Naramata

In the Okanagan Valley, follow the scenic winding road from Penticton north to the village of Naramata. The waters of Lake Okanagan glisten below you and the vineyards stretch out in every direction. Award-winning wines, and restaurants that showcase local foods in delicious recipes, line the route. The area is a photographer’s delight.

Vines on the Naramata Bench | P. Cashin

Nearby the Kettle Valley Trail is great for hiking and particularly cycling. It starts in Penticton and is an incredibly scenic trail that meanders through the vineyards, orchards, across the McCullough Trestle and takes you north to Naramata. The hiking trails above Naramata are popular with naturalists and those who enjoy bird watching, the seasonal wildflowers, and unspoiled habitat.

Nearby Penticton is a resort town and is situated between two lakes – Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake. Both have beaches, good swimming, boating activities and Okanagan Lake has a popular beachfront walkway. Parks, kid’s activities, golf, fishing, and on a hot day floating the Penticton River Channel. Ice cream, cafes, restaurants, pubs and an eclectic mix of shops can be found here.

Location

Naramata is 15 km (10 mi) north of Penticton on the eastern side of Okanagan Lake in the Thompson Okanagan region of BC.  Penticton is located 63 km (39 mi) north of Osoyoos and 72 km (45 mi) south of Kelowna.

A Step Back in Time

The townsite of Naramata was founded by John Moore Robinson, who started the fruit industry in this part of the Okanagan Valley and also founded the townships of nearby Peachland and Summerland. Robinson named the town Naramata, meaning the Smile of the Manitou, after Naramattah, the wife of the great Sioux Indian Chief Big Moose.

In the early days, Naramata could only be reached by paddlewheeler, until a horse and carriage road was driven through in 1910, connecting the community to the village of Penticton to the south. In 1915, Naramata became a stop on the new Kettle Valley Railway, bringing prosperity to the previously remote community.