A campfire ban is currently in effect for this park. For more information about campfire bans and about provincial parks with park closures and campfire bans in effect, visit the BC Parks campfire ban webpage.
Okanagan Lake South campground is closed for the season. Gates will be locked from Nov 21, 2009 to Spring 2010.
Park Info
Beautiful, sandy/pebbly beaches surrounded by ponderosa pine and sagebrush make this park the perfect spot for swimming and water activities. At the two large campgrounds in the park, panoramic views, picnic sites and interpretive programs which run from late June through Labour Day weekend, will add to your enjoyment. The landscape across the lake, from beach to skyline, is part of Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, accessible by boat or by driving back through Kelowna.
For your convenience, during the summer season this park has a concession located at the South campground gatehouse and managed by the Park Facility Operator.
Park Size: 98 hectares
Campground Hours of Operation
All dates are subject to change without notice
Opening and Closing Campground Dates:
(campground is accessible but may not offer full services such as water,
security, etc.)
– South campground
Subject to closure during the winter season
due to heavy snowfall.
– North campground
May 15 – Sept 22, 2009 approximately for the Okanagan
Lake NORTH park only – (gates locked during off-season)
Campground Dates with Full Services and Fees:
– South campground
April 1 – Oct 13, 2009 approximately
– North campground
May 15 – Sept 22, 2009 approximately
Campground Reservable Dates:
– South campground
May 14 – Sept 6, 2009
– North campground
May 15 – Sept 6, 2009
Total Number of Vehicle Accessible Campsites:
South campground = 88
North campround = 80
Number of Reservable Campsites, if applicable:
(all remaining sites are first-come, first-served)
South campground = 60
North campground = 56
Note: The above information is
for the campground only. Park users can still walk into the park
if conditions such as weather permit. Check the "Attention
Visitor Notice" above for park alerts.
General Visitor Information
Special Notes:
Rattlesnakes - The dry grassy hillsides above the campgrounds provide
habitat for a variety of snakes, including rattlesnakes. This is
no reason to avoid the area, just remember to wear heavy pants
and high boots and avoid putting hands and feet into crevices that you
can’t see into. People who encounter rattlesnakes along trails
should detour around them and go on their way. Rattlesnakes will
not chase after people and cannot strike beyond the length of their
body.
History - Created in 1955, this park shows what effective park planning can achieve. In the late fifties, thousands of non-native trees were planted on a barren hillside between the highway and the lake. Today, this area is a natural arboretum and the extensive tree cover is home to various bird types.
Conservation - Though the campground areas are dotted with irrigated lawn and non-native trees, the park still falls into two basic zones with bunchgrass found in exposed areas at low elevations and stands of Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir found in the upper sections. Many wildflowers can be seen along the nature trail away from the more developed areas of the park. Of special note are the Chocolate lily and the Columbian lily.
Wildlife - The close proximity of the highway and the fencing on the uphill side prevent movement of large mammals such as deer into the campground. Though sightings of large mammals may be infrequent, the park still has a variety of wildlife to see. Harmless gopher snakes and colonies of Columbian ground squirrels can be seen along upland hiking trails. Bats are quite common in areas bordering lakes and may be seen from the park, though they generally prefer areas with less human presence. The Western toad and Western painted turtle have been spotted in the park which also provides habitat for a variety of birds such as Cedar waxwings, quail, Northern shafted flickers, Western meadowlarks, hummingbirds and a blue listed bird species, the Lewis’s woodpecker. Insect life is extremely diverse in the park with the Ant Lion being, perhaps, the most interesting. They live buried in conical shaped traps in the sand in ambush for other insects.
All reservable, vehicle accessible
campsites must be reserved through Discover
Camping.
Campsite Reservations: Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available. Reservation sites are pre-assigned by the Park Facility Operator.
Please note:
When booking a reservation for multiple parties, please advise Discover Camping of the specific details (ie number of parties, names of parties, dates required to be reserved etc) if you wish to have sites booked that are adjacent to each other.
The Park Facility Operator will accommodate special requests or requests for adjacent sites whenever possible, but cannot offer any guarantee that sites will be available.
Factors considered by PFO when pre-assigning sites for reservations:
Groups assigned sites close or next to each other.
Filling of 'Special Requests.'
Date when reservation first booked.
Length/type of RV and/or tents.
If children or other special concerns are present.
South park:
Reservation procedures:
Guests with reservations: Upon arrival at the park, register at the gatehouse and then proceed to the pre-assigned campsite.
Guests without reservations: Upon arrival at the park, check in at the gatehouse for sites that may be available on a first-come, first-served basis or for 'One Night Only.' Guests may be required to add their names to a waitlist during peak season.
North park: Reservation procedures:
Guests with reservations: Upon arrival at the park, check the reservation board for pre-assigned campsite number and then proceed to the site.Guests without reservations: Upon arrival at the park, check reservation board for a list of sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests may then select from one of these available unoccupied sites.
Group Camp/Picnic Reservations: No group campsite or group picnic site reservations are accepted at this park.
Contact Info
Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
E-mail address: info@campokanagan.com
Phone: (250) 548-0076 (This is not a campsite reservations number)
Please specify PARK NAME when sending/leaving a message.
For Employment Opportunities, contact Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
Canoeing and kayaking are allowed on Okanagan Lake.
