12 Best Things To Do In Vernon (2026 BC Local Guide)

If you've been researching Vernon, you might keep seeing Vernon and Coldstream used seemingly interchangeably, which can lead to some confusion. 

Vernon and Coldstream are two separate municipalities, meaning there are 2 mayors and they both collect their own taxes and manage their cities separately. But if you crossed the border (around the south-east of Vernon) on foot, you would never notice. Vernon is the larger city, so a lot of things that are technically in Coldstream, like Juniper Beach and Jade Beach, often get referred to as a part of Vernon.

If you're a proud Coldstreamian, I'm sorry, but for simplicity throughout this article we're going to refer to everything as Vernon. In some ways it matters that Vernon and Coldstream are distinct entities, but realistically if you're visiting from Vancouver or Calgary, you just want to know where the best swim spot and best breweries are, and you're not worried which mayor the sales tax is going to.

This was the highlight of my three-week trip through the Okanagan, and it's actually what put Vernon on my radar in the first place.

The KVR Trail is massive, technically a 650km route running all the way between Hope and Castlegar, but the only stretch that matters for this guide is the section between Kelowna and Vernon.

You could start the ride down in Kelowna if you really wanted to, but honestly you'd just be making the day longer and burning your legs on the least interesting scenery, saving the best part for when you're already tired. Don't do that to yourself.

The best stretch of the whole trail is the final 9km heading into Vernon, hugging the shore of Kalamalka Lake the entire way. If you've got your own bike, you can skip straight to that good part by parking at Kekuli Bay Provincial Park. 

If you don't have a bike with you, Oyama is the best place to start instead. From there it's a flat, easy 18km ride to Vernon, taking about an hour each way, a little less if you've rented an e-bike.

The path is pretty straightforward, but for all the details about renting a bike, the best stops to make, and how to make the most of your time at the end of the trail, check out our Comprehensive Guide for this cycling trip.

Even if you're not biking the KVR, Kal Beach earns its own spot on your itinerary.

This is Vernon's main city beach, and it's the one most people picture when they think of a summer day in town. It's spacious, sandy, and popular, with plenty of room to spread out even when it's busy.

It's bookended nicely too, a cafe and market on one end, and a solid pub on the other. So if you're planning to spend the whole day here, you've got a built-in rhythm to the day: swing by the cafe first thing for your coffee, pop back over to the market whenever you need a cold drink or a snack, and once the sun's gotten to be too much, head down to the other end for a pint and a proper meal on their shaded backyard patio.

This is a 'Mountain' (I put this in brackets because where I'm from on the coast, we call these hills) near the South End of Vernon that gives you amazing views of the valley and Kalamaka Lake. 

The hike itself is pretty easy. It only takes about 10 minutes to get up the hill/mountain from the road and once you're up there, all of the looping and meandering trails have minimal elevation gain.

They also have minimal shade, so pack lots of water and wear a sun hat if you have one because you will be getting roasted the whole time

You will also be getting treated to some amazing views.

It's a hike where the effort-to-reward ratio works in your favour. Right away, you will get sweeping views of Kalamalka Lake to the south. You can see the KVR running along the lake to the right, and you can see Jade/Juniper beaches on the left and Rattlesnake Point jutting out into the water. 

If you do one of the wider loops, you will also get sweeping views of the Valley in all directions, and you can even spot Swan Lake in the distance. 

Park on the street here, and the trailhead is obvious since it sits in a big gap between houses where you can see the trail snaking up back and forth, up the mountain.

This is a bold claim, but Ellison is one of the best campgrounds in BC. And that's saying something, because BC has some serious competition in that department.

There's day-use parking too if camping isn't in the cards, and there's plenty here to fill a full day either way.

The two main draws are the pair of stunning bays. The water in this stretch of the lake runs a bit shallower than elsewhere, which makes it noticeably warmer and gives it that turquoise tint, but the shallower, weedier water also comes with a higher risk of swimmer's itch.

