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Summer in the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia

Plan your summer road trip to the Similkameen Valley — one of British Columbia’s most authentic and naturally rich travel destinations. This is the official visitor guide to the Similkameen Valley, bringing together the best things to do, places to stay, and summer experiences across the region.

Summer is peak season in the valley. Hot, sun-drenched days intensify flavours in the orchards and vineyards. The Similkameen River runs through it all, drawing paddlers, floaters, and anglers to its banks. Mountain trails open up across Manning Park, China Ridge, and Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park, offering everything from gentle lakeside walks to challenging alpine routes.

Travel slows down here. Follow scenic back roads through welcoming small communities, take in the valley’s striking diversity, from the Cascade Range in the west to the desert-like terrain in the east, and reconnect with wide-open spaces under some of BC’s most consistently blue summer skies.

Events bring the community to life! Plan to stay, choose from riverside campsites and cabins, orchard & vineyard guesthouses, Manning Park Resort, private retreats, and family-run motels. End your day beneath star-filled skies in one of Canada’s most naturally diverse valleys. Cathedral Lakes Lodge is open for the 2026 season, June 12-Oct 12.

Princeton’s Outdoor Bronze Sculpture Walk – The community of Princeton anchors the western end of the valley with a distinctive cultural experience. Princeton’s outdoor bronze sculpture collection is one of the most impressive in the BC Interior — a self-guided walk through the community where larger-than-life sculptures tell the stories of the region’s history, wildlife, and people. It’s a family-friendly, walkable experience that pairs naturally with a stop at the Princeton Museum or a meal along the main street before continuing east along Highway 3.

New in 2026: Two Self-Guided Tours

Similkameen Valley Farm Trail — A 25-stop self-guided journey along Highway 3 and Highway 3A from Keremeos, the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada, to Cawston, the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. Follow farm stands lined with just-picked stone fruit, stop at cideries and organic farm stores, dine at farm-to-table restaurants, and stay overnight on working orchards. Pack a cooler — you will fill it.

Sip the Similkameen — A slow-paced wine, cider, spirits and fruit soda road trip through one of BC’s most distinctive wine regions. Seventeen small-batch producers across three scenic routes pour wines shaped by hot days, cool nights, relentless valley winds, and mineral-rich soils — often poured by the winemakers themselves. Tasting rooms are intimate, patios overlook orchards and vineyards, and sweeping valley views; every stop reflects the changing terroir. Pair the Sip the Similkameen Trail with the Farm Trail for the full taste of the valley.

Plan Your Trip to the Similkameen Valley
Looking for ideas? Explore our Top 10 Things to Do in Summer and start building your perfect getaway.

Planning a wedding? The Similkameen Valley offers a unique blend of rural charm, scenic backdrops, and relaxed venues for an unforgettable celebration.

Support the Kettle Valley Railway

The Province of British Columbia announced the decommissioning of approximately 67 km of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (KVR) between the Town of Princeton and the Coquihalla. This section forms part of the Trans Canada Trail network. Decommissioning this corridor would permanently eliminate public access and preclude future restoration of this historic, regionally significant trail.

If you would like to show your support, you can sign the petition here.

The Similkameen Valley is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Similamix and Smelqmix People.

Official visitor website for the Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada, including Cathedral Park, Cawston, Chopaka, Coalmont, Eastgate, Hedley, Keremeos, Manning Park, Olalla, Princeton, Tulameen, and Twin Lakes.