Kalamalka Lake is the jewel of the Vernon area — a long, narrow lake whose water colour shifts dramatically with the light and season, ranging from opaque turquoise to deep cobalt blue. The provincial park on its eastern shores protects the rolling grasslands above the lake, home to one of the most significant remaining examples of Okanagan bunchgrass habitat in BC. The views from the hillside trails down over the lake and the dry yellow hills beyond are outstanding.
The park has about 15 km of trails, ranging from an easy lakeside walk to steeper routes up through the grasslands where you may see rattlesnakes sunning themselves in summer. Swimming is excellent from the small beaches along the western shore — the water is clear, warm by August, and considerably less crowded than the beaches at Okanagan Lake. The park entrance is about 8 km south of Vernon via Hwy 97.