Kalamalka Lake

I arrived in Vernon, BC at night on October 4, completely unsure of what to expect. I had been talking to a colleague at work about my upcoming visit to the Okanagan Valley and he assured me that I should not miss out on the town of Vernon and nearby Kalamalka Lake. Boy, was he right.

 

Sunset on the way into town:

 

 

 

and downtown Vernon at night:

 

 

 

I loved the lights in the trees!

During the day, I visited Polson Park, which had an outdoor gym, bandstand, a skatepark, and some pristine landscaping.

 

 

 

Then, about 4 km south of Vernon, I discovered Lake Kalamalka... and I have NEVER seen the likes.

 

 

 

 

The first area I stumbled on was this beach. I spent probably about 2 hours just there, wandering on the sand an the docks, trying to register the fact that this was my life right now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At some point, it occurred to me that there is a whole national park surrounding this place, and I should probably take it in. I headed out on foot.

 

 

 

 

Being on foot, I didn't make it to any of the other beach areas. I did, however, circle back for what felt like a trip to a tropical paradise, but was in reality just a view of the lake from a whole other angle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

...aaaaaaaaaand back to the original beach at a different time of day for some different lighting:

 

 

 

 

Unreal.
And not done yet.

What's over here? Hmm... maybe I'll just take a little stroll up this way...

*an hour hike later*

 

 

 

 

 

 Seriously.
There are so many more pictures, but this is really something you have to see for yourself. Even I had to put down my camera for a while and catch my breath, and coming from me, I think that really says something about the majesty and natural glory of this piece of Canadian paradise.