Walk The Waterfront Trail
This is one of the best low-key things to do in town, and it's a great first impression. The trail is a flat paved walking path that follows the Okanagan Lake Beach. It is about 1km long and goes from the SS Sicamous Museum to Rotary Park.
This was the first thing we did on our first visit to Penticton, and it was a hot, sunny morning. We had our iced coffees in hand, and we immediately understood why so many people had told us we needed to go check out Penticton.
Also, if you need any extra motivation to make it all the way down to Rotary Park, just know there is a giant peach next to the park that Tickleberry sells ice cream from.
Wander Colorful Front Street
This is the prettiest stretch of downtown, just back from the waterfront, and it's worth spending some time wandering before you commit to a beach day or a bike rental.
It's lined with boutiques, galleries, a floral studio, home décor shops, and a few wellness and specialty retailers worth poking into. A lot of the businesses along here also pour wine, craft beer, or non-alcoholic drinks from South Okanagan producers, so it works as much as a slow grazing route as a shopping street.
Also, just off of Front Street is Main Street, which is also worth a wander. There are several shops and restaurants along here, but one of the most well-known is The Book Shop. It is the third-largest used book store in Canada, and if you're a book lover, you could spend hours poring over their eclectic collection.
Penticton Farmers Market
This is a bold claim, and it's not one I make lightly: this is the best farmers' market I've been to in BC. I've done the ones in Squamish, Whistler, Tofino, Ucluelet, Vancouver, even Sechelt's, which has a real reputation of its own, and none of them are close. Penticton shuts down the entire downtown core for it, and the stalls run for multiple blocks.
It took us nearly two hours to get through the whole market, and that wasn't us lingering. The crowd is massive and moves at a glacial pace because of how many people are there and because everyone is stopping every few steps to peruse a new stand.
My usual issue with farmers markets is that they drift away from the actual farmers. Not this one. There's a solid dozen or more stalls selling onions, garlic, potatoes, greens, and fruit so fresh it begs you to take it down to the beach and eat it all in one sitting. The Okanagan Valley is a serious agricultural community, and this market pulls vendors from across the whole region.
Past the produce, it's a bit of a free-for-all. The usual market staples are there: baked goods, flowers, pottery, art, but you'll also pass a tarot card reader, a henna artist, and at one point we walked by someone offering foot massages. I'd normally tell you a farmers market is a nice bonus if your visit happens to line up with it. This one is worth planning your whole trip around.
It runs Saturdays from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, April 18 through October 31.
Penticton Accommodation Guide: Best Places To Stay in 2026
Click here for discounts and booking tips!Mount Munson
If you've been in Penticton for a few hours, you've probably already noticed the massive white sign on the mountain across the lake that reads 'Penticton'. That sign is built onto the side of an ancient volcano named Mount Muson, and you can actually go right up there.
Getting there is about a 10-minute drive from downtown, and worth the short detour for how little effort it asks of you.
The big draw here is the sign. Built in 1937, the massive white PENTICTON letters are visible from clear across Okanagan Lake, and it's actually larger than the Hollywood sign.
Near the summit, there's also Pen-Henge, a small set of standing stones set up by local astronomers to mark the exact point of sunset during the equinoxes and solstices. It's a strange, low-key thing to stumble upon at the top of a hill.
Parking is free at a small lot at the base, and the walk up to the sign takes about 10 minutes. It's definitely not a hike, but it is a steep walk, and the path is dry and dusty. So you won't need hiking boots, but you might be struggling with flip-flops.
Skaha Beach
Skaha Lake Beach is my favourite beach in Penticton. It sits on Lake Skaha, which is noticeably smaller than Okanagan Lake and warmer because of it.
The water is clean and calm and stays shallow for a long stretch out, so you can wade to chest depth and still have plenty of room to swim. A line of buoys marks where the swimming area ends, and past that there's a steep drop-off where the lake gets deep fast.
It's a busy beach, but it's big enough to absorb the crowds.
There's a building near the centre point of the beach with a concession selling ice cream, fries, and poutine, plus public washrooms with running water and clean change rooms.
The sand runs the full length of the waterfront, backed by a concrete path, and behind that there are grassy areas with picnic tables, benches, trees casting welcome shade, tennis courts, and a playground. It has a fun community feel, with locals and visitors mixed together, which makes it a bit chaotic but in the right way.
Okanagan Lake Beach
This is the main city beach, right downtown, a long sandy stretch where the water stays shallow for ages. A good spot for a towel and a book, and it is walking distance to some of the best accommodations and food options in Penticton.
A waterfront path runs the length of it, giving the area a low-key Venice Beach feel. Pop-up vendors selling ice cream and sunglasses set up along the path sometimes, and across the street there's a full row of businesses built around the beach frontage.
The hotels and motels right on the water are mostly no-frills, but you can't get any closer to the sand. There are bars and restaurants too, several of which advertise to-go cocktails clearly meant to be carried straight onto the beach.
There's also a floating inflatable park out on the water: bounce features, a climbing wall, slides. It looks like it would be fun at any age, though I've only ever seen kids actually out there.
Visit a Brewery
The Okanagan's reputation runs on wine, but if you're not much of a wine drinker, there are nearly as many breweries as there are vineyards to fall back on.
Picking one is the hard part, mostly because there are so many, but it's also hard to go wrong. The menus don't vary much from place to place. Everyone runs seasonal brews plus a few curveballs, a stout here, a radler there. If you're a serious beer drinker, compare menus online first. If you're more like me and think a beer is a beer, just pick based on the patio.