Swimmer's itch is caused by tiny parasites in the water that can burrow into your skin and cause an itchy rash, harmless in the long run but genuinely irritating for a few days. It tends to be worse in shallow, weedy areas and on calm, warm days, so the risk goes up later in the season and closer to shore. Toweling off briskly and rinsing with fresh water right after you get out helps cut down your odds significantly, since the parasites need time on wet skin to burrow in. If you do end up with it, an antihistamine and a bit of calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream will settle it down; scratching just makes it worse and risks infection.

Luckily, there are outdoor showers just off the beach here, so if you're worried about catching swimmers itch, you can take a rinse and towel dry vigorously as prevention. I spent the whole day in and out of the water, and rinsing in the shower and doing a good towel dry worked for me.

Beyond the swimming, there are a few popular rock climbing spots scattered around the park. When we were there we watched someone working their way up one of the sheer cliffs beside the swimming area, and it looked absolutely terrifying from where we were standing…well swimming.

There are also a couple of short hiking trails worth doing. One climbs up onto the rocky outcrop that separates the two bays, and from the top you get a clean view down into both of them at once. 

The other, called the Evening Trail, is a short climb up to a set of rocky bluffs facing west, and it's become a popular little ritual every evening, a mix of freshly showered campers and day trippers timing their exit to catch the sunset before heading out.

If you are camping, this is one of the best set-up BC Parks sites I've stayed at. It still feels properly remote, tucked well away from any residential areas and over 30 minutes from the nearest city, but unlike most BC Parks campgrounds, you're not roughing it much. Multiple flush toilets, clean shower blocks with hot water and actually decent pressure, and drinkable water taps scattered throughout the site, including one right down by the beach.

The one real downside is the walk down to the water. It's short, only 10 to 15 minutes, but it's steep the entire way. Not a dealbreaker by any means, just enough to make forgetting something back at your campsite an annoying reason to make the climb twice.

I lump these lakes together since they share a parking lot and are only a short walk apart.

Both are a bit of a walk in from the lot, and it's a long haul if you're bringing a lot of gear, but there's a nice paved path the whole way. Enough locals do this regularly that you'll notice most of them wheeling their stuff down in little carts instead of carrying it.

The bays sit on Kalamalka Lake, which has this striking turquoise colour that makes the whole area feel more like a stretch of the Adriatic than anything you'd expect to find in the BC interior. There's also more tree cover around here than at most of the other spots on this list, so the surrounding forest is greener and lusher, less of the dry, desert-like look you get elsewhere in the valley.

Because the sun sits on these bays for the entire day, they draw a steady crowd from morning until sundown. 

Juniper Bay is the sandier and generally nicer of the two, so it pulls the bigger numbers. Jade Bay is rockier, which naturally filters out some of the crowds, families, and noise, so it's the better pick if you're just after a quiet spot to relax or launch a paddleboard.

Washrooms are pit toilets only, with two near the parking lot and two more down by Juniper Bay itself.

Past Juniper Bay is the sinister sounding Rattle Snake Point. While there is the potential to run into rattle snakes just about everywhere in the Okanagan, there is no extra risk on this trail, it's just an ominous name. 

Doing the whole loop starting and stopping in the parking lot takes about an hour and a half. It's 4km with about 160m or elevation gain. 

It's a great loop that takes you past Juniper Beach, up to the highest point of Rattle Snake Point that has great views of Kalamaka Lake and all the bay's carved into the little peninsula you're standing on. Taking the loop back you will pass by some more stunning coast line and another cove that is a designated dog beach (humans are allowed too if they're well behaved), and then back to the parking lot.

Personally, I prefer to do this trail as an out and back, starting at the parking lot, passing Juniper Beach, up to the viewpoint, then cutting back down to Juniper for a dip.

There's a lot of European influence and Italian countryside vibes scattered around the Okanagan, all dry hills and rolling vineyards, but nowhere does the comparison ring truer than at Gerni's Farmhouse.

It's an adults-only restaurant, since it sits inside Sparkling Hill Resort, a strictly 16+ property perched at the top of Predator Ridge.

