Area Attractions

SIMILKAMEEN RIVER

The inspiring landscape around Keremeos can be enjoyed in many ways.  One of the favorites on hot summer days is to take a cool dip in the Similkameen River.  Tubing, canoeing or kayaking down the river is an unforgettable experience, including encountering wildlife such as deer, wild horses or bear!  Fly fishers will find plenty of action in the eddies of the Similkameen.  At the west end of Keremeos, off of Highway 3,  you will see the heritage landmark Ashnola Bridge (Red Bridge) that was built by VV&E Railroad in 1909.  It is the last remaining covered bridge in western Canada and is the gateway to Cathedral Provincial Park.

KEREMEOS MUSEUM

414 9^th Avenue

Phone:  250-499-6075

For access to the Museum, please visit their website or email info@keremeosmuseum.ca.

Learn the history and stories of Keremeos.  Pick up a “Heritage Walking Tour” brochure of Keremeos and go for an historical walk-about through the town.

GRIST MILL

2691 Upper Bench Road

Phone:  250-499-2888

The Grist Mill is located beside Keremeos Creek, on Upper Bench Road just one kilometer east off Highway 3A on the north side of Keremeos. Surrounded by mountains in a near-desert environment, the Grist Mill and Gardens seems like an oasis with its shade trees, colourful flower beds and waters of the creeks flowing through the property.  Inside the store/house (Exhibit Building), there is a model of the mill and an area devoted to explaining the restoration process.  The Mill and Gardens are an education family-fun place to visit.  It still grinds flour every day and you can sample it in the homemade bread at the Grist Mill’s restaurant.  The site also features the original general store, gardens, and interpretive presentations. Throughout the year there are special events such as markets, musical concerts, dining, and classes.  There are a number of Creekside campsites alongside the site, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful Similkameen Valley.  Visit their website to see what this beautiful place has to offer!

CATHEDRAL LAKES PROVINCIAL PARK

In contrast to the semi-desert Similkameen Valley, Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park is 80,000 acres of lush alpine meadows.  The Park contains six alpine lakes and five glacier topped peaks.  A fit hiker will need a day to hike in and another day to hike out.  For those who prefer to save their energy for strolling the alpine meadows, Cathedral Lakes Resort will drive you and your gear to their alpine lodge for a fee.  The Resort is world class, so we recommend you enjoy its comforts and fine cuisine after a day of alpine hiking, bird watching and exploration of fantastic quartzite rock formations.

WINERIES

Recently named by enRoute Magazine as “one of the world’s 5 best wine regions you’ve never heard of”, the Similkameen wineries are starting to get some of the attention they deserve.  This little patch of vineyards and orchards in the hot, dry and sunny Similkameen Valley is turning out some stunning grape and fruit wines.  The Similkameen Valley has been growing fruit and grapes for many years, but it is only recently that there has been a rapid expansion in the number of wineries.  Par of the reason the Similkameen is making such diverse and interesting wines is the complexity of the local soils.  These soils and the different elevation and aspects of the vineyards and orchards allow successful wines to be made from aromatic whites to full-bodies and complex reds, and an endless array of marvelous fruit wines.  There is also a spirit distillery and a growing number of cideries in the area.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Keremeos is famously known as the “fruit stand capitol of Canada”.   Part of healthy living naturally in Keremeos is access to fresh, clean fruits and vegetables.  There are about a dozen fruit stands in and around the Village.  Everything tastes good when it is fresh from the farm, but the Lower Similkameen is particularly noted for the flavours of its peaches, nectarines and tomatoes.  Besides fruits and vegetables, many fruit stands sell preserves, baked goods & other treats, milkshakes and samosas!

Have you heard of the Ambrosia Apple?  The area around Keremeos is the home of the Ambrosia apple.  In the early 1990s, the Mennell family in BC’s Similkameen Valley discovered a tree in Sally Mennell’s orchard which bore unusual apples.  Their orchard had previously been planted with Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, but they had replanted the area with Jonagold trees.  A chance seedling grew up in one of the rows.  Once the existing tree had matured, they cut and grafted a few branches onto other trees to see if they would still grow the same apples.  The procedure was a success, and Ambrosia was born.  The Ambrosia apples have the general conical share of their parents, Reds and Goldens, but their color, texture and taste are distinctly superior and unique.  Something else that we are proud of is that over 200 kinds of peppers are grown organically in the Keremeos area.  That is why our harvest festival is the Similkameen Sizzle!

APEX MOUNTAIN RESORT

Within a 40 minute drive (approximately 35 km northwest of Keremeos) is the Apex Mountain Ski Resort.  Apex receives an average of 600cm of snow a year and has a summit elevation of 2187m.  There are 4.5km² of skiable terrain and 50km of groomed cross country terrain.  There are 67 named trails accessed by a total of four ski-lifts including one high speed quad.  An outdoor skating loop and a tubing hill are also available.

GOLFING

There are two golf courses in the area.  Twin Lakes Golf Course is a 15 minute drive to the east of Keremeos and the Princeton Golf Course is 40 minutes to the west.

If you enjoy disc golf, Pine Park at 551 12^th Avenue, Keremeos has 9 accessible-friendly holes in a beautiful tree’d park next to the river.  Discs are available for rent from the Recreation Center, 311-9^th Street.   A new course just opened up late spring 2025 in Hedley.