Ministry of Environment - Sun-Oka Beach

Parks Listed Alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Attention Visitors - Important Notice!

There are no park alerts at this time.

Park Info:

Located just south of Summerland, this is one of the most superb beaches in the entire Okanagan. The name is shortened version of "Sunny Okanagan."

The park provides outstanding beach, waterplay and picnic opportunities as well as fantastic views down Okanagan Lake.

For your convenience, during the summer season this park has a concession managed by the Park Facility Operator.

Special Features:

Old growth cottonwood is rapidly disappearing in the Okanagan Valley. The remnant protected in the park is important. Trails along Trout Creek access the edges of the old growth. Further development is not planned as it could be detrimental to forest health and public safety.

Park Size: 30 hectares

Special Notes:

Management Planning:

Management Planning Information

The Purpose Statement and Zoning Plan are now available online (102kb pdf).

Location:

Location Map

3 km south of Summerland off Hwy 97.

Map/Brochure:

Any maps listed are for information only - they may not represent legal boundaries and should not be used for navigation.

There are no digital maps or brochures for this park.
Location Map

Nature & Culture:

Conservation - A small portion of rare old growth cottonwood riparian habitat adjacent to Trout Creek is protected. The cottonwoods and associated wetland thickets provide food and shelter for a variety of birds, insects and small mammals. Bird seen in the area include the Northern oriole, warbling vireos and the blue-listed Lewis’s woodpecker. The park also conserves 558m of shoreline and 100m of Okanagan Lake foreshore.

Visitor Safety:

Visitor Safety Information (park safety, hazards, wildlife safety information, health risks)

Reservations:For parks that accept reservations, all vehicle accessible campsites (with the exception of
group sites) must be reserved through Discover Camping. No camping at this park.

Explore Parks: Fees, park listings, what you should know before you go and other useful links.

Contact Information:

Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
E-mail address: info@campokanagan.com
Phone: (250) 548-0076
Please specify PARK NAME when sending message.
For Employment Opportunities, contact Kaloya Contracting Ltd.

Phone: 250 548-0076

Click here to view a non-government web link, for additional information.

	No vehicle accessible camping facilities at this park.
	No wilderness, backcountry or walk-in camping.
	There is no group camping areas available in this park.
	Park Open/Closing Dates: Mar 28 - Oct 30, 2008 approx (gates locked during off season) Full Services in effect: May 1 - Sept 30, 2008 approx This park has a group picnic site just off the eastern parking lot. It consists of 10 picnic tables in a large circle. They are on cement pads which, in turn, are on gravel. There is a central fire ring and also a tap. The area is away from the beach, shaded by trees and backed by thick shrubs. This park has a wonderful day-use/picnic area, with some 90 picnic tables and 500m of fine sand beach, that is very popular with area residents. There are five adjoining parking lots for 200 cars separated by irrigated lawn and large shade trees to keep most vehicles from getting to hot while parked. There is a separate parking area for trailers and RVs. A short (30m) walk along paved access leads from the parking area to the cement toilet/change building and concession and then to the beach. A 3m strip of pavement surrounds the 380 square meter building which is separated from the beach by a stone retaining wall complete with juniper bushes in planters at either end. A set of eight concrete stairs leads down to the beach from either end of the building. There are two benches on a small strip of lawn in front of the building and a phone on the west side. A meter and a half wide paved path parallels the beach to the west of the building for roughly 150m. It accesses the beach and a strip of picnic tables. The tables on the beach are set on cement pads and shaded by Ponderosa pine trees while the tables on the lawn on the other side of the path are shaded by deciduous trees. The beach is very popular with boaters and a large section of it has been designated for their use: from roughly 100m along the path to the western end of the beach is for boaters only. There are picnic tables, two fire rings and a volleyball net in this area. Ski boats are reminded to enter and exit the beach in a clockwise direction. No anchors within 100m of the beach due to the water intake pipe; boats can beach. A similar paved path parallels the beach to the east of the change building for roughly 120m. There are more tables on the beach on this side. These tables are less shaded with fewer Ponderosa pine trees present. Some of the tables have BBQ attachments and there are two fire rings. The lawn area on this side is smaller and blends into shrubs and forest. There are five very shaded tables in the shrubs with no lake view. 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.
	There are four wheelchair accessible picnic tables and one wheel chair accessible pit toilet in the park. The change building is also wheelchair accessible.
	The park uses water from a well. There are taps in the change building as well two fountains beside it and another on the beach to the east. Another tap is on the beach to the west.
	Two pit toilets, one of them the wheelchair accessible toilet mentioned above, are located by the adventure playground to the west of the change building and beyond that in the area designated for boaters. Flush toilets are located in the change building. Pit toilet use only after September 30th (or sooner due to weather conditions).
	No showers.
	No sani-station/dump facilities.
	Campfires are permitted in the designated fire pits. Firewood can be purchased from the Park Facility Operator or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary. To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don't gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park. Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil. You can conserve firewood and air quality by keeping your campfire small. Limited burning hours or campfire bans may be implemented and some parks may use communal fire rings. Be prepared to bring a portable stove for cooking.
	There are no electrical hook-ups in this park
	There are no scheduled interpretation programs at this park.
	A small path leads 200m from the main beach to the pet beach..
	This park has an adventure playground set in sand and surrounded by grass. It is just off the beach on the western side of the change building. There is also a swing set with three swings and a tire. Four benches have been set up beside the playground for use by parents supervising their children. The benches look south past the beach and down the lake.
	The large, south facing bay at Sun Oka is great for swimming. The sandy lake bottom makes getting in and out of the water easy. The large area is marked with swim buoys. Use caution when swimming near the buoys since there are often many motorboats and jet skis in the area. There are no lifeguards on duty at provincial parks.
	Paddle boats are available on site for public rental. For more information, please contact the Park Facility Operator.
	There is no boat launch available at this park.
	Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence.
	Cycling is not permitted.
	No horseback riding.
	Pets/domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in the main beach areas or park buildings. There is a separate pet beach around the point to the east of the main beach. It is accessed by a 200m trail through the edge of the old growth cottonwoods. The pebbly beach extends east to where Trout Creek enters the lake. Access is also possible from a trail along Trout Creek. There are no facilities at this beach though it is still busy with local dog owners. There is no overnight mooring, no fires on the beach and no swim buoys are in place to designate a swimming area. You are responsible for your pet’s 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.
	No wildlife viewing opportunities.
	No winter recreation opportunities.
	There are snorkelling opportunities at the beach.
	No windsurfing opportunities.
	The designated boating beach is a great spot to start waterskiing from.
	No hunting in the park.
	No climbing or rock climbing opportunities.
	No spelunking or caving opportunities.
	No cabins, yurts or lodges for public use.