Sparkling Hill itself is a high-end, polished kind of resort, but Gerni's is a nice break from that, teleporting you straight into a low-key Austrian pub experience instead.

The building itself has a wild backstory. Completed in October 2021, Gerni's Farmhouse is an original 16th-century structure from Weerberg, Austria, dismantled in 2019, shipped to Canada, and rebuilt on-site by Holzbau Maier.

The result is an unpretentious little restaurant with a patio overlooking Okanagan Lake from up near the highest point on Predator Ridge, easily one of the better views you'll get with a beer in hand anywhere in the valley.

You don't need to be a guest at the resort to visit. It's a great stop for lunch, or to catch a pint during happy hour, which runs from 2 to 5 pm. They're open daily from 12 pm to 9 pm.

To find it, park in the public lot for Sparkling Hill Resort, then walk through the resort's main entrance, through the lobby, and down the stairs at the back. Gerni's will be on your right from there. If you get turned around, just ask at the front desk; there are usually staff around happy to point you in the right direction.

If the kids were disappointed they couldn't tag along to the Austrian pub, don't worry, they'll like this stop a lot more.

Davison's Orchard has been running since 1933, and admission is completely free.

Hours vary a bit depending on which part of the property you're visiting:

• Market: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
• Farmhouse Café: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
• Old Brick Press: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

There's a lot packed into one stop here: fresh produce, tractor rides, farm-to-table breakfast and lunch at the Farmhouse Café, handmade bakery treats, real fruit ice cream, U-Pick apples and pumpkins in season, a chance to visit the farm animals, and a couple of farm-themed playgrounds, all with free admission for every age.

The cafe sits in a shaded spot and serves the usual lineup of drinks and baked goods, while the main shop inside is stocked with an impressive variety of goods, all made on site and built around whatever's growing on the property that season.

For younger kids, the Crazy Cow Kids Corral is the real highlight. It's a free, one-acre outdoor play area where they can climb through treehouses, race rubber ducks, climb straw bales, dig in the sandbox, and mess around on toy tractors. While they're occupied, parents can grab a treat from the Farmhouse Café or work in a game of tetherball or corn hole before heading over to the animals or the orchard tour.

Speaking of which, the farm tours are a big hit with families, and for the price they're a genuine deal and a fun, immersive way to spend twenty minutes. 

A series of passenger wagons hooked up to a massive tractor hauls everyone through the orchard to see apples, pears, peaches, and plums growing right on the trees, along with a look at the different growth stages of the fruit and a bit of insight into how the farm actually operates. 

Tours run daily in July and August (starting June 26th), 10 am to 4 pm. Kids aged 2 to 12 are $6, adults 13 and up are $10.

There's also a dedicated area where kids can meet the farm animals: sheep, goats, cats, turkeys, and chickens, plus, allegedly, a farm dog somewhere on the property that we never actually managed to spot. Most of the animals will eat right out of your hand, which makes for a great first taste of farm life if your kids haven't had much exposure to it before.

I say this with love, because Vernon is my favourite place in the Okanagan, but downtown is a bit lacklustre.

You can still get a great coffee and a great meal, and it's a perfectly fine place to wander around for an hour, but it doesn't have the same charm as the small lakeside communities scattered around the valley, and it doesn't have the variety or city energy of Kelowna either. It kind of falls into an awkward middle ground between the two.

It's still worth a look though, so go see for yourself and decide if you agree with that assessment.

While you're down there, if you're after coffee, stop by Ratio Coffee & Pastry, and if you're stopping in for lunch or dinner, try OHKIM Sushi for some great Japanese-Korean fusion at a great price.

While we were planning for our 3-week Okanagan trip, we were doing research for everywhere in the area. We would split up our to-do list so that, for example, I'd be in charge of looking up Peachland and Summerland while Alia looked into Naramata and Penticton. It became a running joke during the planning that we would ask each other questions like "So what's the top thing to do in Peachland"... "Well you can do a…wine tour"..."No WAY!!". 