I've worked through most of the breweries in town and order the same hazy pale ale at every one, so for me it comes down to atmosphere, and Cannery Brewing wins that by a wide margin.
They've got what they call the Backyard, a large fenced-in space with picnic tables on artificial turf. It's right alongside the road, but somehow it still feels removed from the city once you're inside it. There's an outdoor bar and a burger truck, so you never need to go inside, which keeps the whole place feeling like a beach day even though there's no water in sight.
Other solid stops if you want to turn it into a bit of a crawl: Neighbourhood Brewing, Yellow Dog, and Highway 97 Brewing.
Bike the KVR Pathway
The Kettle Valley Railway used to be a working train line. It's long since been decommissioned and converted into a multi-use pathway, and because it was built for trains, the grade never exceeds 2%, and the path is wide, even, and about as easy a ride as you'll find anywhere on the island or the interior.
The full KVR runs 650 kilometres from Hope to Castlegar, but don't worry, the most used sections are much more reasonable lengths.
The most popular stretch starts in Penticton and heads toward Naramata, and most people turn around at what's called the 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.
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).
Even if you brought your own bike, it is worth renting an E-bike for this. Even though the path has an intentionally gradual slope, it climbs steadily the entire way and the extra power really helps. The best place to rent from is Epic Cycling Outdoor Adventures. They are based right along the waterfront, which puts you about a 5-minute cycle from the start of the trailhead.
Their bikes are in great condition and have some serious power to them. We rode to Little Tunnel and back and still had around 70% charge on our batteries. The owners are friendly locals and will walk you through how the bike works and everything you need to know about the trail.
Go For Coffee
Wayne & Freda
This is the most popular coffee shop in Penticton. We visited on a weekday, and there was still a line out the door that never let up the entire time we sat on the patio.
They offer a solid selection of baked goods and a few simple sandwiches, but the drinks are the draw. The coffee's good, and in summer they lean into fresh lemonade, smoothies, and iced lattes too.
The line is the first indication of the following they cultivated, and the second clue is the massive amounts of merch they sell. They sell enough mugs, caps, and t-shirts that there's a dedicated gift shop attached to the building.
The patio has a good vibe, with picnic tables shaded by what might be the largest umbrella I've seen. There's indoor seating as well, but they keep the bay doors open all day in summer, so even inside feels more like a three-walled space than a closed-in café.
Soe Cafe
A smaller, quieter option known for matcha lattes, with a standard coffee menu alongside it. The interior is sleek and modern, with a small seating area out on the sidewalk. They've got the usual baked goods too, but this is really a stop for the matcha crowd.
Go For a Hike
Skaha Bluffs
This is by far the most popular hike in the area. It's a 3.5-kilometre trail out and back with about 207 metres of elevation gain, and it'll take you around an hour and a half. Parking at the trailhead is free, and the lot is huge, which is important because there are rock climbing spots, hiking trails, and mountain biking trails that all start from here, so it gets busy.
That drive up is an experience itself. The road up is narrow and winding, essentially single-track in places, the kind of thing you'd find tucked away in the UK. There are spots where two cars can just barely pass each other, and other spots where they flat out can't. Take it slow, and if you end up nose to nose with someone, be patient about figuring out who reverses. Technically, the cars heading up are supposed to yield to the ones coming down, but in reality you will just need to maneuver whichever car will have an easier time backing up to a wider space.
The parking lot used to have a real problem with break-ins. That's mostly sorted now thanks to a donation-supported lot watch group keeping an eye on everyone's vehicles.
The hike itself takes a bit more navigating than the distance suggests. Keep your AllTrails map open the whole way. This whole area is a rock climbing destination, so trails shoot off in every direction toward various climbing spots, and it's easy to drift off your route and end up just standing under a boulder wondering where the path went.
Trail Map
There are two real points of interest: a viewpoint about three-quarters of the way through, and the endpoint looking out at what's labelled Grand Canyon. Honestly, the Grand Canyon view is interesting, but the three-quarter viewpoint is the better one. To actually reach the canyon lookout, the trail stops dead at a massive rockslide, and you have to climb over it to pick the path back up on the other side. It's not technically difficult, but it's a bit much if all you wanted was a nice walk. If that doesn't sound like your day, just turn around at the viewpoint. You'll have gotten most of what this hike has to offer without taking on the hardest part of it.
There are also a few other hikes nearby to consider:
FAQ
What is the best beach in Penticton?
When does the Penticton Farmers Market run?
How long is the KVR bike ride from Penticton to the Little Tunnel?
How difficult is the Skaha Bluffs hike?
What is the Penticton sign on Mount Munson?
Our Trusted Travel Partners
We only recommend products and services we personally use and trust.
SafetyWing
Travel medical insurance for nomads and remote workers
Booking.com
Find the best deals on hotels, apartments, and vacation rentals
AllTrails
Discover hiking trails with detailed maps and reviews
Surfshark
Secure VPN for safe browsing and accessing content worldwide
Get Your Guide
Find the best deals on tours and experiences
Airalo
Prepaid SIM cards for travelers
Trusted Housesitters
Find free accommodation by house and pet sitting worldwide
Wise
Send and receive money internationally with low fees* We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through our affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. We appreciate this support, which helps sustain our blog and allows us to create more content and help more great trips get planned!