Manning Park | Princeton | Tulameen | Coalmont | Hedley | Keremeos | Cawston Similkameen Valley Travel Experiences Guide
British Columbia | Canada | SimilkameenValley.com Play in our mountains and rivers and discover an unbridled wilderness with adventures as wide as our western skies
RUGGED.
Main image: Paddling Lightning Lake in Manning Park Park near Princeton
Inset right: Exploring the mountain biking trails at China Ridge RUSTIC. REAL.
Discover the allure of the Similkameen Valley where the opportunities for adventure are larger than you could imagine
Main image: The Red Bridge outside Keremeos is an unmistakeable landmark
Inset left: During the hot days of summer floating the Similkameen River is a cool place to be RUGGED. RUSTIC. REAL. CONTENTS
Twitter: @SimilkameenVall Facebook: SimilkameenValleyBC What’s Instagram: @GoSimilkameen Inside 9 Our Story
14 Similkameen Brown Bridge, Princeton Must Do List!
Taste the Similkameen 24 Map
32 Our Communities
34 Food + Wine to Savour
45 Events Family fun in the sun
All photography by Darren Robinson © unless otherwise stated.
Main image this page: Tulameen Falls near Princeton accessible only by unmarked trails. Front cover main image: The Similkameen River outside Hedley. Front cover inset: Entertainers at The Grist SimilkameenValley.com Mill, Keremeos. Award winning wine country Copyright 2018 © Similkameen Valley Planning Society. A partnership of Black Press, Similkameen Valley Planning Society (SVPS) and Thompson Okanagan Tourism (TOTA). Project Management: Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Princeton 169 Bridge Street, Princeton, BC | 250.295.0235 Design: Roger Handling terrafda.com Keremeos 417 – 7th Avenue, Keremeos, BC | 250.499.5225 Copywriting: Darcy Nybo alwayswrite.ca Advertising sales, ad design, printing and distribution by: Keremeos Review and Seasonal Information Booth Similkameen Spotlight, divisions of Black Press.
Hedley 712 Daly Avenue, Hedley, BC | 250.292.8787 SUPER, NATURAL BRITISH COLUMBIA and VISITOR CENTRE and all associated logos are registered trademarks of Destination BC. Printed in Canada [email protected] 6 | www.SimilkameenValley.com www.SimilkameenValley.com | 7 The Essence Our Story
The Similkameen River is the heart of our Valley, here we offer something just a little different. This is our story...
Holiday makers play touch football on the beach at Bromley Rock near Princeton
8 | www.SimilkameenValley.com THE ESSENCE OF THE VALLEY OUR STORY Fine Dining in a Relaxed Atmosphere Carved by the River
Imagine the tales you’ll that morph into semi-arid tell after a visit to the grasslands. Take your time, Similkameen to experience breathe it in, feel the sun, the history, the places, and and taste the bounty of our the people. Come explore valley. the stunning scenery of The best way to explore this rugged and rustic land is to follow the river that and the welcoming spirit runs through the heart of • Steak of the people. Spread your our valley. It’s where you’ll wings in the Similkameen find us, floating by Bromley • Greek Always photogenic — and uncover local lore told Rock, fishing, picnicking the Similkameen River Welcome by the very pioneers who and relishing the beauty near Hedley • Pasta continue to shape our story. of where we live. We’ve been happy to share it with • Pizza The Heart of Our Valley generations of travellers. Discovery Centre, and from our local experts. Gaze The Similkameen’s raw, We’d love to share it with Princeton’s unique Museum. in awe as you stand under • Homemade desserts natural beauty is a reminder you. Marvel as our curators bring a 100-year-old apple tree. of how powerful water can the past to life. At the Grist Savour the flavours of multi- be. Marvel at this valley History, Legends and Mill and Gardens our stories generational organic farms, • Take Out Available carved by the Similkameen Lore are set to music at their orchards and vineyards. River over 200 million years Legends abound of the summer concert series. The Discover sustainable • Gluten Free Options ago as it made its way down Similkameen First Nation, South Similkameen Museum farming with a tour and the Cascade Mountains. All the Granite Creek Gold Rush in Keremeos has recently lunch at Harker’s Organics around you will see open in Coalmont, and the days been moved. Ask at the in Cawston, or shop at 117 Bridge St., Princeton 250.295.6644 ranchlands and meadows of the Hudson Bay Brigade. Visitor Centre for location Parsons Farm Market in of alfalfa waving in the Listen to our stories unfold and hours. Keremeos. breeze, with craggy cliffs, at the Hedley Heritage See, taste and learn about Our history is steeped in lush orchards, and vineyards Museum, the Snaza’ist the Lower Similkameen exploration and discovery. ➤
A hiker rests while overlooking the Tulameen River just outside Princeton.
