Welcome back to the group chat! If you’ve been following me on social media, you know these past few weeks I’ve been doing a whole lot more than just eating. I recently was introduced to mother nature’s creations that have been hidden ten minutes from my house, this whole dang time! With experienced guides and gorgeous views, canyoning in the Okanagan was certainly an excursion I will never forget.
What to Expect
There are currently two different canyons to check out with Okanagan Canyoning. The first one is located a hop, skip, and a jump from the airport, and the second is in Penticton. Gear is provided and the helmets are equipped with go-pro attachments if needed.
Here are some of the main differences:
Kelowna
- Beginner friendly
- Rapells and ziplining
- 10 minute hike in
Penticton
- Must complete a rappelling school workshop
- Walk arounds not available once you reach the lower part of the canyon
- 8-9 rapells
What I Did
We met up with Okanagan Canyoning at the Kelowna Fruit Stand, by the airport, went through a safety briefing and then followed our guides in our vehicles to the canyon. They geared us up and led us down a short 10 minute hike to the canyon entrance. I went May 1st on the Kelowna adventure and the water was freezing but with the gear provided, I was able to stay warm. I chose to wear water shoes instead of runners and they had enough grip to keep me safe on the trek.
First, we had a guided rappel down a waterfall, and thankfully, because of the time of year, we didn’t get doused in water on the way down! I was nervous due to my slight fear of heights, but I was keen on embracing my adventurous side. Only screaming a little on the short way down.. After each rappel we waited for the rest of our group to make it down before continuing on. For this reason I’d recommend going with a smaller group if possible.
Next, we had a zipline down a waterfall with gorgeous views! This is where being somewhat fit comes into place as you need to pull yourself up a few ropes in this section. If I’m being honest, I’m pretty sure my guide pulled me up more than I pulled myself up. If you’re reading this, I’m grateful for you!
After a little bit of rock climbing we ziplined down and into a pool of water with a nice big splash and swim out. This one was my favourite out of the three! They definitely saved the best for last. After this there was the option to go down a natural waterslide or head back up. Since the slide meant being fully submerged in the water, I opted out. BOO I KNOW. If it was warmer I would have! Just means I’ll have to go again 😎
My Final Thoughts
This is an activity everyone should have on their Okanagan bucket list. Yes we have wineries and plenty of breweries, but we also have plenty of outdoor fun to enjoy! It’s about $170 per person for 4 hours of canyoning, which is a really good price for everything you get. I would recommend going with people you know, however, I went by myself and made some new friends along the way. Something about cold water that just brings people together.
As always, I hope you have the best time Discovering Kelowna 🌄