Naramata Day Trip Itinerary: Things To Do On The Naramata Bench

Last updated 2026-07-13

Morning: Explore The Town

Sunflowers frame the corner, with an empty street running through the midground and a line of small shops across the street.

Start at Just Baked. It's got great outdoor seating and an impressively large spread of sweet and savoury baked goods, so whatever mood you're in for breakfast, they've probably got it covered. Grab a coffee, take your time, and let the day start slow.

After that, just wander. Naramata isn't a big place. It's mostly one street, with the waterfront a few blocks down and a thrift store a block over, and beyond that it's cafes, a general store, and a handful of shops along the main strip. You can see most of it in twenty minutes, but it's worth doing slowly and could take around an hour if you give each shop a good peruse.

If you didn't fill up too much at Just Baked, swing by Frankies for a smoothie. They make some really good ones, and they travel well if you're planning to walk it down to the waterfront or take it with you around town.

Afternoon: Explore The Bench

Rows of purple lavender plants in the foreground with a sea of orchards beyond and a large blue lake past that

For the afternoon, spend some time getting to know the surrounding area. There is quite a bit to see around Naramata, and it's not practical to fit it all into a single afternoon. But the options vary greatly in their vibe, so it should be obvious which choice is for you.

Option 1: Wine and Cider Tour

A man sitting in an orchard on a red Muskoka trail holding a glass of white wine at Joie’s Winery on the Naramata Bench

Two glasses of cider sitting on a wooden table with a lush orchard stretching behind them all the way to a large blue lake

If you're in vacation mode, focus on the wineries and cideries.

There is more wine, cider, and beer to be had along the Bench than fits in one afternoon, so again this is a personal choice based on what you're looking for.

JoieFarm Winery is the least pretentious winery in the area. It's got a great outdoor seating area looking over the vineyard, offers a tasting similar to what you'll find elsewhere, but also runs a low-key backyard bar that's doing its own thing entirely. That's where you'll find their house wines, a wine slushie made from their bubbly, and a rotating lineup of culinary fusion hot dogs. It's a fun, relaxed stop and a good one if you want wine tasting without the fancy vibe.

A hot dog overflowing with toppings in a paper basket next to a wine slushie with more red Muskoka chairs out of focus in the distance — Joie's Winery

Stairs lead up to a large red metal barn with a sign in front that reads ‘Joie’ — Joie's Winery

Bench 1775 is the other end of that spectrum. It's more upscale, and honestly one of the more quintessential Naramata winery experiences you'll find. Sweeping views over the vineyard, a tasting that people rave about, and the kind of high-end service that matches the reputation. If you only have time for one winery and want the classic version of what this area is known for, this is it. This is a bit more formal of a place. They don't have any strict dress code, but I didn't see anyone showing up in dusty cycling outfits here.

Creek and Gully is hands down my favourite spot on the bench. This is partly because I'm a bit more partial to cider than I am to wine, but mostly because I'm secretly just here for the patio and the views. Creek and Gully is a family-run (and woman-owned) farm and cidery making some of the best handmade cider in BC. (Second, maybe only to Merridale Cidery on Vancouver Island.) But one area they categorically overtake Merridale in is the patio.

This is one of the most gorgeous patios I've seen in the province. It is a smaller, more intimate space with just a few chairs and picnic tables overlooking their Orchard that slopes down into a larger sea of lush vineyards and then further down into the deep blues of Okanagan Lake. It's a scene straight out of the Italian countryside, but with an even more impressive lake. The cider is also amazing, and they offer a few small bites, but not really a full meal.

Rows of grape vines grow in a row down a hill leading to Okanagan Lake and the mountains beyond. — Creek & Gulley

A man sits on a rustic-style wooden bench, next to two similarly styled chairs at Creek & Gulley, looking down at a large orchard that stretches down a large hill all the way off to a distant lake. — Creek & Gulley

The most low-key option is actually one of the most fun: Abandoned Rail Brewing is a charming little brewery that sits right on the KVR biking trail, and they lean right into that aesthetic. Most of their seating is outdoors, and a lot of that seating is plastic Muskoka chairs that get constantly rearranged around their beautiful property. They have a solid beer offering and some typical brewery food like wood-fired pizza, burgers, giant pretzels, and The Real Big Pickle, which is exactly what you think it is.

