Shuswap Beaches

There are a few towns with their beaches accessible from the Trans-Canada Highway from west to east:

Caen Road Park (Sorrento) Day-use park and swimming area with a grassy area, picnic tables, washroom, benches, and boat hand-launch site. There is no lifeguard on duty.

Copper

Blind Bay Beaches (also known as Pebble Beach and Sandy Beach, at Blind Bay) east-facing beaches just northwest of town

Tappen Beach (Tappen)- east facing beach just off the Trans-Canada Highway

Canoe Beach (just east of Salmon Arm) –  just west of the sharp southward/eastward bend in the Trans-Canada

Silver Sands Beach (Sicamous) just north of the Trans-Canada.  Enjoy the playground, splash water park, picnic tables,  volleyball court and washrooms.

Two Mile Beach (Sicamous) Located at the end of Tecumseh Avenue in the Two Mile subdivision. A quiet beach that highlights amazing sunsets, a lighthouse and Hyde Mountain Golf Course.

Cartier Beach (Sicamous)  Located at the end of Cartier Road in the Two Mile subdivision. A sandy oasis tucked in a residential area. Small and intimate.

Shuswap Lake with beaches

Okanagan Beaches

Beach on Shuswap Lake at Sicamous

Beaches in the Okanagan are so plentiful, that “best beaches” are tough to choose. Some great beachfront property is “private,” meaning not accessible to the public, simply because there’s no road or parking nearby.

Gyro Beach in Kelowna

Many enthusiasts might argue west-facing vs east-facing. East-facing beaches are warmer because they get the morning sun longer,
while west-facing beaches hold the heat longer in the afternoon (though both are better if they face south as well). The reality is, you’ll probably go to the beach that’s closest, regardless of which side of the Lake its on.

For those that are more adventurous, Kelowna has its own nude beach, at Cedar Creek in the south end of town.

Okanagan Lake Area with beaches

Here are some of the best beaches (from north to south, by city):

Beach
Road Access
Comments

Vernon beaches

Kalamalka BeachKalamalka Rdon the north shore of Lake Kalamalka
Kin BeachLakeshore Rd @ Transonsouth-facing beach on eastern shore of Okanagan Lake
Paddlewheel ParkOkanagan Landing Rd, southeastern shore of Okanagan Lake

Kelowna beaches

Sutherland BeachEllis Rd, northwestern shore at foot of Knox Mountain
Waterfront BeachWater St @ Clementjust north of Okanagan Resort
City Park BeachAbbott Street by bridgebest lake views, close to stores
Strathcona ParkAbbott St, south @ Rosequiet residential neighbourhood
Kinsmen ParkAbbott St, south @ Pattersonquiet residential neighbourhood
Boyce-Gyro ParkAbbott St, south @ Rosesouth-west facing beach
Strathcona ParkPandosy St, south turns to Lakeshoreclose to several resorts and to Mission Creek Park
Hobson ParkHobson, off Lakeshore Rdnorthwest-facing beach
Sarsons BeachSastons St @ Abbott Stgreat views in all directions
Cedar Creeksouth of Cedar Creek Rdthe area’s only nudist beach
Bertram Creek Regional ParkLakeshore Rd (past Cedarcreek Winery)isolated park, big beach

Westbank beaches

Rotary Beach ParkBoucherie south to Gellatlysoutheast view of Lake, close to Westbank facilities

Peachland beaches

Virbican ParkBeach Ave, northsoutheast view of Lake
Heritage Park/Memorial ParkBeach Ave, south at Princetontwo beaches, at north and south ends of parks
Antlers Beach Provincial ParkHighway 97, south of towngreat beach, with wilderness park inland
Antlers Beach Provincial ParkHighway 97, south of towngreat beach, with wilderness park inland

Summerland

Peach Orchard Beach ParkLakeshore Dr Northgreat beach with broad lake views
Rotary BeachLakeshore Dr @ Phillipswide south-east facing beach nestled between Kiwanis Pier and Summerland Trout Hatchery
Ilahie BeachThorbur Stgreat beach is part of a campground
Powell Beach ParkPowell Beach Roadgreat beach with great north lake views
Sun-Oka Beach Provincial ParkHighway 97 by Agricultural stationgreat beach with south-east lake views

Penticton beaches

Okanagan BeachLakeshore Dr Westnorth-facing great beach with view of OK Lake, close to hotels
Skaha BeachSouth Beach Drwide south-facing great beach with view of Skaha Lake…Penticton’s
beautiful people hang-out
Airport BeachSkaha Lake Rdsouth-facing great beach underneath ocassionally-used airport runway

Okanagan Falls beaches

Christie Memorial Parknorth-facing great beach with view of Skaha Lake
Kenyon Beach Parknorth-facing great beach with view of Skaha Lake

Oliver beaches

Rotary Beach81st Street off 370 Avegreat beach on Tuc-El-Nuit Lake, close to resort hotel

Osoyoos beaches

Lions Centennial Beach92nd Ave @ Lacey Pointgreat beach on warm Osoyoos Lake
Legion BeachKingfisher Drive @ 89th Stsouth-east facing beach on warm Osoyoos Lake
Haynes Point Provincial Park32 Ave, eastbeach on both sides of shallow spit into middle of lake, great views all around