From the patio of Home Block Restaurant at CedarCreek Estate Winery in Kelowna, south central British Columbia, a leafy vineyard slopes toward the blue expanse of Okanagan Lake. To the south, blocks of pinot noir, riesling, gamay noir, and chardonnay climb the hillside. The plate in front of you is equally pastoral. Chef Neil Taylor uses estate-grown herbs and vegetables and sources ingredients from regional farmers and ranchers. A salad might feature eggs courtesy of the restaurant’s flock, honey from the on-site hives, and asparagus from nearby Armstrong.

The city’s agricultural biodiversity and the farm-to-table food philosophy behind its best restaurants are among the reasons Kelowna was named Canada’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. But honest food and excellent wine can be found the length of the Okanagan Valley, which stretches down the interior of BC from Vernon, through Kelowna, and to Osoyoos on the US border.

Highway 97 connects it all and passes orchards, farms, fruit stands, and wineries. The Okanagan Valley has more than 200 wineries, and more than 60 grape varieties thrive across the region thanks to hot summers and a long growing season. The route also parallels four natural, glacier-formed lakes and a chain of extinct volcanoes weathered into hikeable mountains.

Despite its beauty and burgeoning culinary scene, the valley remains under-the-radar and refreshingly unpretentious, especially in the fall. After Labor Day, the crowds shrink, the grape harvest kicks into full swing across vineyards and farms, and it’s possible to pop into a winery for a $10 tasting without a reservation. Here’s how to sample the terroir, from winery to fruit stand, on a fall road trip through BC’s fertile Valleys & Vineyards.

A 3-Day Okanagan Valley Road Trip Through BC Wine Country

okanagan valley road trip

Photo: Destination Canada / Paul Dussault

After landing at Kelowna International Airport, rent a car and head through town and across the floating bridge that spans the lake. It’s a scenic drive along Boucherie Road past vineyards and fruit stands to get to Quails’ Gate Estate Winery for lunch at Old Vines Restaurant, serving farm-to-fork dishes alongside lake views since 1999. The seasonal menu features sustainably sourced seafood from the West Coast; vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, and beets grown on a farm just down the road; and cheese from an Italian cheesemaker in Salmon Arm to the north.

After lunch, drive to the historic Hotel Eldorado, located lakeside in the Mission neighborhood, for early check-in and to meet your driver from Okanagan Wine Country Tours. Let someone else navigate the bucolic byways of East Kelowna on an afternoon tour to four vineyards. East Kelowna Slopes is one of the valley’s 11 wine subregions and includes wineries like The View, located next to an apple orchard, and Tantalus Vineyards, home to Kelowna’s oldest riesling vines.

Uber downtown to Waterfront Wines for dinner. Executive Chef Mark Filatow is also a sommelier, and the restaurant’s wine library features more than 300 local and international vintages chosen to pair with his globally inspired dishes. Back at the hotel, consider a nightcap enjoying lakeside views. You can sip on a Canadian Old Fashioned sweetened with maple syrup and gaze out across the lake at the twinkling lights of West Kelowna.

Featured stops on Day 1

Day 2: Cycling the Kettle Valley Rail Trail through Penticton and Naramata, BC

okanagan valley road trip

Photo: Destination BC / Kari Medig

Grab a to-go coffee from Sandrine French Pastry & Chocolate for the hour-long drive to Penticton along Okanagan Lake. Look for Rattlesnake Island near the lakeside village of Peachland and agile mountain goats roaming the cliffs close to Summerland. Once in Penticton, head to Wayne & Freda for breakfast. The cafe has a large patio perfect for enjoying The Bacon, a breakfast sandwich packed with its namesake protein, cheddar, sprouts, and a free-range egg.

Now you’ll be fueled to pedal part of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail on an e-bike rental from Freedom Bike Shop. The wide, packed-gravel pathway crosses a wooden train trestle, passes wineries and vineyards, and climbs into the rolling hills above Okanagan Lake. Most cyclists tackle the 10-mile one-way ride to Little Tunnel, a passage blasted through granite for the steam locomotives that traveled through before the railway line was decommissioned in the 1970s.

On the return leg, detour into the tiny village of Naramata. Grab a focaccia sandwich and slice of pear cake from Just Baked to eat at the beach, or drop into Terroir Kitchen at Serendipity Winery for a wine tasting and cheese plate.

Check into Penticton Lakeside Resort in the afternoon and take time to enjoy the amenities, including the floating sauna that’s open between October and April, a fitting way to unwind after a morning on two wheels. From the hotel, it’s an easy stroll to Elma for dinner on the waterfront. The Turkish-inspired menu uses local ingredients in inventive ways, such as grilled artichokes with crispy shallots and charred eggplant served with bavette steak.

Featured stops on Day 2

Day 3: Indigenous culture and desert landscapes in Osoyoos, BC

okanagan valley road trip

Photo: Destination BC / Kari Medig

The hour-long drive south to Osoyoos passes numerous wineries and orchards, along with more scenic lakes framed by craggy bluffs on either side of the highway. The landscape grows drier, speckled with sagebrush, as you enter Canada’s only pocket desert.

The town is also home to the Osoyoos Indian Band, part of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. Learn about the band’s history and cultural heritage through exhibits and an immersive theater experience at the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. Outside, interpretive trails weave through the terrain, with signs pointing out native plants, viewpoints, and a reconstructed village with pit houses and tipis.

Next door you’ll find Indigenous-owned and -operated Nk’Mip Cellars and its seasonal patio restaurant Sweetgrass, just in time for lunch. Chef Shawn Cheer creates dishes inspired by Indigenous ingredients and culture, such as bison meatballs with a Saskatoon berry glaze and a sweetgrass-brined turkey sandwich served on fry bread.

On the drive back to Kelowna, be sure to stop and load up on preserves at the many fruit stands outside of Oliver, or stretch your legs along the lakeshore path by the pier in Summerland. Who knows, you might even decide to extend your road trip — there’s far more to Valleys & Vineyards than three days can hold.

Featured stops on Day 3