Skaha Bluffs Park provides a variety of recreation opportunities including hiking, rockclimbing, and wildlife viewing while also protecting habitat for a variety of species at risk.
World-class climbing opportunities are found at Skaha Bluffs though it is important to note that climbing is prohibited in the southern area (the section of the park that encompasses Gillies Creek).
The distinctive terrain features of the bluffs along with the Gillies Creek corridor reflect extremely threatened riparian and grassland plant communities.
Park opening/closing dates: The park is open year-round. The parking lot access road gate is seasonally closed from mid-November to mid-March and closed daily from dusk to dawn. There is no overnight parking permitted in the park at any time.
Visitor numbers are high on long weekends in spring and fall. As the parking lots fill up, vehicles parking along the paved park road have caused access and safety concerns. Cars parked on the single-lane road present a physical barrier to emergency vehicles (fire, ambulance, search and rescue) and impede regular traffic flow. There is no parking along the single-lane park access road. Overflow parking is available at the bottom of Smythe Road.
There have been a number of recent vehicle break-ins at the parking lots at Skaha Bluffs. If possible, don’t leave valuable items in your vehicle. Ensure that any valuables are out of sight and that your vehicle is locked. Report suspicious activity and thefts to the RCMP.
This park protects a rare and fragile ecosystem, and experiences increasing visitor numbers each year. Dogs impact park values, posing a threat to wildlife, ecology, and public safety. Keeping dogs leashed reduces their impact.
Accessibility information is available for this park.
This park only has pit toilets, no flush toilets.
The area contains essential habitat for bighorn sheep. Please keep your distance from bighorn sheep as they can be very territorial and sensitive to human presence.
Dogs must be leashed at all times in the park
This park protects a rare and fragile ecosystem, and experiences increasing visitor numbers each year. Dogs impact park values, posing a threat to wildlife, ecology, and public safety. Keeping dogs leashed reduces their impact.
Mountain biking restricted to designated trails. Bicycles must keep to roadways. Bicycle helmets are mandatory in British Columbia.
Please note that bicycles with electric assist motors (e-bikes) are permitted on signed or designated trails within Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, provided they meet the definitions and criteria for e-bike use as outlined in the BC Parks cycling guidelines.
Skaha Bluffs is south of Penticton on the east side of Skaha Lake. Access is from Lakeside Road to Smythe Road up along Gillies Creek.
Please note that road access is closed seasonally, approximately from November 15 to March 1.
This park proudly operated by:
Kaloya Contracting Ltd.
info@campokanagan.com
250-766-7972
(This is not a campsite reservations number)
Please specify the park name when sending/leaving a message.
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.