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Electric Car Charging – 169 Bridge St., EV Plug Recharge your own (J1772), CHAdeMO DCFC, Study up on the Similkameen Nation at the Snaza’ist Discovery Centre in Hedley batteries as your car is being 2 Tesla Model S / Model Xs, charged. Take your time at CCS DCFC ports. a wine tasting or explore Vermillion Fork Restaurant the shops and businesses – 157 Vermillion Ave., Tesla of downtown. There are Model S / Model X ports. Driving the valley is a beautiful trip charging stations throughout the Similkameen Valley. KEREMEOS – LEVEL 2 connect to Hwy 5A, which Most are free, some charge AND DC FAST Getting Here takes you south to the by the hour, others are by Keremeos Municipal Hall, Similkameen. Travellers donation. 702 4 St., CHAdeMO DCFC, The Crowsnest Highway from Calgary, AB can get CCS DCFC ports, $0.35/ (BC Hwy 3) runs straight here from BC Hwy 3A MANNING PARK RESORT kWh. Use the Greenlots through the Similkameen which links the Crowsnest – DC FAST RFID card to activate. Valley. It travels from to Penticton. From the Manning Park Resort, 7500 Clos du Soleil Winery, Manning Park to Osoyoos US, enter the valley at the Hwy #3, CHAdeMO DCFC, 2568 Upper Bench Road, EV in the Thompson-Okanagan junction of Highways 97 and CCS DCFC ports Plug (J1772), Tesla Model S Region of BC’s Interior. The 3 near Osoyoos. / Model X ports. valley is 180 km (112 mi) PRINCETON – LEVEL 2 CAWSTON – LEVEL 2 end to end. Hours to Drive AND DC FAST You can access BC Princeton Plaza, 114 Seven Stones Winery, 1143 Highway 3 from Vancouver, Calgary to Princeton 9 hrs Tappton Avenue, CHAdeMO Hwy 3, Tesla Model S / BC via the Trans-Canada Kamloops to Princeton 2 hrs DCFC, CCS DCFC ports. Model X ports Highway 1 in Hope. From Open 24 hours, $0.35/kWh. Kelowna to Princeton 2 hrs Jasper, AB, drive west on Greenlots RFID or App Find your closest Walk in the footsteps of our food, rodeos and aboriginal Hwy 16 to Hwy 5. Then Vancouver to Princeton 3.5 hrs required. Station ID #33084 charging station online at pioneers, fur traders and Mountain goats can be seen dancers, fiddle players and drive south to Merritt, and Princeton Visitor Centre pluginbc.ca or tesla.com. prospectors. In Princeton, throughout the valley celebrated Canadian names hike the gentle railway and rising acts. grades of the historic Kettle Springtime is rodeo Valley Rail Trail, a part of season, when the dusty air the Great Trail. Create your is alive with the scent of own legends filled with BBQ sauce and bulls at the grit and adventure along Chopaka Rodeo, the Elk’s the wilderness trails of Rodeo, and Princeton’s Stan China Ridge, Manning Park, Thompson Memorial Rodeo. Cathedral Lake Park, and Come see our cowboys in the Hudson Bay Company action. Brigade Trail. Be serenaded at the Grist Mill and Gardens summer Slow Down – You’re in concert series featuring Come and visit any time. Wow to the Princeton Show Canadian name and rising the Similkameen plenty of wildlife live here, ’N Shine. In the fall taste Time moves a little slower acts. Watch as Princeton’s including eagles, deer, elk, your way across the lower Veterans Square Gazebo in the Similkameen. Feel moose, bear, mountain part of the valley at our free to wave as you explore comes alive in summer goats and big horn sheep. In harvest events, sample our with an art and music the valley, we love to wave winter visit Manning Park award-winning wines, and back. Ask for directions, experience every Saturday. for alpine and cross-country sink your teeth into just- Purchase some local art at we enjoy helping people skiing, snowshoe and cross- baked pies made of fruit get to their next adventure. the Sunflower Gallery or country ski the China Ridge picked that morning. the Red Post Art Gallery in We may even tell you a Trails or try ice fishing in bit about ourselves, our