There is no pretentiousness here. Half of the patrons or more are coming fresh off a bike ride down the KVR trail and are in their tight and dusty biking shorts dripping with sweat. The service is still top tier, but the vibe is wonderfully laid back.

A grassy patio area with picnic tables, Muskoka chairs, and shade trees sits in front of an old farmhouse that has been converted into a modern brewery has a sign near the apex of the A-frame structure that reads ‘Abandoned Rail Brewing’ — Abandoned Rail Brewing

Two full pints of beer in glasses set on a plastic red table surrounded by plastic red Muskoka chairs, all shaded by low-hanging branches of a large tree — Abandoned Rail Brewing

There are many, many more wineries to choose from, and I've only been to a handful; the tastings were honestly a bit lost on me. Most of the wines tasted very wine-forward, and each had a different… tang? For a more refined view on the wineries here, I'll refer you to one of the best guides available from Best Ever Guide.

Option 2: Little Tunnel

A cyclist rides along a wide gravel path entering the mouth of a large tunnel carved into the rock face — Little Tunnel

If you want a bit of exercise and a rewarding view of the whole bench, the lake, and Penticton looking tiny in the distance, go for Little Tunnel.

It's exactly what it sounds like: a small tunnel cut through rock, originally built large enough for a train to fit through. It's short enough that it never goes fully dark. You can see both ends from the middle, but it's still long enough to cool the air down inside by a good 10 degrees from the hot air on the trail.

The easiest way to access Little Tunnel is from the Smethurst parking lot. The path is wide, even, well-maintained, and the slope is steady. Since it used to be a railway, it, as a rule, can't be more than a 2% grade. But it is a consistent grind up nearly 5km to the tunnel, and it's exposed and hot the whole way. So make sure to pack more water than you think you will need.

Note: The trail is well maintained and is popular as a biking trail as well, so if you have your own bike, you can cut the time required down significantly and fit in a few more winery stops instead.

Trail Map

The hike will take a bit over an hour each way, but the payoff at the end is worth every drop of sweat. On either side of the tunnel, the views open up over the Naramata Bench, back toward Penticton, and across the full width of Okanagan Lake.

Just past the little tunnel, there is a small trail called the Lady Bug Trail. To find it, just head past the little tunnel and keep an eye out for a sign for it on the left. The sign labels it as a family-friendly trail, but I think that is based on a very BC definition of family-friendly. The trail is uneven, requires climbing up some rock faces, and you will need to look out for rattlesnakes.

But for typical BC families it's a great walk. The trail is short and takes about 10 minutes each way, and it takes you off the main KVR trail out to a cliff that looks up to the little tunnel and down to the lake and the sea of vineyards. There is a little bench at the end, and the view is stunning (although very similar to the view from the far side of Little Tunnel)

Option 3: Adra Tunnel

Framed by leaves of a tree in the foreground, a man walks along a flat and wide gravel path into a rectangularly cut tunnel.

A man stands in a dark tunnel lit by a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and lined with large wooden reinforcements.

And if you want something a bit adventurous and truly unique, head up the Adra tunnel.

Adra is the more interesting of the two tunnels in my opinion. It's much longer, and its length and its horseshoe shape means it gets properly dark throughout. Getting to Adra Tunnel requires either a ride up a rough and steep forest road, and then a short steep hike. Or you can hike 8km each way along the KVR from the nearest parking lot. For more specifics on reaching the tunnel, please refer to our comprehensive Adra Tunnel Guide.

