Keremeos | Our Communities | Similkameen Valley

Framed by the River and Mountains

Keremeos (pop. 1,761) sits below a steep peak known locally as K Mountain, along the banks of the Similkameen River, surrounded by vineyards and orchards. Known as Fruit Stand Capital of Canada, you’ll understand why the Keremeos area is the place to shop for all your fresh fruits and vegetables! Catch the downtown Market on summer Wednesdays. Meander down the river walk and stop at Pine Park for some shade. Sip and savour at the wineries and restaurants in and around the Village. Visit the historic Grist Mill and Gardens and see Western Canada’s only working water wheel powered flour mill. Keremeos is a starting point for Ashnola recreation area and Cathedral Provincial Park adventures.

Let the kids play at the Memorial Park playground as you stop by the Visitor Centre for information. Accommodations: B&Bs, Inns with self-contained suites, family-run motels, orchard and vineyard stays, RV and tent camping.

Located at the crossroads of BC Highway 3 and 3A, it’s a 45-minute drive east from Princeton, 40 minutes west from Penticton and 35 minutes northwest of Osoyoos.

Keremeos Top 10 List

Marvel at the Keremeos Columns
Visit and picnic at the Grist Mill and Gardens
Have a great meal at one of our eclectic restaurants
Tube, canoe or kayak down the Similkameen River
Take in a summer concert at the Grist Mill and Gardens
Gather up some delicious fresh produce at the fruit stands
Go wine (and cider) tasting, either with a tour or with your own group
Explore the lush alpine lakes and glacier topped peaks at Cathedral Lakes
Fish for mountain whitefish at higher altitudes and trout in the lower lakes and rivers
Attend one of their signature events like the Similkameen Sizzle and the Keremeos Elks Rodeo

Keremeos Location Map

Visitor Centre
Keremeos & Area

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

Keremeos apple orchard — Kissed by the sun – apple orchard

Unique in Many Ways

Feast your eyes on the rainbow of colourful displays of fresh fruit and vegetables at the many fruit stands and as you drive into Keremeos. Spring, Summer and Fall the bounty is fresh, local and inviting at the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada.

Sink your teeth into mouth-watering sun-kissed fruits, mere steps away from where they are grown. Find perfectly ripened cherries, peaches, apricots, and more varieties of peppers, tomatoes and apples than you can imagine. And don’t forget the famous Similkameen garlic! Each stand has their own tasty assortment of other fine foods including Similkameen honey, preserves, chutney, pies, sourdough breads, juices, and jams. Take a break and enjoy hot buttery cobs of corn, savoury samosas, cool treats, and coffees. Meet some of the friendliest people here — from locals shopping for today’s dinner, to growers dropping off a delivery, professional chefs, and visitors creating a perfect picnic of seasonal and local fare.

Keremeos is a community you won’t soon forget. It is home to many of the Similkameen’s wineries and the historic Grist Mill & Gardens, which is the last of its kind in Western Canada.

Keremeos is an agricultural community framed by the Similkameen River, mountains, endless orchards, vineyards and farms. It’s known far and wide as the Fruit Stand Capital of Canada. Many visitors to this area stop at one or more fruit stands before heading back home. It’s here that you’ll find the freshest Similkameen-grown produce at seasonal fruit stands and markets.

Once you’ve done exploring, get out your inflated inner tube, head over to the Red Bridge, hop in the river and float your way to Pine Park in Keremeos.

Impressive History

They built the Red Bridge in 1907 as a railway bridge so trains could cross the Similkameen River. It is one of the few covered bridges left in the west. The Old Tower Farm and its unusual water tower dating back to 1908 provided pressure for the home’s plumbing.

Just down the road is the Keremeos Grist Mill and Gardens. This provincial heritage site is home to a water mill built in 1877 to grind wheat into flour for the gold rush miners. It’s still grinding away today, and you can visit and have a taste of their home-made bread. Grist Mill is more than just a wheat mill, though. It’s a fully immersive heritage experience! Tour the site and you’ll discover a general store, a heritage garden and a great picnic area. There’s also a campsite.

Come Celebrate!

The people of Keremeos love to celebrate and hold special events. The Grist Mill and Garden s holds several events throughout the year. Canada Day, Kars under the K, the Similkameen Sizzle, and Light Up are just a few of the many reasons to come celebrate here.

Key Annual Events for the Keremeos/Cawston Area

May Long Weekend – Keremeos Rodeo
Pocket Park Market – weekly May-June to end of August, early Sept
Mid June & Sept – Keremeos Bluegrass Jamboree
Multiple winery-held dinners and events throughout the Summer
July – Chopaka Rodeo
August – Kars under the K
Sept – Similkameen Sizzle Pepper Festival
Sept – Similkameen Pow Wow
Dec – Keremeos Light Up
Dec – Enjoy the warmth of our wineries one weekend each December at the annual Holiday Open Houses

Find murals throughout the town, Keremeos — Find murals throughout the town

Eclectic Eats in Keremeos

You can find a great meal in Keremeos at several eclectic restaurants, including the legendary “Thai worth the drive” at Benja Thai. There’s a great Indian restaurant, a bakeshop, a bar and grill, and some funky little cafés. When you’re picking up your fruit at a fruit stand and decide you’re hungry, ask one of the locals for suggestions! You might end up with a new favourite road trip food spot.

Gateway to Cathedral Lakes

Keremeos is also the gateway to the Ashnola recreation area and Cathedral Provincial Park. A WWII-era military-style jeep service operated by Cathedral Lakes Resort will get you to the heart of the park, some 16 km (10 mi) in. If you prefer, you can hike, but be aware it is a full day’s hike. It’s here you’ll find mountain vistas that will take your breath away and perhaps the reconnection to nature you’ve been searching for. Ragged peaks of the North Cascades and Okanagan Mountain Ranges, indigo-coloured lakes, and alpine meadows are your reward for a climb well done. Who knows, you may even be lucky enough to meet the resident mountain goats!

Cathedral Lakes in the Similkameen, Cathedral Provincial Park — Access to Cathedral Lakes

Electric Car Charging

Recharge your own batteries as your car is being charged. Take your time at a wine tasting or explore the shops and businesses of downtown.

KEREMEOS – LEVEL 2 AND DC FAST

Keremeos Municipal Hall, 702 4 St., CHAdeMO DCFC, CCS DCFC ports, $0.35/kWh. Use the Greenlots RFID card to activate.
Clos du Soleil Winery, 2568 Upper Bench Road, EV Plug (J1772), Tesla Model S / Model X ports.