Our Story

Carved by the River

The Similkameen River is the heart of our Valley.

Welcome to the beautiful Similkameen Valley in southern British Columbia. Our valley lies along the Crowsnest Highway 3 above the Washington State US border. This is a rugged, rustic and real… under-discovered region. It appeals to those who like to both relax in nature and get outside and explore. This is our story, a story that’s scenically stunning and full of natural wonders. There’s a pioneering spirit here. It leads to countless opportunities for personal discovery, plain and simple.

The raw beauty of the Similkameen River, the lifeblood of the Valley, is a reminder of nature’s power. Flowing down from the Cascade Mountains, marvel at how the River carved the spectacular valley over 200 million years ago. Today, the diverse valley offers craggy cliffs, meadows of mountain flowers, forests, lush orchards and rows of vineyards. When you travel through the Similkameen Valley, you’re traversing territory that has been home to First Nations for millennia. The Similkameen Valley is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Similamix and Smelqmix People.

Immerse yourself in nature as you take your time meandering this 140 km (87 mi) stretch of the western end of BC’s Crowsnest Scenic Highway 3, from Manning Park in the west to Cawston in the east. Rich experiences await in the spectacular Similkameen Valley. Whether it’s outdoor adventures by foot, bike, or paddle, tasting fresh ripened fruits and vegetables just picked from generational family run orchards and farms or sipping wines in vineyards in a world class wine region or enjoying local farm to table food, cider and spirits. The Similkameen is a gem to be discovered or re-discovered. Experience fishing on sparkling lakes and rivers, birdwatching, wild-life viewing, walking mountain trails, biking, floating, golfing, glamping with horses, picnicking, savouring organic farm fresh offerings, talking with a winegrower or the craftspeople of cider and spirits while relishing in the stunning beauty of this diverse valley.

Pick a spot for a picnic and spend a lazy day along the Similkameen or Tulameen Rivers. As you drive through the valley, you’ll notice eclectic small towns, ranches and farms from seemingly eras past. Explore our rugged and rustic lands and get to know the welcoming spirit of the people who may tell you a bit about our ancestors, and how we came to live in this special place. Listen carefully to hear the echoes of our past, and the promises of our future.

From mountains to desert along the Similkameen Valley, explore shorelines, paddle our waters, or jump in our lakes and rivers for a swim or float. There are surprise beaches and rocky shores to discover. Pick a spot for a picnic and spend a lazy day along the Similkameen or Tulameen Rivers. Locals know it’s the best way to beat the sizzling summer heat. Float between Princeton’s old Brown Bridge and the Bridge of Dreams or go further to PY Point, then on to Bromley Rock. Paddle or float from the Keremeos Red Bridge to Kobau Park in Cawston, and on to the Chopaka Wooden Bridge. Spending time on our rivers is part of what makes your Similkameen experience rugged, rustic, and real. Be sure to ask locals for their favourite spots!

Must Do List!

• Reconnect with yourself and nature in wide open spaces
• Walk, Hike, Bike, and Ride the trails at various locations throughout the valley including the Kettle Valley Rail Trail /Trans Canada Trail from Princeton to Coalmont
• Discover our storied past at Princeton, Hedley and Keremeos museums and the Snaza’ist Discovery Centre
• Explore gardens, heritage sites and trails, and Granite Creek Ghost Town and Cemetery
• Camp, Clamp or RV at one of the municipal or private campgrounds or ranches – many are riverfront
• Play year-round in the wilderness of Manning Park
• Make a splash in the Similkameen waters—swim, paddle, or tube the iconic rivers, connecting our valley
• Spot birds and animals in the wild and learn about our diverse eco-systems at the Swan Lake Nature Reserve or book a guided birding and photography tour
• Walk the Bronze Sculpture tour through Princeton town centre, known as Bronze Statue Capital of Canada. Enhance your experience by downloading the “On this Spot” app.
• Get hooked on our 49 lakes and rivers in all four seasons and take home Rainbow and Brook Trout
• Play a round of golf and enjoy the views at the “19th” hole afterwards at Princeton’s challenging 18-hole course or at Twin Lakes Golf Course and St. Andrews by the Lake near Keremeos
• Take a virtual tour at the Princeton Visitor Centre with the Virtual Reality Room experience. Kayak the Similkameen River with a spectacular river view of the Red Ochre. Free for all to use.
• Taste the Similkameen Terroir through world class wines, craft spirits, ciders and fruit sodas, visiting tasting rooms, on your own, with a tour, at a restaurant, or at your orchard, vineyard or distillery stay
• Book a guided tour via horse back, Tesla, helicopter or ATV
• Shop for fresh fruits and veggies in Keremeos, Canada’s Fruit Stand Capital of Canada and Cawston, the Organic Farming Capital of Canada
• Journey to Cathedral Park for a rugged backcountry adventure with epic views
• Stop at local bistros, fruit stands, and markets for locally grown and hand made culinary delights
• Picnic, camp and tour at the historic Grist Mill and Gardens, BC’s oldest operating flour mill, and BC Heritage Site located in Keremeos
• Meander the Keremeos River walk, and consider the 2-level exercise challenge along the way (or just the beauty!)
• Get out, and play in winter, to Manning Park, China Ridge or Nickel Plate Nordic Centre

Where We Are

The Similkameen Valley runs parallel to the Canada US border along BC’s Crownest Highway 3. A three-hour drive from Vancouver, BC, this rural and electric corridor is a rugged and rustic area with a recognized agriculture and wine region in the east. Our rural open spaces make for self-directed adventures. The heart of our valley is the Similkameen River, which carved our region from the Cascade Mountains. As you drive through you’ll notice eclectic small towns, ranches and farms from seemingly eras past. You’ll also find our valley is home to adventures both mild and wild. We are home to the Fruit Stand Capital (Keremeos), the Organic Farming Capital of Canada (Cawston) and the Bronze Statue Capital of Canada (Princeton). And the wine, oh and the wine. We are an award-winning wine region, as well.

ABOUT THE SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY

Follow BC Highway 3 from the Allison Pass to the Richter Pass, and you’ll find yourself smack in the Similkameen Valley. Glimpses of our prospecting, First Nation and pioneering past are still evident today, in towns and villages and heritage sites all across the valley. Follow the highway through rolling ranch and farmlands to the fragile grasses of the Columbia Plateau’s northern tip. Follow our story as you follow the river the whole length of your journey, in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains. You won’t be the first to pull over for a picture. Time and the elements have shorn the mountains into craggy, jagged peaks, lending a breathtaking backdrop for your visit. There are plenty of roadside sightings and photo opportunities of eagles, mountain goats and Big Horned sheep.

The Similkameen Valley residents are that old-school type of friendly, so be sure to stop and ask for directions. If you have an extra couple of minutes, you might get a recommendation that can change your trip! Even if you’re driving by, don’t forget to wave back…we still do that here. It’s the kind of laid-back place where unique and unforgettable experiences often surprise you it’s almost as warm as our Similkameen summers.

Our Story of Sensational Seasons

Ask anyone what’s shakin’ around here, and the answer will depend on the season. There’s no wrong time to visit. Wintertime is for playing in the snow. Summer really sizzles with countless events and almost as many recreational choices as there are mountains and lakes to play in. For full immersion fun, come in the spring when the valley’s in bloom and rivers run their fastest, or visit in fall for harvest events, samplings of some of the best wines in BC at our local vineyards and just-baked pies made of fruit picked just that morning.

It took Mother Nature 200 million years to create this place. It’s time you saw it for yourself. Free of crowds, rich in natural wonders and local flavours, the Similkameen Valley is waiting for you!