A long, narrow lake spanning the Canada–US border, with the majority of its length in British Columbia and the southernmost tip crossing into Washington State. Osoyoos Lake is consistently the warmest lake in Canada — water temperatures in summer regularly reach 24–25°C — a product of the desert climate and relatively shallow depth. The beaches on the north shore in town are popular from May through September.
The lake is clear and good for swimming, paddleboarding, and kayaking. Boat rentals are available in town. The evening light over the water, with the dry golden hills reflected behind it, is the characteristic image of Osoyoos — a genuinely beautiful summer scene, and one that explains why BC families have been coming here for generations.