The towns of Vernon and Kamloops — set in the southern interior of the province — appeal to RV owners who want to enjoy the relatively mild climate while soaking up the scenery and rich culture of the area or participating in winter sports.
By Jan Lee
November/December 2024
E ach winter, thousands of RVers head for British Columbia’s Lake Country district to take advantage of the region’s dry, temperate climate. Dotted by wineries and campgrounds, the southern Okanagan Valley is best appreciated for its desert-like setting, emerald lakes, and minimal snowfall: a perfect destination for winter RV vacations. Located in the southwest interior of the province and sheltered by the Columbia Mountains, the southern half of the valley is the go-to place for many Canadians looking for a winter getaway.
Some Vernon Winter Carnival events take place at SilverStar Mountain Resort, which offers winter recreation.
But it’s in the northern tip of this unusual desert valley where travelers can often find a slower pace. The city of Vernon, nestled among three expansive lakes, provides the perfect mix of small-town amenities and winter recreation. SilverStar Mountain Resort is about a half-hour drive from downtown Vernon. Sun Peaks, Harper Mountain, and Big White resorts are less than a two-hour drive from Vernon’s RV parks.
Cross-country skiing can be pursued nearby, and ice fishing and skating opportunities await literally outside your door. Most of Vernon’s RV parks have lakeside access with level sites and full amenities. And about a 1½-hour’s drive west, the city of Kamloops awaits with its own assortment of attractions for winter travelers.
VERNON: HOME TO WESTERN CANADA’S LARGEST WINTER CARNIVAL
The Okanagan Valley’s relatively mild winter climate makes it easier to get out and explore the region. December and January are the coldest months, averaging 2 to 7 inches of snow a month. The rest of the season is usually brisk but clear of snow. Temps hover around 25 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with some cold snaps. Vernon’s well-plowed roads keep traffic humming during the winter.
Vernon’s shopping areas are spread throughout the city. You’ll find an eclectic range of shops, pubs, and eateries in downtown Vernon at Highway 97 North and 30th Street. Sample Japanese cuisine at OHKIM Sushi, or pick up a selection of Canadian and international teas at Teassential. Around the corner on 31st Avenue, you’ll find Kaleco Clothing, which advertises sustainable women’s wear. Or stop by Silverstar Brewing Company on 30th Avenue to sample one of Vernon’s distinctive craft beers. If wine is more your preference, representatives from Tourism Vernon can suggest companies that provide winter wine tours throughout the Okanagan Valley.
Canadians know how to celebrate winter, and the Okanagan Valley provides many opportunities to do so. The Vernon Winter Carnival kicks off on February 7, 2025, and lasts 10 days. Events take place throughout the city and at SilverStar Mountain Resort. The community-oriented festival includes a parade, Snogolf Tournament, and chocolate and wine pairing events. The carnival is free to the public.
The Vernon Museum features engaging displays related to Indigenous and pioneer history, while the Okanagan Science Centre hosts kid-friendly paleontology, astronomy, and robotics exhibits. The Canadian Wildlife Museum showcases lifelike dioramas of Canadian wildlife, with 350 mounted taxidermy specimens. Tourism Vernon’s website (tourismvernon.com) lists a wide range of museums and galleries to explore.
VERNON’S ANCIENT HISTORY
The area’s early inhabitants, the Syeelhwh people, settled in this area more than 10,000 years ago. They are part of a larger family of First Nations (Canadian Indigenous) communities that span as far south as Colville, Washington. The Syeelhwh First Nation (whose name means “the people who live here”) called this area “Jumping Over Creek” in honor of a small but important creek that marked the passage to their ancestral home. Today, a popular hiking area called the BX Trail (and a spectacular waterfall) denotes that spot.
Sun Peaks Resort is known for champagne snow and excellent skiing.
By the mid-1800s, European fur traders had established a trading route along Okanagan Lake to Kamloops, 73 miles/117 kilometers northwest of what is now Vernon. Visitors can retrace that pioneer trail via a 1.5-hour drive along paved Highway 97 North. This scenic route winds past farms, lakes, and old settlements, including the Historic O’Keefe Ranch, which once served as a stagecoach depot.
In Monte Lake, 43 miles/69 kilometers from Vernon, Heritage Campsite & RV Park offers full-service winterized sites in a country setting (see sidebar).
KAMLOOPS: WHERE THE RIVERS — AND CULTURES — MEET
The city of Kamloops (or Tk’emlúps, meaning “river junction,” as the local Secwépemc people call the area) overlooks the confluence of two mighty rivers, the Thompson and North Thompson. Like Vernon, Kamloops enjoys relatively little snow during the winter, but the temperatures can be brisk.
In the height of winter, picturesque Sun Peaks Resort can get upward of 19 feet/6 meters of snow.
Winter RV accommodations are limited in Kamloops, with only one park offering full-service amenities currently. Knutsford/Kamloops RV Campground, on Highway 5A South, has 30 fully winterized sites and as of this past summer was in the process of adding another 30 for the winter of 2024-25. This popular campground is situated 10 minutes from most Kamloops attractions. An hour north on Highway 5, Sun Peaks Resort provides a gravel parking area for self-contained rigs that don’t need hookups but whose owners want to stay close to the slopes.
Sun Peaks and the smaller but popular Harper Mountain are both known for their deep, champagne snow and excellent skiing and snowboarding. During the height of the winter, these resorts can get upward of 19 feet/6 meters of powdery snow — just the kind of conditions that make BC’s slopes famous.