Princeton. Celebrate the one of our many lakes. In Connect to Our Arts ancestors, and how we Traditional Music Festival spring our valley blooms and Culture when it hits the streets of came to live in this exquisite with colour and our rodeos valley. Our unforgettable Explore a cultural arts scene Princeton in August, or thrill. Take in countless as varied as the landscapes explore the richness of our experiences may surprise summer events from wine you, but our hospitality of the Similkameen Valley, rural life at Princeton’s festivals to endurance races, bursting with music and Agricultural Fall Fair. won’t. from a First Nations Pow
12 | www.SimilkameenValley.com www.SimilkameenValley.com | 13 ATTRACTIONS SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST ATTRACTIONS Immerse yourself in the Similkameen River The Similkameen River is the heart Swimming spots on the of our valley. It’s what connects river are numerous our communities, from its western headwaters in Manning Park to Cawston, just above the US border. Listen carefully and you can hear the echoes of our past and the promise Similkameen Valley of our future. Paddle, swim or just pick a spot on the river to fish for trout. Relax and enjoy a lazy day on Where will your hike take you? the Similkameen River. Think adventure, think relaxation . . . think Must Do List Similkameen River. China Ridge Hike it, bike it, ride it, ski it, or snowshoe it. Enjoy 55 Bird’s eye views at Cathedral Lakes km (34 mi) of uncrowded trails by foot, on your your camp beside mountain bike, your horse, a jewel-toned lake. your cross-country skis or Watch in wonder as your snowshoes. The great rainbow trout jump outdoors beckons you to and shimmer in the come out to China Ridge sun. Drift off to sleep Trails and play in the woods When you want to get out into to the haunting call in Princeton’s backyard. of the loons. You These trails are great for can spend the night day use; however, there the great outdoors, this is the under the stars by a is no water up at China campfire or retire in Ridge, so you’ll need to place to do it. The mountains, comfort at Cathedral bring your own with you. rivers and valleys beckon you Lakes Lodge. chinaridgetrails.com to come camp, fish, paddle, float, hike, and bike along the TOP THINGS TO DO scenic Similkameen River. 1. Join us in celebrations and events throughout the valley 2. Chat with owners & winemakers about our terroir along our wine route Hike, bike, or ride your way Quiniscoe Lake, the Shangri- 3. Spend the day floating down the Similkameen River up to some of the world’s La of the Similkameen. 4. Take in an event, workshop, tour or concert at the Grist Mill and Gardens most stunning panoramic Hike the cool ridge, made views. Make your way up 16 smooth by the last Ice Age. 5. Hike or bike the Kettle Valley Rail/Trans Canada Trails in Princeton kilometres (10 mi) of trails Take your time on well- 6. Taste your way across the Similkameen at our harvest celebrations to Cathedral Lakes with a marked trails filled with 7. Hike, ski or snowshoe in Manning Park, Cathedral Lakes and China Ridge change in elevation of 540 awe-inspiring scenes of m (1800 ft). Remember to blossoming alpine meadows, 8. Fish our lakes and rivers in all four seasons for Rainbow and Brook trout breathe as you scan the tumbling waterfalls, and 9. Buy organic in Cawston, the Organic Capital of Canada and visit skyline and take in the striking rock faces. Keremeos, Canada’s Fruit Stand Capital No matter what outdoor activity you are planning, be sparkling sapphire lakes and This old growth forest 10. Play a round of golf at Princeton’s challenging 18-hole course. prepared. Follow the three Ts – trip planning, training, jagged mountain peaks. This is home to mountain and taking the essentials. AdventureSmart is a great bird’s eye view is well worth goats, California Bighorn 11. Discover our storied past at Princeton, Hedley and Keremeos museums the journey to get here. sheep, mule deer and the resource to help you get informed before heading Float fishing in 12. Relax and enjoy the beauty while photographing Swan Lake Bird Your adventures begin at rare Arctic Ptarmigan. outdoors. (adventuresmart.ca). Manning Park Sanctuary in Princeton 2,073 metres (6,800 ft.) near Stay awhile and make
