Information on the NEW West Kelowna BC, formerly Westbank BC

Bordered by mountains to the west and Okanagan Lake to the east, West Kelowna welcomes visitors with a host of attractions, including wineries, golfing, water park, beaches, watersports, 4 nearby ski resorts, Bear Creek Provincial Park, impressive art and antique shops.

Quieter and smaller than Kelowna across the lake, West Kelowna is a popular spot for those who seek a more relaxing experience on Okanagan Lake including, boating, sailing, canoeing, house boating windsurfing and swimming. In winter, snowmobiling, downhill and cross-country skiing.

Before the arrival of white settlers, the area was the home of First Nations people in the Stekatkolxne’ut village, which overlooked Okanagan Lake. Fur traders in the early 1800s used the area as a stopping place, calling it MacDonald’s Plain, after a Hudson’s Bay Company officer. The settlement was renamed Westbank in 1908, due to its location on the west bank of Okanagan Lake. 100 years later in 2008 it was renamed West Kelowna

Location: Located on Highway 97 near the western shore of Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Peachland and 9 miles (14 km) southwest of Kelowna.

• The Valley, stretches from Osoyoos at the US border north to Vernon. Filled with orchards, making it especially appealing in spring when the fruit trees are in full bloom. The best time to pick up some of the valley’s bounty starts in June, the fruit starts ripening, cherries (late June through mid-July), peaches (mid-July through September), pears (August through September), apricots (mid-July through mid-August), plums (September), apples (August through October), and grapes (September through mid-October).
• Fruit aside, winemaking is the in the worlds wine industry spotlight in the Okanagan. British Columbians have long taken inordinate pride in their wines. Ever since the province authorized estate and smaller farmgate wineries, many excellent small wineries have popped up. Tons of quaint wineries set in lush vineyards operate in the Valley. We welcome visitors to sample world class VQA wines while enjoying the scenery of nearby lakes and mountains. Take a self-guided wine tour, and experience the magic first hand.
• Brush up on the pioneer history of the region at the Museum, located on highway 97 South in West Kelowna.
• Visit the annual spring and fall Okanagan Wine Festivals, to enjoy celebrations of wines and fine foods. This will keep you coming back ! Bon Appetite !
• If you’re looking for a short break from the summer heat, Bear Creek Provincial Park may be the place to visit for picnics or a nice day out. Here, 5 minutes from West Kelowna or Westbank, is everything from soft beaches to a wild, rocky canyon. On the lakeshore are beautiful, sandy beaches and a parkland campground with showers and a horseshoe pit. In the open hillside behind the campsites are 23 km of nature trails to explore. Bear Creek flows through the bottom of the tree-walled canyon, bringing with it small flakes of placer gold. Along the trails above the canyon, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir compete with juniper, bunchgrass, and prickly-pear cactus for the area’s meagre rainfall. Below, moistened by the mist rising off the waterfalls, is yet another world, one of maple and birch, wild rose, horsetail, and moss. Wildlife abounds here. The park is located 8 km north of on the west side of Okanagan Lake.
• Fintry Provincial Park, is a getaway with a historical flavour. Located on the west side of Okanagan Lake, its site was the transportation hub of the valley; Hudson’s Bay Company fur brigade traders passed through here. Easy walking through the park will bring you to the waterfalls and deep pools of Shorts Creek, as well as a suspension bridge and the remains of irrigation and power generation structures. Other features from the past are a ferry wharf from which freight boats operated, a preserved Manor house, a caretakers’ house, and several barns. The surrounding hillsides have a canopy of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. In addition to the campsites, there are almost 2 km of waterfront, and a large picnic and day-use area. The park, which is home to black bears, bighorn sheep, deer and bald eagles, offers great outdoor activities, with hiking trails leading to Shorts Creek Canyon. Take Westside Road off Hwy 97 and drive north for 34 km.
• There are Regional Parks from Peachland in the south to Carrs Landing, north of Kelowna on the east shore of the lake. All parks have grassed picnic areas, and most have beaches, play areas and hiking trails. Close by are Shannon Lake Regional Park and Glen Canyon Park.
• Golf: West Kelowna (Westbank) offers two golf courses:
  • Shannon Lake Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course (5,506 yards, par 72) offering panoramic views and a challenge for both beginners and seasoned veterans.
  • 2 Eagles is a grand mid-length, 18-hole course with lakeview scenery, sunny rolling hills, and an outstanding layout designed by architect Les Furber. The Golf Academy encompasses everything you need to improve your golf game. Just 5 minutes from Barona Beach Lakefront Resort