The beach in Okanagan Falls is an underrated spot to spend the day in the Okanagan. The town of Okanagan Falls itself is fairly unassuming. It is about 15-20 min south of Penticton along Highway 97 and another 20 min further South to Oliver. The beach in Okanagan Falls is phenomenal! Nestled between two parks with beautiful green space, a playground, splash pad and KVR access to the trestle bridge for a brave jump, Okanagan Falls beach has all the pieces for a perfect beach day.
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Okanagan Falls is bordered by the South end of Skaha Lake. Technically you could boat across the lake from Skaha Beach in Penticton and vice versa. In the summer Skaha Lake is my personal favourite for a swim. While there is plenty of boat activity it is not nearly as busy as Okanagan Lake so the water is clean, calm and warm. Along the waterfront there are two parks by the beach. There is also a long peninsula for walking that splits the beach and parks into two sides.
Kenyon Park
Kenyon Park is home to the John Bell Playground as well as the Spray Park and is located on the west side of the waterfront. The playground is great for kids of all ages and is literally steps from the beach. A fantastic double whammy for parents looking to keep their kids entertained all day as it’s SO easy to switch between the different activities.
Christie Memorial Park
Christie Memorial Park also has a large green space with picnic tables and plenty of large trees for shade. There is a fenced-in dog park at the very end if you want to bring your pup for a swim. On the sand are two full-sized beach volleyball courts so bring a ball and a couple of friends for a game.
Things to do at Okanagan Falls Beach
Aside from your standard beach day fun there are some bonus adventures you can do from the Okanagan Falls beach. First, there’s a little island off the beach on the east side of the beach. You can either walk or swim out to it but I recommend wearing water shoes as it is a bit rocky. Second, there’s the KVR trestle bridge, which is a favourite for bridge jumping! Swim or walk over to the KVR trestle bridge, climb up the secured ladders and jump! The height of the bridge is just high enough to be thrilling but not high enough to feel like you are in any real danger. This is a favourite activity for locals and tourists and there has never been any serious injuries as a result. Jump at your own risk!
Eating at Okanagan Falls Beach
The only real downside to a day at the Okanagan Falls Beach is there isn’t any *super easy* or obvious food options at the beach. There is however a *medium easy* option (Belich’s grocery store, which is literally right behind the beach across 8th ave). Belich’s has an excellent deli section or you can put together your own collection of cheese, crackers and fruit for a little picnic. Other options include ordering takeout from a local restaurant and walking or driving over to pick it up to bring back to the beach.
You might know Okanagan Falls because of Tickleberries ice cream, which is famous for its homemade, creative ice cream flavours. On a warm summer day it is expected to have to wait in a long line to get a taste of Tickleberries ice cream! A trip to Tickleberries is the perfect way to end a beach day in Okanagan Falls. It isn’t necessarily close enough to enjoy ON the beach but is worth checking out for a sweet ending to the day.
Amenities at Okanagan Falls Beach
- Bathrooms and change rooms (two separate locations in either park)
- Free parking on the streets all around the beach (8th ave, Cedar street and 7th ave)
- Picnic tables
- Fenced-in dog beach at the east end of the park
Things to do at Okanagan Falls Beach
- Swimming
- Beach volleyball
- Playground (John Bell Playground)
- Spray Park
- Picnic at the park
- Bridge jumping off the KVR trestle bridge
- Visit the pond at Lion’s Garden Park (at the start of the KVR trail)
- Go for a walk on the KVR trail
Food options nearby
Okanagan Falls is so small that although these aren’t RIGHT on the beach, they are barely more than a 500m walk from the sand. Just send a sacrificial friend or family member for a walk to grab takeout if you forget to pack a picnic!
- Belich’s Grocery store has a great deli and plenty of groceries to put together a picnic
- Bullie’s Pizza is right next to Belich’s and does takeaway pizza and pasta
- KJ Coffee Bar is on Highway 97 with limit hours but has delicious sandwiches and baked goods
- Kettle Valley Pizza and Donair
- OK Falls Hotel has a restaurant that does takeaway
- Falls Restaurant (but who craves Chinese on the beach?!)
- Tickleberries Ice Cream
- There are two liquor and convenience stores on Highway 97
