Penticton, BC Relaxation With Your Dog: Two Lakes, Orchard Country, and the Okanagan Summer

Penticton has a particular quality in summer that's hard to find elsewhere in BC: it's genuinely warm and dry. While the coast is fogged in and the Interior is on fire, Penticton is often just hot and perfect — two lakes, a beach town vibe, and the rolling vineyard hills of the Okanagan all around.

We arrived in late June and stayed a week. Gracie spent most of it either wet or sleeping.

The Two Lakes

The thing that makes Penticton unusual is its geography: the town sits on a narrow strip of land between Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha Lake to the south, connected by the Okanagan River Channel.

Okanagan Lake (north beach): The main beach and boardwalk area; busy in summer. Dogs are restricted from the main swim beach in peak season — check current City of Penticton bylaws, as rules change by year. The paved boardwalk along the lakeshore is dog-friendly year-round.

Skaha Lake (south beach): Generally more relaxed than the north; the parkland around Skaha is more dog-accessible and the lake itself is beautiful. Walk the path along the western shore.

Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park: The big hiking draw. Rocky desert bluffs above Skaha Lake with trails through ponderosa pine and sagebrush. The terrain is dry and open; your dog will love the smells. Dogs on leash throughout. Great morning walk before the heat sets in.

The Channel Float

The Okanagan River Channel connects the two lakes through town and in summer Penticton is famous for the float — inner tubes, paddleboards, and the lazy current carrying people between the lakes. Dogs that are comfortable in water love this.

The channel walk along either bank is a pleasant riverside path through the city — flat, shaded in sections, and easy for any fitness level.

Naramata Bench

Twenty minutes north of Penticton, the Naramata Bench is a string of wineries along a benchland above Okanagan Lake. It's one of the most concentrated and accessible wine regions in Canada, and a good number of the tasting rooms welcome dogs on their patios.

The Heritage Trail above the bench runs through orchards and scrubby hillside — open walking, Okanagan Lake views, dogs on leash. A loose network of ATV trails and old orchard roads criss-crosses the bench and makes for good off-the-beaten-path walking.

Around the Okanagan

Penticton makes a good base for day trips:

Summerland: 20 minutes north; the Kettle Valley Railway trail through the Trout Creek Canyon is outstanding — dramatic trestles, canyon views, dogs on leash. One of the best day hikes in the Okanagan.

Okanagan Falls: 15 minutes south; small town with a few stops and the Vaseaux Lake area just south — good birding, cliff faces, and lakeside walking with dogs.

Apex Mountain: 30 minutes west; the ski resort access road leads to alpine meadows above the treeline in summer. Dogs on leash; good place to escape the valley heat.

Where to Stay

Penticton has a mix of motels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds — it's a summer resort town and most things are pet-friendly if you ask.

• Lakeside Resort — On Okanagan Lake; dog-friendly rooms available
• Airbnb/VRBO — Vacation rentals around both lakes are often easier for dogs; private yards, no carpet
• South Beach Gardens RV Park — Right on Skaha Lake, good for camper/RV; dogs welcome
• Okanagan Falls Provincial Park — Camping at Vaseux Lake; dogs on leash in campsite

Practical Notes

• Leash rules: On-leash in all parks and on beaches; check seasonal beach rules with the city
• Nearest vet: Full vet services in Penticton; emergency clinic in Kelowna (~60km north)
• Cell service: Good throughout the Okanagan valley
• Best time to visit: June and September are ideal — warm but not brutally hot, and the beaches are manageable

The Honest Take

Penticton is genuinely fun in summer — unpretentious, sunny, and surrounded by enough landscape to keep you busy for a week. The dog beaches are a minor complication (check the rules before you assume beach access) but the rest of the area more than makes up for it. The Naramata Bench alone is worth the detour.