We would fake the enthusiasm because a wine tour was the big common thread across the entire valley. So of course Vernon is no different, and just like every other Okanagan guide we've written, make sure to leave an afternoon free for a tour of the local wineries.

Vernon itself only has one winery within city limits, The Perch Winery, a small, family-run spot with a tasting room and a picnic area, good for an easy, low-key afternoon if you don't want to travel far. 

But the real draw is 20 minutes south in Lake Country, where a cluster of wineries collectively known as The Scenic Sip has built a bit of a reputation of its own. Cool nights, warm days, and the particular geography of the area come together to produce light-bodied reds, crisp whites, and some genuinely good sparkling wine.

Worth building your afternoon around a few of these:

• 50th Parallel Estate Winery, which also runs Block One Restaurant if you want to turn the visit into a proper lunch
• Arrowleaf Cellars
• Gray Monk Estate Winery, one of the older, more established names in the area
• Ex Nihilo Vineyards & Tasting Room
• Blind Tiger Vineyards
• Intrigue Wines
• O'Rourke's Peak Cellars, which also has a garden bistro attached

If you'd rather not worry about driving between tastings, there are plenty of local tour operators who'll handle it for you.

Vernon's downtown is dotted with 28 murals depicting the city's history and culture, and together they form one of the larger collections of public art in Canada. Most of them are within a few blocks of the intersection of 32nd Street and 32nd Avenue, so it's an easy add-on if you're already downtown for coffee or a meal.

The project goes back to 1998, when artist Michelle Loughery brought the idea to the Downtown Vernon Association as a way to revitalize downtown while giving at-risk youth a chance to get involved in community development. A lot of that youth involvement is still visible if you know where to look; some of the murals have sections actually signed by the young people who helped paint them.

Each mural tells its own slice of the city's past, from railway history to the soldiers and pioneers who shaped the area, and one, titled Multiculturalism, depicts early pioneers from Chinese, European, Indigenous, and Japanese backgrounds who all contributed to the growth of the community.

You can absolutely just wander the downtown core on your own and stumble onto them, which is honestly part of the fun, but if you want the full backstory behind each one, the Museum & Archives of Vernon runs guided walking tours starting from the museum steps. 

They typically run 45 to 60 minutes and are best suited to those 12 and up and involve a reasonable level of activity, so bring comfortable shoes, and check ahead since tours need to be pre-booked and won't run without bookings. 

If you'd rather go at your own pace, a downloadable mural map covers the location and story behind each one.

Either way, don't rush it. Pair the walk with a stop at one of the shops or cafes along 30th Avenue, and you've got a relaxed hour or two built right into the middle of your day downtown.

Vernon is actually known as the "Trails Capital of BC", and once you're out on the dirt, it's easy to see why. There's a huge network of riding scattered across the area, everything from mellow, flowy singletrack to more technical, expert-level terrain, so there's a place to ride no matter where your skill level sits.

Kal Park (Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park) has the largest concentration of trails in the greater Vernon area, with something for every rider, from the classic Big Ed loop to the sweeping views off the Lookout trail. From there, trails connect through to Predator Ridge and on to Ellison Provincial Park, so if you're feeling ambitious, you can string together a long day of dry, fast granite singletrack with Okanagan and Kalamalka Lake views the whole way. 

If you're after something bigger, SilverStar Mountain Resort is about 25 minutes from downtown and has lift-accessed trails with over 1,600 vertical feet, along with Canada's second largest bike park.

If you've got your own bike and know your way around a trail map, use this Trailforks link to scope out routes ahead of time and plan your day.

But if you're newer to the sport, or you're intermediate but didn't bring a bike with you, you don't need your own gear to get out there. Several local operators run guided rides with certified coaches, bikes and equipment included, and routes tailored to your comfort level, so you can spend the day working on skills and taking in the lake views instead of worrying about navigation. 

It's a good option if you want the Vernon mountain biking experience without needing to already be dialled in on the local trail network.

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