Cycling
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Fishing
Various freshwater fish are available in Okanagan Lake. The daily quota for rainbow trout is 2 (only one over 50cm) and there is no fishing for kokanee. Single barbless hook restriction. See the Freshwater fishing regulations for further details. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
Hiking
There is a 1 km trail that runs along the lake, connecting the two campgrounds. There are self-guided interpretive signs along this trail and another short trail that leads uphill toward the highway and ends at the viewpoint parking lot on the way to the South Campground. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
Pets on Leash
Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement. Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets due to wildlife issues and the potential for problems with bears.
Swimming
There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks. There are swim areas for each park marked with swim buoys. The beach is pebbly and not sandy.
Waterskiing
Okanagan Lake is popular for a wide variety of water sports including waterskiing, windsurfing, boating, fishing and swimming.
Wildlife Viewing
This park offers excellent birdwatching opportunities.
Windsurfing
Okanagan Lake is popular for a wide variety of water sports including waterskiing, windsurfing, boating, fishing and swimming.
Facilities Available At This Park
Boat Launch
There is a double concrete boat launch available at South campground. There are no docks or no tie ups, however houseboats can moor there and are welcome for overnight visits. The site is marked and you will need to pay a camping fee. Not recommended to anchor in front of the park due to strong winds.There is a concrete area where you can walk out to get in the boat, narrow, and not accessible for wheelchairs. There is a paved L-shape turnaround area by the ramp and 12 parking spots.
Campfires
While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead. Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood.Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Drinking Water
Cold water taps are located throughout the park. Taps are shut off during the off-season.
Picnic Areas
This park has a day-use/picnic area with picnic tables, parking area, volleyball area and swing set in the South campground. There is also a day-use area beside the boat launch with five picnic tables, five fire rings, a pit toilet and a tap all in a lawn area shaded by trees. A trail leads from here along the beach toward the campground to another two tables and a gravel platform above the lake.
Day-use Area Vehicle Parking Fee:
$1.00 per vehicle / hour to a maximum of $3.00 per vehicle per/day. For information about yearly parking passes, or further information about parking fees,
click here.
Pit or Flush Toilets
The North Campground has pit toilets located on the campsite terraces and flush toilets in the shower building. The South Campground has a pit toilet at the boat launch and one beside the shower building and flush toilets inside the shower building.
Playground
There is a playground area available at the South campground in this park. A swing set is located on open lawn.
Showers
The shower building at North Campground is found roughly 100m uphill from the beach area beside site 80. Both the men’s and women’s sides have 2 sinks with plug-in above, 1 toilet and 2 shower stalls.
The shower building at South Campground is situated in the middle of the lawn/day-use area within 25m of the beach. On the campground side of the building are a men’s wheelchair and a women’s wheelchair accessible room each containing a sink with plug-in above, toilet and shower stall with a seat and a shower head on a hose for easy use. There are also 2 outdoor showers for rinsing off after swimming. On the lake side of the building are the men’s and women’s washrooms, also wheelchair accessible with paved ramps. The men’s side has 3 urinals, 4 toilets, 3 sinks with plug-ins, and 4 showers with change stalls. The women’s side has 6 toilets, 3 sinks with plug-ins, and 4 showers with change stalls.
Vehicle Accessible Camping
This park offers vehicle accessible campsites in two campgrounds: North Campground and South Campground. Campsite reservations are accepted and first-come, first-served sites are also available.
The North Campground has 80 sites, including nine double sites, 56 of which are reservable from May 15 - Sept 6 and the rest available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is open from May 15 to Sept 22 approx, after which the gate is closed. There is an information shelter listing site availability and a phone down the hill towards the beach. Please follow directional arrows painted onto the pavement as some roads are one-way to provide the best access to the sites. This campground is laid out in a series of three terraces overlooking Okanagan Lake. The sites are large and well spaced with lawn and trees in between for improved privacy. The sites are located only on the lake side of the roads which increases privacy and allows for better views of the lake. The campsite pads are gravel and have fire rings and picnic tables. Wide, well packed trails lead to pit toilets and in between the terraces.
The South Campground has 88 sites, 60 of which are reservable from 14 to Sept 6 with the rest available on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is open and staffed from April 1 to Oct 13. There is a gatehouse at the entrance to the campground where guests must register. The gate is open year round though no services are provided. This is a very different campground than the North Campground. All of the sites are at lake level and very close together though there is variation in site layout. Some sites are long, narrow gravel and back onto the hillside. These sites are close together but still separated by trees and shrubs. Other sites are long, narrow and paved with the picnic table and fire ring located behind the site down three or four concrete stairs to a treed lawn area. A third style is short but wide gravel where a tow vehicle must be parked beside the trailer. These sites are not suitable for motorhomes or long trailers. These sites are separated only by cement parking barriers and are similar to double sites. The beauty of this campground is the easy beach access from all sites and the large treed lawn areas shared by some of the sites. There is a phone by the shower building.
The closest store is the Little Acres Fruit Stand 500m south of the park entrance on Hwy 97. For more services, visit Summerland 11km to the south or Peachland to the north.
Vehicle Accessible Camping Fee: $24.00 per party / night
BC Senior's Rate (Shoulder Season only):
$12.00 per senior's couple/night
Wheelchair Access
The South Campground shower building is wheelchair accessible. The North Campground has fairly steep roads due to the topography of the landscape, which may make is less suitable for wheelchairs than the South Campground.