14 | www.SimilkameenValley.com www.SimilkameenValley.com | 15 SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST ATTRACTIONS Bike the Rail Trail at China Ridge This scenic ride is a 30 and dips, and around riders alike who want km (18 mi) loop that trees and rocks as you to spend time exploring follows the Tulameen ride. Your reward is nature on their bikes. River, through two the picturesque White Grab your friends and tunnels and over three Sands Beach along the family and have an bridges and brings Tulameen River. Make adventure in the great you right back into sure you pack a picnic outdoors. Please make Princeton. The Rail Trail lunch, or a snack, and sure your bike has begins on the China bring your bathing suit. mountain bike tires to Ridge Trail network There’s an incredible get the most out of our and connects with the swimming hole complete trails. There is a shuttle historic Kettle Valley Rail with a sandy beach service but arrangement Trail (part of the Great where you can relax must be made in Trail). before you head back on advance. For more The trail meanders the 18 km (11 mi) ride info, visit the Princeton down a gorgeous to Princeton along the Visitor Centre right in south facing slope of Kettle Valley Rail Trail. the heart of Princeton. deciduous and evergreen This intermediate Email visitorinfo@ Explore the Great Trail trees. Make your way (blue) trail was created princeton.ca or go online and China Ridge through deadfalls for regular and hard core to chinaridgetrails.com
River Fun – Float and swim the day away Guided Tours
to PY Point, then on to – by land or air Bromley Rock. Make a Bromley Rock Let our guides show day of it and float near you the way. Hop in an Keremeos’ Red Bridge, air-conditioned van and or at Kobau Park in meander your way from Cawston. There is a winery to winery as the shuttle service here; experts show you a good however, arrangements time! For something must be made in different, take a helicopter advance. Contact the tour and see the valley Visitor Centre for from above. Several of our information. wineries have helipads Between Princeton so you can get a bird’s and Hedley is Bromley eye view of the valley Rock Provincial Park. and stunning views of the It is renowned for vineyards below. See our its swimming, sandy directory online or contact waters of the Similkameen riverside and a 50-foot the Visitor Centre nearest Locals do it, kids do it, River. Take your kayak boulder that rises from the you for more information. adults do it, even dogs do it! or canoe and spend a river. Plan a picnic and then What are you waiting for? day or two exploring float your day away. This Just do it! Take the plunge the Similkameen from peaceful rest stop was once and beat the summer heat. Princeton’s Bridge of a traditional fishing ground Experience a long-standing Dreams to Keremeos’ Red for the Similkameen First summer tradition—floating Bridge and beyond to the Nation. Today, it’s a place to and swimming in the Chopaka Wooden Bridge cool off and make a summer Similkameen and Tulameen It’s easy to let go of your memory. rivers. cares as you drift between Relax in our rivers. It’s Adventure along the Princeton’s old Brown part of what makes your Similkameen experience Learn about our terroir and shoreline, paddle the Bridge and the Bridge of its unique wines surface, or jump into the Dreams. You can go further rugged, rustic and real.
