Okanagan. 
Know before you go
Advisories
Special notes
- The Okanagan Rail Trail bisects the park near the water, providing easy walking or cycling opportunities north and south along Kalamalka Lake. Please note that parking is limited during the summer months and those accessing the trail are asked to consider using the Regional District parking lot above the Park, off highway 97.
- There is still limited shade in the campground, although lake breezes cool the campground in the evening. As a result of this Kekuli Bay is becoming on of the most sought after parks in the region as many visitors are discovering the picturesque, tranquil spring and fall months where they can enjoy the manicured grounds and view while soaking in the warm Okanagan sun.
Review the detailed guides under visit responsibly for more information on staying safe and preserving our natural spaces.
Visit responsibly
Follow these guides to ensure your activities are safe, respectful, and ecologically friendly:
Maps and location
Getting there
The park is located 11km south of Vernon, off Highway #97, and on the west side of Kalamalka Lake. The park boundary is 2km from the Hwy 97 turn-off and the campground is 1km beyond that. The highway turn-off is well signed.
Camping
Frontcountry camping
This park offers vehicle-accessible campsites including four large double sites. The campsites are arranged in three terraced loops to give all sites an unobstructed view of the lake. The sites have large gravel pads great for big RVs. Irrigated lawn landscaped with young trees and a variety of shrubs separates the sites. There is natural vegetation between the different terraces. Reservations are accepted. During the peak season, all of the sites reservable and non-occupied reservation sites can accommodate first come, first served customers for one, or perhaps more nights, depending on availability.
For electrified sites:
Frontcountry campgrounds
Walk-in camping
There are four walk-in campsites available. Located in a shared grassy area, each site has a picnic table and a firepit, and can accommodate from one to four people, in either one large or two small tents. Camping equipment must be carried up from the adjacent parking lot.
Walk-in campgrounds
Things to do
There are 2.6km of gravel walking trails through the grasslands around the campground. The terrain is gently sloped. For your own safety and the preservation of the park, obey posted signs and keep to designated trails. Shortcutting trails destroys plant life and soil structure.
The swimming area is rocky. Use caution due to proximity to active train track and boat launch.
There are no lifeguards on duty in BC Parks.
Canoeing and Kayaking is permitted on Kalamalka Lake.
Please obey all posted speed and vessel restrictions. Daily kokanee quota is two.
Anyone fishing in British Columbia must have an appropriate licence. To learn more, see the fishing and hunting guide.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has a fun, hands on, Learn to Fish Program that will teach basic angling skills to youth under 16 years old. Check back to this page or ask the park operator for more information.
Pets and domestic animals must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. You are responsible for their behaviour and must dispose of their excrement.
Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are not allowed on the trails within Kekuli Bay Park. E-bikes are restricted to park roads and areas where motorized use is permitted. The only exception to this policy will be for authorized and identified trail maintenance bikes conducting work on behalf of BC Parks.
Facilities
Accessibility information is available for this park.
While campfires are allowed and campfire rings are provided at each campsite, we encourage visitors to conserve wood and protect the environment by minimizing the use of fire and using campstoves instead.
Firewood can be purchased in the park or you may bring your own wood. Fees for firewood are set locally and may vary from park to park.
To preserve vegetation and ground cover, please don’t gather firewood from the area around your campsite or elsewhere in the park (this is a ticketable offence under the Park Act). Dead wood is an important habitat element for many plants and animals and it adds organic matter to the soil.
Campfire bans may be in place. Before lighting a fire, check for bans or restrictions on BC Wildfire Service and on local or Indigenous government websites.
Kekuli Bay Park offers four vehicle accessible campsites (#70-73) with electrical hook-ups. These small, paved sites are located in the overflow area and offer both 15amp and 30amp service with a standard RV receptacle (NEMA TT-30). Each site has its own picnic table, but the sites share a common fire pit. These sites are reservable.
There is an additional electrical service charge of $8 per night for these sites (whether the power is in use or not).
A day-use and picnic facility is located just off the boat launch parking area. The large, open lawn area overlooks the lake and the boat launch. There are four picnic tables on cement pads, two with BBQ attachments, and one freestanding BBQ. The lawn is level and surrounds an adventure playground. There is no shade.
The park has mostly flush toilets, however, there are also a couple of pit toilets located throughout the park.
There are warm showers at this park. The shower building has a men’s and a women’s side. Each side has two sinks with nearby plug-ins, one toilet, and two shower stalls with small change areas.
About this park
The park name “kekuli” was chosen from submissions by local school students who participated in a name-the-park contest. Kekuli refers to semi-subterranean homes built by Interior Salish natives. There is evidence of kekuli pits, and other First Nations use in the park.
Established as a park on March 8, 1990.
The grasslands surrounding the campground provide habitat for field mice and other food sources for raptors like the red listed Prairie falcon. There is a nest platform north of the playground visible on the drive into the park. Also found in the park is the blue listed Western rattlesnake and two red listed plants, Bluebunch wheatgrass and Black cottonwood.
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.
Contact
| Reservations, changes, and cancellations | Our call centre is open from 7 am to 7 pm Pacific Time. There is a $5 fee for reservations, changes, or cancellations made by phone.
|
|---|---|
| Park operator | This park is operated by Kaloya Contracting Ltd. Please specify the park name when sending or leaving a message. |
| General questions and feedback for BC Parks | We answer emails weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm Pacific Time. |