Once you arrive, you will be met with several oddities of the tunnel, including the creepy motion sensor lights, a very out-of-place chandelier, and the wild sounds they've programmed into the speakers that echo throughout the tunnel in erratic directions off the rough-hewn stone walls.

Adra Tunnel could easily be the highlight of your trip, but you definitely want to know what you're getting into with this one since the way up is questionable and the experience itself is far stranger than it seems on the surface. I recommend giving our dedicated Adra Tunnel guide a quick read before you make your decision.

If you pick either of the tunnels, you should still have time for a drink at one spot before moving into the evening, but you won't have time for the full tour of the 'Bench'.

Evening: Back To Town For A Waterfront Dinner

Rows of market stalls line a grassy area in Naramata selling a wide variety of farmers’ market goods.

What you do in the evening depends on the day of the week.

If it's a Wednesday, there's a farmers' market from 4 to 7 pm at Manitou Park, and it's worth building your whole day around catching it. This is a bigger market than you'd expect, with a full row of food trucks covering everything from a sweet treat to a proper meal.

Beyond the food, there are real produce stands, local artists selling their work, representation from area breweries, cideries, and wineries, and even a converted Kei truck selling pet treats. The market sits right in the park on the water, so the move is simple: grab something to eat, walk it down to the beach, spend some time by the lake, and stock up on vegetables and souvenirs on your way out.

A full pizza inside an open cardboard box lying on a picnic blanket set up on a dock that is suspended above the water of Okanagan Lake.

A large drooping willow tree casts shade along the small sandy beach that runs next to the calm waters of Okanagan Lake.

Any other night, get pizza from Real Things Pizza and take it down to Manitou Park instead. It's a small takeout spot that does simple pizza and does it properly. The price is right, the quality is there, and the only real downside is the wait. This place is popular enough that lines at peak times can run up to 40 minutes, so call your order in before you head over if you can.

It's worth the wait either way. You can pick it up yourself or have it delivered straight to the beach, and they've got solid vegan and veggie options too. Either way, taking it down to the water is the move.

FAQ

How much time do you need for a Naramata Bench day trip?

A full day works well: a slow morning exploring the town of Naramata, an afternoon choosing between wine and cider tasting or one of the two nearby tunnel hikes, and an evening back in town for a waterfront dinner at Manitou Park. There isn't enough time to do both the wineries and a full tunnel hike in one afternoon, so it's worth deciding which one matters more before you go.

What is the best winery to visit on the Naramata Bench?

It depends on the experience you want. Joie is relaxed and unpretentious, with a backyard bar serving wine slushies and fusion hot dogs. Bench 1775 offers a more upscale, classic tasting with sweeping vineyard views. Creek and Gully is a family-run cidery with one of the best patios in the province, and Abandoned Rail Brewing is the most casual stop, sitting right on the KVR bike trail and popular with cyclists.

What is the difference between the Little Tunnel and the Adra Tunnel?

The Little Tunnel is shorter and never goes fully dark, since both ends stay visible from the middle, and it's reached via a roughly 5 km hike or bike from the Smethurst parking lot along the KVR rail trail. The Adra Tunnel is longer, curves in a horseshoe shape that blocks daylight throughout, and requires a rougher approach involving a steep forest road and a short hike. Adra also has motion-sensor lighting and sound effects installed inside, making it a stranger and more memorable stop.

Is there a farmers market in Naramata?

Yes, Naramata hosts a farmers market on Wednesdays from 4 to 7pm at Manitou Park. It includes food trucks, produce stands, local artists, and representation from area wineries, cideries, and breweries, and it's worth timing a visit around if your day trip falls on a Wednesday.

Where should I eat dinner in Naramata?

Real Things Pizza is a popular takeout spot in Naramata doing simple, well-made pizza with solid vegan and vegetarian options. Lines can run up to 40 minutes at peak times, so calling ahead is recommended. Most visitors take their order down to Manitou Park to eat by the water.

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Option 1: Wine and Cider Tour

Option 2: Little Tunnel

Trail Map

Option 3: Adra Tunnel

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