The best camping near Okanagan Falls Provincial Park

The Osoyoos Indian Band manages this compact provincial park on the Indigenous community’s traditional lands in BC’s Okanagan Valley. Bordering the Okanagan River, south of Skaha Lake and the town of Okanagan Falls, sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ Provincial Park is centrally located, whether you’re meandering through the valley’s towns, sampling its wineries, cycling its backroads, or paddling its lakes. The park has 25 vehicle-accessible gravel campsites, with about a third of the sites directly on the river. The partially shaded campground has both flush toilets and pit toilets, and cold water taps for drinking water, but no showers.

1. Book campsite reservations at sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ (Okanagan Falls) Provincial Park online at BC Parks’ Discover Camping website. All sites are reservable from mid-May through early September, and campers can reserve up to 14 nights per calendar year at this park.
2. Discover Camping normally accepts reservations four months in advance, and because the park has just 25 sites, book as early as possible.
3. From April through mid-May and again from early September through mid-October, sites are first-come, first-served. Campers check out at 11am, so when reservations aren’t accepted, arriving in the morning will give you the best chance of nabbing a campsite.

The campgrounds at sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ Provincial Park are open from April through mid-October, and the weather in this mild, dry region is normally pleasant during most of this period. Spring and fall are warm, and the sunny summers can be hot, with temperatures averaging 28°C (82°F), especially in July and August. This area of the Okanagan Valley gets relatively little rain or snow, although nights can hover around freezing in the winter.

• Outside the park, the town of Okanagan Falls has basic shops and services. For a broader selection of shops and restaurants, drive 20 minutes north to Penticton, the central Okanagan’s commercial hub. Alternatively, head 35 minutes south to Osoyoos to pick up what you need.
• If you’re curious to learn about the Osoyoos Indian Band, visit the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos. Run by the Indigenous community, the centre has exhibits and activities about their cultural heritage and the region’s ecology. The band also operates Nk’Mip Cellars, the first Indigenous-owned winery in Canada.
• How do you pronounce sx̌ʷəx̌ʷnitkʷ, the park’s Indigenous name? It’s “s-wuh-wuneet-kw.”