16 | www.SimilkameenValley.com www.SimilkameenValley.com | 17 SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY MUST DO LIST ATTRACTIONS Play in the Wilderness of Manning Park There are plenty of activities the sights of the hills and year-round to keep you jagged peaks as they roll busy in Manning Park’s towards the horizon. At vast wilderness of 83,671 night, it’s a great spot for hectares. star gazing. Throughout the spring, Take in an event like summer and fall, come Spring Fest in March and the enjoy the wildflowers, the Lantern Festival in August. wildlife, the fishing, and the There are plenty of places Take a walk to Princeton’s Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary hiking and mountain biking here to rest your head and trails. There are trails here get a good night’s sleep. for beginner to experienced Manning Park Lodge has hikers. Go for an hour or queen rooms, new premium Take a Walk take the entire day. In the cabins, chalets and a large winter, spend your days 50+ group facility called the Hike, walk or ramble your snowshoeing and skiing Last Resort. way along the scenic trails (both Nordic and Alpine) Manning Park is three of the Similkameen. With or go tubing at the Polar hours from Vancouver or the hikes both on and off the Coaster Park. Okanagan Valley and a mere grid, there’s a path for Take a drive up the paved 45 minutes from Princeton. travellers of all abilities. and winding road to the manningpark.com Princeton’s Swan Lake Bird Hike Manning Park’s pristine trails Cascade Lookout. Soak up Sanctuary offers visitors marked trails, bird blinds, a kettle lake surrounded by a riparian zone, and an abundance of wildflowers Orchards and Fruit Stands and wildlife. Cameras are a Join the growing number a piece of fresh-baked pie first cultivated right here must here! of home cooks and made from just about every in Cawston in the 1990s. Marked trails wind professional chefs who tree fruit you can imagine. If you’re not travelling through Manning Park journey to Canada’s Fruit Try one made with our as far as Keremeos and and Cathedral Lakes Park Stand Capital to buy our sweet Ambrosia apple, a Cawston, shop our smaller leading to storybook organic produce. Pick up chance seedling that was weekly farmers’ markets in landscapes and awe- ingredients for an old family Princeton and Hedley. inspiring views. Princeton’s recipe, or for a picnic as China Ridge Trails offer a you wander the fruit stands welcome escape in nature and farm-side markets that close to town. dot the landscape between Walk in the footsteps of Keremeos and Cawston. our earliest explorers on Linger a while and you 160 km (99 mi) of heritage may meet up with growers trails in Princeton and happy to chat about their surrounding communities. crops. Choose from over Link to our past on the 200 kinds of peppers and Kettle Valley Rail Trail. Learn more than 30 varieties the secrets of the 74 km (46 of field-grown heirloom mi) Hudson Bay Company tomatoes, dozens of types 1849 Trail which runs from of cherries and plenty of Tulameen to Hope. pumpkins, gourds and You can take short hikes corn. to reacquaint yourself with It’s a kaleidoscope Keremeos fruit stands of colour from spring – where fresh means Mother Nature or pack your picked that morning overnight camping gear until fall. Our landmark and make it an expedition! fruit stands are where You’re sure to have an you’ll find just-picked adventure as dramatic as the produce and locally- landscape surrounding you. made preserves. Bite into