In Kamloops, BC Wildlife Park and its partners provide rescue and rehabilitation for at-risk wildlife, including the arctic wolf.
But access to plentiful skiing and snowboarding isn’t Kamloops’ only draw. In recent years, the city has become almost as well known for its cuisine, sporting events, and cultural and educational attractions.
The BC Wildlife Park, off Highway 1 East, provides rehabilitation and care for injured and orphaned wildlife. More than 60 species are housed at the park, which hosts viewing areas, an accessible train ride, and educational programs for the public.
Located in the 1904 Canadian Bank of Commerce building in Kamloops, Brownstone Restaurant serves upscale food.
Nicknamed the Tournament Capital of Canada, Kamloops is home to a 2,200-seat tournament center that hosts more than 100 national and regional sports competitions per year, such as hockey, soccer, and aquatic contests. Winter events are open to the public, and most tournaments are held inside.
For dining, you’ll want to check out the downtown area at Victoria Street, between First and Sixth avenues. Brownstone Restaurant offers upscale dining in a historic setting that conjures imaginings of early Kamloops. Mittz Kitchen bills itself as “a place for grub and grapes” and is popular for its unconventional fare. Cordo Resto features regionally inspired dishes, breakfast through dinner. Be sure to ask about the Thompson Okanagan region’s locally produced wines and craft beers.
For lighter fare, check out the Kekuli Cafe at Columbia Street and Third Avenue, which specializes in Northwest Indigenous cuisine. Or browse the aisles at Sweláps Market, just off Yellowhead Highway (Highway 5 North), which sells regional foods and products.
Kekuli Café in Kamloops specializes in Indigenous cuisine.
Kekuli Cafe and Sweláps Market are reflective of a growing effort to increase education and support for Canada’s many Indigenous cultures. Kamloops and Vernon have been particularly supportive of that effort, which has helped to create room for more unique businesses in the region. It’s also helped to shine a light on the area’s important First Nations history. The Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park at the former Residential School, on Chief Alex Thomas Way, offers tours where visitors can learn about the foods, medicines, and the remarkable contributions of the Thompson Okanagan region’s First Peoples.
This portion of British Columbia attracts folks for the wealth of winter recreation, but you needn’t be an outdoor adventurer to enjoy its many charms as a winter getaway.
WHEN TO TRAVEL?
Overwintering? Consider arriving at your reserved site in November or early December. Washington’s and BC’s major highways and passes are usually well-plowed, but higher elevations will get snowfall earlier in the season. For that reason, BC requires winter-rated tires or chains on all vehicles on most routes from October 1 through April 30. You can usually buy skirting and other RV winterizing materials in Vernon or Kelowna (or bring your own).
GETTING TO VERNON, BC
From Washington State: For a direct route through central Washington, connect with U.S. Route 97 in Omak, which cuts through Washington’s own desert highlands. Follow U.S. 97 to the U.S./Canada border at Osoyoos, British Columbia, where it becomes Highway 97 (Okanagan Highway). Follow Highway 97 north through the Okanagan Valley to Vernon, about 3 hours from Osoyoos.
From Vancouver, British Columbia (5.5 hours): Take TransCanada Highway 1 to Highway 5 North, just east of Hope, and stay on Highway 5 to Highway 97C. It will connect with Highway 97 on the west side of Okanagan Lake. Follow Highway 97 north through Kelowna to Vernon.
RV PARKS
Reservations are strongly encouraged in the winter.
Vernon
(Additional parks are located south of Vernon)
Cedar Falls Campground
cedarfalls.ca
(250) 558-1559
Set amid lush forest with full amenities, the park is 20 minutes from SilverStar Mountain Resort and 7 minutes from city services.
Lake Front RV Park
lakefrontrvpark.com
(236) 600-1902
Located right off Highway 97 South, on the lake’s edge, it has easy access to all amenities.
Swan Lake RV Park and Campground
swanlakecampground.com
(250) 545-2300
A quiet, treed park off a well-maintained road with level sites and scenic views of the lake.
Kamloops
Knutsford/Kamloops RV Campground
knutsfordcampground.ca
(250) 372-5380
Set back from Highway 5A, on the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway, this RV park offers 30 back-in, treed sites. At the time of this writing, another 30 winterized sites were in development for the 2024-25 winter season. The park lies 10 minutes from town and 1 hour from Sun Peaks Resort.
Sun Peaks Resort
sunpeaksresort.com
(250) 578-5474
For winter camping, Sun Peaks offers a gravel area at Lot #5, at the base of Mount Morrisey, with nearby washrooms. The base is “seconds away.” No reservations. Sites are unserviced, so you’ll want to come prepared.
Monte Lake
Heritage Campsite & RV Park
heritagecampsite.com
(250) 375-2434
About 20 miles/34 km southeast of Kamloops on Highway 97. Sites are winterized in a rustic setting. Some roads have gentle inclines, but sites are level. Can accept large rigs; grocery store is three minutes away.
LOCAL TOURISM BUREAUS
You can find a wealth of information about tours, attractions, and services in Vernon and Kamloops by consulting their websites, or by giving their tourism bureaus a call.
Tourism Vernon
tourismvernon.com
(250) 542-1415
Tourism Kamloops
tourismkamloops.com
(250) 372-8000