Abbotsford to Osoyoos Road Trip ⎮ The Scenic Highway 3 Route ⎮ Desert Oasis

VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!

This guide forms part of our complete Canada Travel Guide featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across Canada.

From Fraser Valley Forests to Okanagan Vineyards on One of BC’s Great Road Trips

From the Fraser Valley to the Desert: The Ultimate Abbotsford to Osoyoos Road Trip. A classic BC road trip and one of the best drives in the province.

Forget the Coquihalla. We were heading to Osoyoos, and decided to take the scenic route. Highway 1 to Highway 3 (Crowsnest). It’s about 390km from Abbotsford, 4.5 hours straight, but we wanted to make it a full day.

The drive from Abbotsford to our first stop, Hope, took about 45 minutes. It’s a great spot to fuel up and grab coffee at one of our favourites, the Blue Moose Cafe, before we hit the mountains. A quick stretch, and we checked out the chainsaw carvings on our way through.

The next leg was Hope to Manning Park which took about an hour.

This is where it gets beautiful. The climb through Manning Provincial Park is all alpine lakes and forest. We’ll never get enough of our mountains, either.

A must-stop is Lightning Lakes, which is a 5-minute walk from the parking lot, perfect for another leg stretch and lots of photos. In the summer, the meadows are full of wildflowers.

We got back in the car, and from Manning Park, Princeton was our next destination (about an hour).

The descent into Princeton is stunning – open ranch land and the Similkameen River follows along.

Must-stop: since Princeton was another good place to stop for gas, we made a cafe stop, Thomasina’s. This popular bakery, café, bistro, and artisan gift shop is located in a 1912 building in historic downtown Princeton. Cool fact: this building formerly served as a silent movie theatre.

Another hour from Princeton is Keremeos – The Similkameen Valley. This is BC’s organic fruit capital, their fruit stands are ultra popular, especially the peaches, apples & fresh cider.

From Keremeos to Osoyoos, it only took us about 30 minutes, and we felt the temperature jump 5 degrees as we dropped into Canada’s only true desert. Suddenly, sagebrush, cactus, and vineyards were everywhere!

We arrived at Spirit Ridge Resort at Nk’Mip. Perched above Osoyoos Lake on the edge of the desert, Spirit Ridge is part of the Osoyoos Indian Band and owned by the Nk’Mip people.

We checked in, noted Solterra Desert Spa in the lobby, then dropped our bags in our suite, and decided to check out the resort.

The Patio at Mica looks straight down the lake into Washington, we enjoyed a drink there and took in the amazing views.

We spotted Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, right next door, and learned the story of the land we had just driven through.

The architecture alone at this place is worth it. Nk’Mip Cellars, North America’s first Indigenous-owned winery, is only 5 minutes away. Their Qwam Qwmt Chardonnay was the one to try. We decided to do a tasting, enjoying the different flavours of their local wines.

There are two swimming pools here: one adult only and the other for families. We enjoyed a drink poolside, in the sun, but not for too long as it was quite hot.

Our suite was beautiful, very clean & roomy, and it backed on to the nearby golf course. We loved the good sized kitchen, living room, laundry facilities & BBQ on the patio. We enjoyed a good sleep.

We drove into town to see the beach & happened upon a fantastic concert played by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Since we mostly prefer to make our own meals, we had brought a few items from home but also picked up some things in town. Our lovely kitchen space was great to have & made for some peace and quiet with just the two of us.

We immediately said this was a trip we would do again, only we’d stay a little longer. It’s not just a drive from A to B, it’s Fraser Valley green to full desert in one morning.

Top 3 Wineries

1. Nk’Mip Cellars
Your natural #1 because it is already part of your firsthand story. Its Indigenous ownership, location and connection with the Osoyoos Indian Band make it particularly significant.

2. Moon Curser Vineyards
A great contrast to Nk’Mip. Moon Curser specializes in less-common varieties including Touriga Nacional and Carménère, and its tasting room overlooks the vineyards and Osoyoos Lake.

3. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Technically north of Osoyoos near Oliver, but absolutely relevant to an Osoyoos wine-country itinerary. Located off Black Sage Road, it combines wine tasting, vineyard scenery, dining and accommodation.

Top 3 Restaurants in Osoyoos

1. The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry: Located at Spirit Ridge, making this particularly relevant to your article. Its cuisine is influenced by Syilx/Okanagan food traditions.

2. Campo Marina: A long-established Osoyoos choice for Italian-inspired dining, generous portions and Okanagan wines.

3. Convivia Bistro Cuisine: French and Italian bistro-style dining with local Okanagan wines; particularly suited to a relaxed evening meal.

Top Things to See on the Abbotsford–Osoyoos Road Trip

Hope: Stop for coffee, explore downtown and see some of Hope’s famous chainsaw carvings before climbing into the mountains.

Manning Provincial Park: One of the scenic highlights of the entire drive, with mountain forests, alpine scenery and numerous opportunities to stop.

Lightning Lake: Your stop here deserves emphasis. It provides an easy break from driving and beautiful lakeside scenery without requiring a major hike.

Similkameen Valley: Watch the landscape change dramatically as you descend from the mountains toward Princeton and the drier BC Interior.

Princeton: A worthwhile historic small-town stop and a natural place for coffee, fuel and a break before continuing east.

Similkameen River: The river and surrounding ranch country provide some of the most attractive scenery between Princeton and Keremeos.

Keremeos Fruit Stands: This is quintessential Highway 3. Orchards and roadside markets make Keremeos an excellent seasonal stop for peaches, apples, vegetables and other local produce.

Vineyards approaching Osoyoos: One of the best moments of the road trip is watching the landscape transition again as vineyards, sagebrush and dry hills begin to dominate.

Osoyoos Lake: The lake suddenly appears below the surrounding hills, signalling that you’ve reached the South Okanagan.

Anarchist Mountain Lookout: If you have time after arriving, Anarchist Mountain Lookout gives you the big-picture view of where you’ve just travelled: Osoyoos Lake, vineyards, mountains and the valley spreading out below.

Continue Exploring Osoyoos

Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre: This should be high on your list because it adds much more than sightseeing. The Osoyoos Indian Band-operated centre explores Syilx culture, desert ecology and the relationship between the people and the land through indoor exhibits, trails and immersive experiences.
Nk’Mip Cellars: Particularly relevant because you visited it. Nk’Mip identifies itself as North America’s first Indigenous-owned and operated winery, with tastings overlooking Osoyoos and the surrounding vineyards.
Osoyoos Lake: Spend time swimming, paddling, boating or simply enjoying the waterfront. The lake extends across the Canada–U.S. border and is renowned for its warm summer water.
sẁiẁs Provincial Park: Formerly Haynes Point Provincial Park, this narrow peninsula extending into Osoyoos Lake is excellent for walking, wildlife viewing and enjoying the shoreline.
Anarchist Mountain Lookout: Drive east on Highway 3 for one of the classic panoramic views over Osoyoos Lake, vineyards and the South Okanagan Valley.

Nearby Attractions

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