Skaha Beach
Location: This is the main beach on Skaha Lake and is apart of Skaha Lake Park
Pros: Soft sand, warm water and lots to do
Cons: It can get very busy in peak tourist season
Skaha Beach is one of my personal favourite Penticton beaches. The sand is so clean, the walkout to the water is long and shallow so you can ease in gently. There are slides in the water for kids and floating docks to swim out to. The water is calm and warm – especially in the late summer! There are a few trees for shade along the beach but not a ton so if shade is important definitely bring an umbrella or other shade tent. Compared to Okanagan Lake Beach, Skaha beach can definitely still get busy but the vibes are a little less chaotic.
There are of course also washrooms, change rooms and a concession stand. Tickleberries is the concession stand so if a giant ice cream cone is what you are craving you are at the right beach! The food offerings (hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers) do tend to be a bit expensive.
Because the beach is in Skaha Lake Park there are also playgrounds, beach volleyball courts and tennis courts for those looking to get active. There is also a walking/biking pathway that extends from the west end of the beach at the Skaha Beach parking lot all the way past the marine and up to Rotary Playword and Skaha Park Pond.
Parking at Skaha Beach
There are a few options for parking and it just depends on which end you want to spend most of your time. The good news is all parking here is free!
Skaha Lake Parking off S Beach drive
This is the main parking lot with access to the beach on the west side. It is about a 200m walk to the Tickleberries concession stand but immediate access to sandy beach spots.
Parkview Street
There is also a long row of angled parking spots all along Parkview street. At the end of Parkview street there is also a drop off area, which is convenient for unloading your gear (and children) while looping back to look for a spot. If you arrive early enough these spots are easy to snag but later in the day it is just luck if someone happens to be leaving.
Rotary Playworld off Elm Ave
There is a large parking lot off Elm Ave (intersecting with Parkview street). The parking lot is convenient if you are also hitting up Rotary Playword (the playground) or the spray park. It is about a 400m walk from here down to the main concession stand though there is beach space a bit sooner.
Skaha Marina
There are also a handful of public parking spots in the Skaha Marina. Most of the parking spaces here though are dedicated to trucks with boat trailers.
Activities at Skaka Beach
- Beach promenade for walking/biking/scootering/unicycling
- Beach slides and floating docks
- Rotary Playworld: Large playground and splash park about a 500m walk from the beach depending on where you have parked yourself for the day
- Discovery Park: Natural playground right on the water next to the concession stand)
- Beach volleyball courts
- Basketball courts
- Tennis courts
- Inline hockey court
- Fire pits when restrictions allow
- Boat launch at the Skaha Marina
- Boat Rentals at the Marina through Penticton Boat Club
Food, drink and treats at Skaha Beach
Compared to Okanagan Beach there are only a handful of choices for food and drink options on Skaha Beach.
- Tickleberries concession stand
- Dragonboat Pub at the Marina
- Skaha Lake Convenience Store (about 500m from the beach up Parkview Street)
- Skaha Lake Liquor Store (about 500m from the beach up Parkview Street)
- Gilligan’s Ice Cream (about 300m from the beach up Parkview Street)
- Closest restaurants: KOJO Sushi and Skaha Pizza on Skaha Lake Road
Hotels, motels and campsites at Skaha Beach
There are a handful of motels right along Parkview Street, just steps from Skaha Beach:
These are very close but a bit more of a walk from Skaha Beach:
- Valley Star Motel
- Empire Motel
- Barefoot Beach Resort (yurts and beach houses!)
- Lakeside Villa Inn & Suites
Camping at Skaha Beach
