A Road-Trip Feast for the Senses
Are you ready for a kaleidoscope of colour, flavour, and discovery? Then you’re ready for fall in the Similkameen Valley, BC. Imagine vast grasslands turning golden brown, fiery aspen groves contrasting with deep green pines, and clear skies making every vista pop. This season is sheer magic—pure sensory delight. Visit our small towns and villages as you meander through 140 km (87mi) of untamed beauty on BC’s iconic Crowsnest Scenic Highway 3, in southern British Columbia, from the Cascade Mountain Range at Manning Park in the west to the desert climate furthest east in Cawston.
Autumn brings crisp, comfortable breezes that make the valley perfect for hiking, fishing, golf—and unwinding. It’s also harvest time in the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada (Keremeos) and the Organic Farming Capital of Canada (Cawston), making for a farm-fresh season of local abundance.
The Princeton, Hedley, and Keremeos museums, along with Princeton’s Bronze Sculpture Walk, connect visitors with the valley’s living history.
Harvest, Dining & Farm-Town Charm
Fall is the Similkameen Valley at its finest. The Similkameen Valley Farm Trail comes alive along Highway 3 and 3A with over 20 fruit and vegetable stands brimming with crisp apples, juicy pears, colourful squash, and hearty root vegetables — straight from the orchards and fields that line the valley floor.
Make time for the Grist Mill & Gardens in Keremeos, where more than 100 heritage apple varieties ripen in a lovingly restored heritage orchard. The fall events calendar runs deep — Sunday Suppers, concerts, and the beloved annual Heritage Fall Fair among them. It’s the kind of stop that turns a drive into a day.
The Similkameen is wine and cider country — and the Sip the Similkameen trail puts it all within easy reach. Follow the trail through the valley to visit wineries, cideries, a fruit soda maker, and distillers, each offering tastings that showcase the region’s unique terroir. On Friday and Saturday nights through September, Crowsnest Vineyards pairs live music with wood-fired pizza — one of those only-in-the-Similkameen evenings worth planning around. Round out the experience with a farm-to-table meal at one of the valley’s eateries, or let a guided tour do the navigating while you sip and sample with the experts.
Outdoor Recreation & Wildlife Encounters
Fall frames the outdoors in spectacular colour. Larches, cottonwoods, and sumacs shift to golds and reds while migratory birds gather—photographers, bring your A-game.
- Bromley Rock Provincial Park: A stunning riverside gem for autumn picnics.
- China Ridge Trails: Explore disc golf, biking, or a leisurely fall hike just outside Princeton.
- E.C. Manning Provincial Park: A Cascade Mountain playground filled with wildlife and fall larch colours.
- Fishing: Cast a line in the Tulameen, Ashnola, or Similkameen Rivers, or relax beside one of Princeton’s dozens of lakes.
And if golf is your game, the Similkameen has you covered. Tee off at any of the three courses stretching from Princeton to Twin Lakes. Start at the Princeton Golf Club, established in 1928—an 18-hole, par-72 championship public course where crisp fall air and mountain scenery make every round memorable.
Road-Trip Routes & Getting Here
Highway 3, the Crowsnest Highway, runs through the heart of the valley—connecting us from Hope to Manning Park, Princeton, Keremeos, Cawston, and onto Osoyoos. Scenic loops and circle tours are perfect for fall motorcycle tours, vineyard hopping, or weekend getaways. Getting here is an adventure in itself – check out our road trip routes that bring you here from any direction.
Stay & Savor the Season
Accommodations range from rustic to vineyard/orchard specialties. Stay at a quaint inn, guest house, B&B, suite, motel in town, heritage site, ranch, orchard, or vineyard. For those who love life on the road, RVing and fall camping are perfect ways to experience the valley. Most campgrounds are riverside, offering star-filled night skies. Choose from rustic cabins, cozy glamping sites, or bring your horse to select campgrounds—it’s the ultimate way to linger longer and connect with nature. Many locations are river view, riverfront, on acreage, on a golf course, near towns and trails, or choose from 7 Provincial Parks with campgrounds.
Travel Kindly
The valley welcomes you with down-to-earth hospitality. In return, tread lightly—respect the land, Indigenous culture, and small communities.
Festivals & Fairs in September
The annual Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival in Keremeos, the Grist Mill’s Heritage Fall Fair and the Sunday Dinner series celebrate the bounty of the season.
Contact Us
The Similkameen is calling—come for the adventure, stay for the flavour, and leave with unforgettable memories. Our Visitor Centre councillors are local knowledge experts and are here to assist you. Contact Us.
Fall Highlights Gallery
