Kelowna is made up of several distinct neighbourhoods and communities, all of which add something uniquely their own to Kelowna's vibe. This Guide to Southeast Kelowna is part of a series designed to give you an overview of the places you can discover when you #exploreKelowna.
Southeast Kelowna
Kelowna's rural charm is fully displayed when you travel through the city's Southeast. As you wind your way along the winding roads, up and down the many hills, you'll be rewarded with expansive views of Okanagan Lake, the surrounding mountains, and the city itself. With easy access to plenty of outdoor activities, as well as convenience to the city's more urban neighbourhoods, you don't want to miss exploring Southeast Kelowna.
Accommodations
Myra Canyon Lodge + Ranch. Photo credit:
High in the hills, adjacent to Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and just below the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, sits Myra Canyon Ranch. Run by the von Adrian family, Myra Canyon Ranch is the perfect accommodation option if you want to be immersed in nature while only being 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna. There are 4 suites of varying size, accommodating about 14 people in total if all four spaces are rented out. The ranch is also a Biosphere Committed Business, incorporating many elements into its day-to-day operations with sustainability in mind.
Another secluded option in the area is Soma Craft Cidery Farm Inn, mixing modern luxury with rural beauty. Located on 13 acres of farmland, the Inn has 9 private suites, all located on the upper level of the building, with varying occupancy. During your stay, you can plan a tasting in the cidery or relax in the seasonal Cidery Lounge. You'll also have lots of fun with the Alpacas that call the farm home!
If you want options for RVing, look no further than Bad Apple RV Park, situated right next to Forbidden Spirits Distilling Co., or Canyon Farms RV Park, near Gallagher's Canyon Golf Course and Scenic Canyon Regional Park.
Other nearby rural B&B accommodations include Mission Creek Country Inn, a restored 1900s heritage house, and Quail's Inn, a self-catering vacation property located on 5-acres adjacent to Mission Creek Regional Park.
For hotel options near Southeast Kelowna, check out the Places to Stay in Kelowna page or the neighbourhood guides for Landmark District, Pandosy Village, and Rutland.
Activities & Attractions
View from Myra Canyon. Photo credit: Ken Hagen
A not-to-miss attraction in Southeast Kelowna is hiking or biking Myra Canyon, a scenic, 12 km section of the Kettle Valley Railway. If you bike the entire length of the trail, you'll cross over 18 trestle bridges and ride through 2 tunnels, with stops along the way to admire the unbelievable views. Bike rentals kick off in early May, with Myra Canyon Bike Rentals—who also offers guided tours—stationed at the trailhead. Other rental options include e-bike rentals from Vivid Tours and adaptive options from Kelowna Bike Rentals. Come fall, you can marvel at the beauty of the golden Larches. At the same time, winter offers an opportunity to snowshoe—a note for winter is that the only mode of transportation is by personal vehicle, recommended to be equipped with 4x4 and higher clearance to navigate the high altitude, snow covered road.
For a more adrenaline-inducing activity, take a short drive to Myra Canyon Adventure Park, where you can traverse aerial courses and soar along zip lines to your heart's content.
Harvest Golf Club. Photo credit: Ken Hagen
Southeast Kelowna is also a golfer's paradise, as it's home to several golf courses. Both Harvest Golf Club—designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Graham Cooke—and neighbouring Orchard Greens Golf Club—a 9-hole, mid-length course—will allow you to play amongst fruit trees and grape vines, with majestic views of the region. A short 10-minute drive southeast will take you to Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club, home to the 18-hole Canyon Course, set amidst Ponderosa pines, and the 9-hole Pinnacle Course, perfect for golfers of all abilities. Other nearby mid-length courses include Mission Creek Golf Club and Michaelbrook Golf.
Food & Drink
Sperling Vineyards. Photo credit: Ken Hagen.
While there aren't many dining options directly within Southeast Kelowna, you'll find several area wineries where you can enjoy the best of BC wine:
- Meadow Vista Honey Wines, crafting artisan honey wines and products—enjoy a bite to eat at their seasonal bistro, which re-opens May 1, 2024.
- Nagging Doubt Winery, making handcrafted, award-winning wines since 2010 (tastings are by appointment only, spring through fall).
- Priest Creek Family Estate Winery, a boutique, family winery established in 2015.
- SpearHead Winery, selected as the Best Performing Small Winery of the Year in the 2022 National Wine Awards of Canada.
- Sperling Vineyards, established in 1925 and certified organic since 2017—don't miss the organic vineyard labyrinth!
- Tantalus Vineyards, a state-of-the-art LEED Certified winery, showcasing works of art from acclaimed Canadian artists in its tasting room.
- The Vibrant Vine Winery, home of the 3D wine experience, with plenty of live entertainment in the summer months.
- The View Winery, where you can snowshoe through the vineyards during the winter, followed by fondue and wine tasting.
Also nearby, you'll find Forbidden Spirits Distilling Co. and Soma Craft Cidery for additional tasting experiences.
In the warmer months of the year, you'll want to plan a visit to the orchards and farms in the area:
- Arlo's Honey Farm
- Arndt Orchards—don't miss the u-pick cherries in the summer!
- Janzen Garlic Acres
The East Kelowna Market showcases goods from various local vendors, and nearby, you'll also find Don-O-Ray Fruit & Veggies and K.L.O Farm Market.
For food, check out the Landmark District, Pandosy Village, and Rutland neighbourhood guides for nearby options.
Parks & Outdoor Space
Layer Cake Mountain in Scenic Canyon Regional Park. Photo credit: Melissa McCluskey
In addition to Myra Canyon, Southeast Kelowna has several other parks and outdoor spaces you'll want to discover. Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park, within which Myra Canyon sits, is over 7,600 hectares with numerous hiking and biking trails within its borders, including the moderately challenging Angel Springs trail. There are several entry points into the park, including Priest Creek Linear Park, which has trail access for walking, biking, or horseback riding, and is filled with western red cedar and cottonwood trees.
Scenic Canyon Regional Park, which connects to Mission Creek Greenway along its north end, has no shortage of scenic views and interesting natural wonders to explore. Layer Cake Mountain, for instance, is a unique geological formation that is thought not to exist anywhere else in the world. Within the park, you'll also find the Rock Ovens cultural site, once used by Chinese labourers.
As you explore Southeast Kelowna, be sure to include #exploreKelowna and tag @tourismkelowna on any content you post on social media.
