Cawston | Our Communities | Similkameen Valley

Come and Play in the Great Outdoors

The community of Cawston (pop 1,080), just east of Keremeos, is known as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. Enjoy fresh produce at farm gate markets, bistros and farm-to-table restaurants in orchards and vineyards scattered throughout the region. Savour tastings at over 18 local wineries, cideries and a craft distillery. Travel south to see the terrain change to cacti and sagebrush desert.

Cawston Top 10 List

Oktoberfest at Crowsnest Vineyard
Go fishing in the Similkameen River
Enjoy a wine tasting tour of the area
Take a leisurely walk through the town
Hike one of the several trails in the area
Visit the underground caves at Seven Stones winery
Get yourself some of the organic goodness grown here
Check out Canada’s only strawbale winery at Orofino Winery
Visit Harker’s Organics for some great organic produce and delicious fruit wines
Catch a groove and bite into some freshly baked pizza at Friday Night Pizza Night at the Crowsnest Wood Fire Oven Bakery

View Cawston Location Map

Visitor Centre
Cawston Area

417 – 7th Ave, Keremeos, BC
250-499-5225

Small but Mighty

With nearly 100 certified organic farms (40% of all farms), the Cawston area has the highest concentration of organic farms in Canada, which is why it has earned its claim as the Organic Farming Capital of Canada. Enjoy fresh and tasty produce knowing it is healthy and sustainably grown in almost ideal conditions – a long and hot growing season, dry, windy conditions, and rich soils.

Orchard — Perfect conditions for growing fruit and grapes

Our farmers proudly supply many markets and fine restaurants in the Lower Mainland, throughout BC and beyond. Enjoy the selection of in-season produce and more from local markets including Klippers Market, The Farm House and Harkers Organics. Catch a weekly farm gate stand at Food of The Sun Organics and Organics Only. Linger a while and you may meet up with growers happy to chat about their crops. Ask about the difference between the dozens of apples available and try something new! Take a bite out of a sweet Ambrosia apple, found and cultivated right here in the 1990s.

Some of our farmers have been here for generations, others are new, and all are dedicated to growing quality produce, for you.The rural landscapes make it a popular home for hobby farms, horse ranches and nature enthusiasts.

Get Outside!

Head out on a trail, and you’re likely to find almost every terrain imaginable. Be prepared because you’ll find everything from small to midsize cactus and sagebrush in a desert-like environment to lush sub-alpine meadows. Be sure to check with the Keremeos Visitor Centre to determine which trails would be best suited to you.

First Nations

The Lower Similkameen Indian Band’s office is in Cawston. The Similkameen people, or Smelqmix, have a long history here that encompasses areas in southern British Columbia and North Central Washington. Their reserve lands run from Cawston, through Keremeos and up towards the Hedley area. The language of the Smelqmix is Nsyilxcn and is spoken throughout the Syilx Nation from the Upper Nicola Valley to the Colville River Valley and over to the upper reaches of the Columbia to the Methow Valley in the US.

Wine Away the Day

There are several great wineries in Cawston (one of them has a tasting cave!) and a cidery. They create award-winning fares that will have you wondering why you didn’t discover them sooner. Spend your day sipping in the sunshine as you relax on a winery patio or meander through the vineyards. Take a guided tour, or get a map from the Visitor Centre and explore on your own.

Where to Stay in Cawston

Take your time and stay overnight in this charming hamlet. In Cawston, there are some lovely B & Bs, including guest suites at organic farms and orchards, a luxury stay at a winery and adventure centre, as well as lodging at a local vineyard and winery. Each is unique to the operators that run them, many with farm-to-table food experiences including a cidery.