalamalka Lake offers incredibly scenic paddling opportunities for canoers, kayakers, paddleboarders, or anglers. The shores of the lake are lined with small sandy coves that create picturesque and private little beaches. Canoes, kayaks, and SUPs can launch from the beaches or park shorelines.
Kekuli Bay Provincial Park
Kalamalka Lake and Kekuli Bay Provincial Parks are both home to beautiful beaches with Kekuli Bay on the opposite side of the lake from Kalamalka Lake Park. And while both parks offer the same types of lake, water, or summer recreation, Kekuli Bay also provides camping. The new campground at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park was thoughtfully designed to ensure all campers have great views of the lake from their site. Campers have the option between sites with electricity, sites without services, or walk-in tent sites. No matter where campers set up, they have access to washrooms, showers, and drinking water.
- Plus, Kekuli Bay has a boat launch where all sorts of watercraft are able to get onto Kalamalka Lake: paddle and motorized boats included! With motorized boats able to launch from the park, this also means boaters can have fun with waterskiing, wakeboarding, or tubing.
- The picnic amenities at the Kekuli Bay day use area make the park ideal for an afternoon picnic or beach day, too. The day use area, boat launch, and beach, are all around the same location with picnickers having access to a playground, washrooms, tables and picnic areas with barbecue attachments.
Kaloya Regional Park
With 42km of shoreline, there is a lot to discover up and down the Kalamalka waterfront. Find Kaloya on the far opposite side of the lake from Kal Beach!
- The Kaloya Regional Park is on the far south end of Kalamalka Lake on a small peninsula that stretches out further into the lake. The beach is surrounded by a few dining and accommodation options.
- During the summer months, the Kaloya Park beach creates a quiet escape in a sheltered part of the waters. And along the shores are more amenities to make the day more enjoyable, like a playground, washrooms, and picnic shelters.
- During the spring and fall, the foliage, wildlife, and birds of the park are the stars of any day or overnight trip. Birding opportunities are heightened during these season,s while spring creates beautiful scenery from the wildflowers and greenery, and fall offers the bright colours of the leaves around the bright blue lake.
Planning Your Trip – Kalamalka Lake
Credit: Kai Jacobson
What: Kalamalka Lake is a large glacial lake in the heart of the Okanagan. It is a short drive east of the much larger Lake Okanagan, and a short drive south of Vernon. There are many reasons that make Kalamalka Lake so attractive to visitors including its stunning scenery and the seemingly endless recreational opportunities. The shoreline of Kalamalka Lake includes stretches of soft and sandy beaches, tall or towering cliffs, and the large hills which separate it from Lake Okanagan. The lake has 10 public beaches as well as parks with hand or boat launches. All types of recreational boating are permitted on the lake.
Location and how to get there: Kalamalka Lake is located approximately 13 km from Vernon (15 min) and 45 km (50 min drive) from Kelowna.
Best time to go: year-round
How much: costs vary per park
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