The Best Hikes in Penticton (and Where to Fuel Your Adventures with Local Eats and Drinks)
Penticton, BC, is South Okanagan living at its finest. With picturesque vistas and local culinary gems, Penticton’s outdoor experiences are rewarding in more ways than one. There are ample opportunities to relish in nature’s beauty before rewarding your hard effort at a local restaurant, winery or brewery.
To help guide you, we’ve paired eight of the best hiking trails near Penticton with the best spots to fuel up before or after your adventure.
KVR Trail: Vancouver Place to McCulloch Trestle
Length: 5 km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, packed gravel
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast at The Bench Market before kicking off a day of adventure. Enter the Kettle Valley Rail (KVR) Trail through Vancouver Place, where you can enjoy a stroll, run, or bike with beautiful views of Okanagan Lake, meandering alongside vineyards and orchards. Pass McCulloch Trestle and stop at Abandoned Rail Brewing to enjoy a local craft beer, apple slushie, a snack and games with friends.
Munson Mountain
Length: 1 km round trip
Difficulty: Easy, packed gravel
Get your cameras ready! A quick and easy hike up Munson Mountain will unveil panoramic vistas of the Okanagan Valley along with photo opportunities above the famous PENTICTON sign. This adventure is seamlessly paired with a visit to Three Sisters Winery for a tasting experience or Poplar Grove Winery for lunch or dinner amidst the scenic surroundings.
Naramata Creek Falls
Length: 2.5 km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, unpaved, packed trail
With an enchanting waterfall, the Naramata Creek Falls hike is one of the most refreshing active outdoor experiences in the region. Pack extra socks as you’ll cross through the river a couple of times along the shaded, forested trail. Follow it up by indulging in The Restaurant at Naramata Inn or Eliza Wine Bar, both located at the Naramata Inn, for some local tasty treats.
KVR Trail: Smethurst to Little Tunnel
Length: 9 km round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate, packed gravel
Walk, run, horseback ride, or snowshoe (seasonally, of course) along the KVR Trail with amazing views of Okanagan Lake. Reach your destination at Little Tunnel where you will be rewarded with expansive views down the valley to Skaha Lake and up towards Peachland. Before or after your hike, visit Nichol Vineyard & Estate Winery just down the road from the parking lot or stop by Legend Distilling for a bite, beverage and game of bocce.
Peach Cliff, Okanagan Falls
Length: 4 km round trip, out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
For those who love to work for their reward, embark through the McLean Creek Road trailhead, soak in the vistas of Skaha Lake and take on a steep scramble (hiking poles are recommended) where the view of Okanagan Falls from the top will be well-worth the effort. Treat yourself to wine tastings at Meyer Family Vineyards and Mayhem Wines, or enjoy a well-deserved ice cream at Tickleberry’s.
KVR Trail: Penticton to Okanagan Falls
Length: 14 km one way (28 km round trip)
Difficulty: Easy, groomed gravel / double track / paved roadway
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Skaha Lake as you traverse the well-maintained and scenic KVR Trail from Penticton to Okanagan Falls, commonly enjoyed by bike or ebike. This trail will bring you into Okanagan Falls along a beautiful trestle bridge. Opt to shorten your journey by starting in Kaleden instead, where you can enjoy lunch at the Frog City Café amidst the beautiful Linden Gardens.
Giant’s Head Park, Summerland
Length: 5 km round trip
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Before hitting the trails, take a scenic drive through the Trout Creek area and stock up on delightful fruit rolls and nut brittles from Summerland Sweets for a tasty summit snack. Choose from various trails such as the roadway, Grind Trail, East Ridge Trail, or Friendly Giant Trail—many intersect, so you can try different routes with each visit. Opt to traverse the Upper Loop Trail by driving up Giant’s Head Park Road and parking in the upper lot. Following your hike, visit some of the tasting rooms of Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive, including Dirty Laundry Vineyards, and reward yourself with wine tastings, beer, pizza and smoked meat.
nʕaylintn (McIntyre Bluff), Oliver
Length: 10.5 km round trip, out and back
Difficulty: Moderate, unpaved, packed trail
Enjoy a captivating hike through the scenic beauty of McIntyre Bluff, officially called nʕaylintn. Willowbrook Park, where the trail is located, requires a $5 donation per person. After your invigorating hike, make your way to the vibrant District Wine Village, offering plenty to enjoy with its 12 wineries, a brewery, a distillery and a restaurant.
Find more outdoor adventures and local eats, and plan your trip to Penticton now.
This article was sponsored by Visit Penticton
Penticton is a popular destination for all types of visitors. With our city’s deep roots of agriculture, craft and Indigenous culture and outdoor recreation, Penticton is an iconic destination that needs to be experienced multiple times throughout the year.
