green trees near body of water under blue sky and white clouds during daytime

Kelowna

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, known for its vineyards, orchards and summer days on the water.

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Kelowna sits on the shore of Okanagan Lake, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is the regional seat for Central Okanagan and the largest metropolitan area in the BC Interior, ranking third in the province behind Vancouver and Victoria. The city lies about 400 km east of Vancouver and about 150 km north of the Canada-US border. Its name comes from the Okanagan word for grizzly bear.

The lake, the vineyards and the orchards around town are the main reasons to visit. Summer is hot and dry, with highs in the high 30s °C on at least a few days each summer, which suits beaches, boating and cycling. The Myra Canyon trestles sit on the old Kettle Valley Railway. A 2003 fire destroyed them, and they were rebuilt with smaller beams. Big White and Silver Star are nearby ski resorts for winter. Wildfires have forced evacuations here, including about 30,000 residents in August 2003, so check current fire conditions before you plan outdoor days.

Kelowna in five

Ride Myra Canyon for a half dayTourism Kelowna puts the trail 24 km, about 40 minutes, from downtown. It crosses 18 wooden trestles and two rock tunnels on a 12 km one-way gravel path.Tourism Kelowna
Bring food and water to the trailheadBoth trailheads have parking and pit toilets but no food or water, per Tourism Kelowna. Cyclists typically need 2 to 3 hours and hikers 3 to 4 for the full 24 km round trip.
Book bikes and shuttles from May to OctoberTourism Kelowna says rentals, guided tours and shuttles run from May to October, the trail's most popular months, while the trail itself is open year-round.
Check the wildfire map before lake daysSummer smoke can spoil views and close roads, and the BC Wildfire Service publishes a map of active fires. Check it before you commit to lake days and keep one flexible day.BC Wildfire Service
Leave the wine routes to the Okanagan guideEstates sit around the lake rather than downtown, so tasting and driving do not mix. Book a driver or a tour, and use the Okanagan Valley guide to choose a sub-region first.Okanagan Valley

Things to do in Kelowna

See all attractions in Kelowna

Sight · KelownaOkanagan Lavender & Herb Farm

Landmark · KelownaKelowna Art Walk

Park · KelownaWaterfront Park

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KelownaPut the places you like in Kelowna on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Kelowna International (YLW)
Getting there: Flights from Vancouver and Calgary; or drive inland from the coast
Getting around: Car for wineries and trailheads; downtown is walkable
Best base: Downtown by the water; the Pandosy area for beaches
Time needed: 2 to 3 days; 4 with a winery day and Myra Canyon

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-5°Cold, ski nearby
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-6°Cool, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low-2°Early spring
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low3°Orchard blossom
MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Blossom, mild
JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Warm, lake days
JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Hot, lake season
AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Hot, smoke risk
SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Harvest, warm
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low4°Harvest, cool
NovemberRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Cool, wet
DecemberSnow13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh0°Low-5°Cold, ski nearby

Average daily high and low in Kelowna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kelowna

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 52%
Wind: 4 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Kelowna

05:04 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-7

Today12°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue13°6°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
Wed12°1°19%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 19%.
Thu13°3°22%Thursday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 22%.
Fri16°4°18%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 18%.
Sat11°4°22%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sun14°5°29%Sunday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 29%.

Updated 02:38 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD

Amount

Converted to

CAD · Canadian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Myra Canyon Trestlesabout 40 minutes by roadA flat rail trail over 18 wooden trestles; rent bikes in season.
Wineries around the lakea half or full day by car or tourPair two or three estates with lunch; book a driver for tasting days.Read the guide
The Rockiesa long drive eastThe route east crosses mountain passes, so most visitors fly via Calgary instead; Banff is the park to start with.Read the guide

Before you go to Kelowna

Kelowna hotels and lake staysDowntown, Pandosy or wine countryCheck availability

Winery and Myra Canyon toursGuided days with a driverCompare day trips

eSIM for KelownaData for lake and canyon daysRead the guide

Insurance for BC summer tripsCover for fire and smoke delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Kelowna, checked

Myra Canyon: 18 wooden trestles, two tunnels, 12 km one way; open year-round, most popular May to October; trailheads have no food or water.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

Plan around Kelowna

Okanagan Valley

Wine regions and bases beyond the city

Read the guide British Columbia and the Rockies

Loops from Vancouver through the interior

Read the guide Vancouver

The coast end of an Okanagan loop

Read the guide Banff National Park

The Rockies, reached by road from the interior

Read the guide Getting around Canada

Car hire, trains and long distances

Read the guide All of Canada

eTA, regions, cities and money basics

Read the guide Canada eTA explained

Who needs it and where to apply

Read the guide

Kelowna FAQ

How many days do you need in Kelowna?

Two or three days covers the lake, downtown and Myra Canyon. Add a fourth for wineries so you are not driving between tastings in one afternoon.

Is Kelowna better in summer or fall?

Summer for lake days, fall for the harvest and fewer crowds. August can bring wildfire smoke, so keep an alternate day and check the BC Wildfire Service map.

Do you need a car in Kelowna?

For downtown and the waterfront, no. For Myra Canyon and most wineries, yes, or book a guided tour or shuttle, which Tourism Kelowna says run from May to October.

Is the Myra Canyon trail suitable for families?

Tourism Kelowna says the 12 km one-way gravel path has a gentle grade suited to most fitness levels, and shorter out-and-backs to the first trestles work for families.

When is the best time to visit Kelowna?

June to September for the lake, with September best for harvest and fewer crowds. Spring brings orchard blossom, and winter skiing sits in nearby resorts.