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McCaffrey, and Dry lakes. places to start your next fish Four Season Fishing Ice fishing on most of story. Grab your tackle box To Merritt our Princeton lakes starts and BC Fishing Licence; Fish during all four the Princeton–Summerland D in mid-December and runs cast about in our waters and rincet n rea s en r e seasons and you are sure backroad and drink in Boat Launch Crater Lake through to March. This is you’ll soon be hooked on Kidd Lake Alleyne to have some great fish the glories of the great Biking mountain country so be the Similkameen. Visit the ishin a Lake Kentucky Alleyne stories to take home. The outdoors while you’re Provincial Park prepared with the right gear Princeton Outdoor Supply Shea Lake Camping Similkameen is one of waiting for something to Kentucky Lake and you’ll have a whopper store for directions to where 97C Canoeing/Kayaking the best spots to angle for bite. Otter Lake in Tulameen Tahla Lake Loon Lake of a story to take home. the fish are biting! trout, mountain whitefish is the largest lake in the Boss Lake Fishing There are literally Davis Lake Bluey Lake and the elusive west slope Similkameen and a favourite 5 5A Okanagan Connector Golf hundreds of cutthroat. Anglers have been spot for locals. The only Hiking lured to our rivers and lakes competition you’ll find Horseback Riding T M since time immemorial. here are the raptors fishing Buck Lake Fishing from the shores Coalmont Road RV Site Fresh water fishing is easily alongside you. See inset map at right Whitehead Lake of Kentucky Lake near Skiing, XC D accessible from many sites Cast your rod in the Missezula Princeton Larry Lake rincet nTeepee Lakes rea s en r e Hook Lake Lake Snowmobiling along BC Highways 3 and Ashnola, Tulameen or Cli ord Lake L Thalia Lake Green Lake Vinson Lake Crater Lake 5A; there’s plenty to catch Similkameen Rivers and Rickey Lake Ketchan Swimming Alleyne Gladstone Lake Kidd Lake Lodwick Lake Lake ishin a Lake in Similkameen waters no angle for rainbows and Summit Lake Taylor Lake Tubing K A Hornet Lake Goose Lake Eastmere & matter what the season. mountain whitefish. With Deadman Lake Shea Lake Wildlife Viewing Brook Lake Stoney Lake Westmere Imagine a relaxing day fast running currents and Prosser Lake Lakes Kentucky Lake Johnny Lake K with a handtied fly, dry deep watery pools, the only Andys Lake Harvey Hall Lake Kump Lake Loon Lake 97C hip waders and the sweet thing to distract you from Robertson Lake Mystery Lake McDiarmid Lake Spukune Lake dream of landing the “big landing the big one is the Stringer Lake Osprey Lake Bluey Lake 5 Link Lake Thirsk Lake O one.” Allison Lake near breathtaking scenery. Butler Lake Princeton is teeming with Head out to cattle country Allison Lake Chain Lake Gill Lake rainbow trout. Drop your around Princeton where Thynne Lake Borgeson Lake Allison Lake Rampart Lake line in the secluded Chain, the fish are always biting Provincial Park Osprey or Link lakes along in Allison, Otter, McKenzie, Dry Lake Buck Lake V S Laird Lake Pike Mountain Lakes Inset Whitehead Lake Frembd Lake McCa ery Lake S
Fly fishing for ranbow trout in the Road Coalmont Missezula Silmilkameen River by the Red Bridge just 5A Hook Lake Teepee Lakes Larry Lake Lake S outside Keremeos Vinson Lake Otter Lake Cli ord Lake Green Lake Provincial Park Thalia Lake Ketchan S Otter Lake Rickey Gladstone Lake Lake Trans Canada Trail 5A Kettle Valley Railway & Lake Summit Lake Taylor T Lake Hornet Lake Murphy Lake a een Goose Lake Eastmere & Lodwick Deadman Lake Westmere V Princeton Summerland Road Stoney Lake Lake Kettle Valley Railway & Prosser Lake Lakes Trans Canada Trail Johnny Lake Kump Lake Harvey Hall Lake Lodestone Lake a nt Martins Lake Robertson Lake McDiarmid Lake Tulameen RiverCoalmont Road Mystery Lake Spukune Lake Osprey Lake China Ridge Swan Lake Bird Sanctuary Stringer Lake Thirsk Lake Trails Link Lake Wells Lake Similkameen River Butler Lake Chain Lake 3 Old Hedley Rd Gill Lake rincet n Thynne Lake Borgeson Lake A L Rampart Lake Bromley Rock Provincial Park Dry Lake Nickel Plate Provincial Park Pickard Creek N 3 ProvincialLaird Park Lake
➔ Frembd Lake StemwinderMcCa ery Lake