Before entering Osoyoos there is a long high pass above the town called Anarchist Pass. Along the pass are 2 areas where large trucks are meant to pull over and check the brakes, and several runaway lanes (a little nerve wracking). On the way down, the road is steep with tight curves and the views are amazing. We stopped at a lookout to take a picture of Osoyoos from above.
The origin of the name Osoyoos was the word sẁiẁs (pronounced “soo-yoos”) meaning “narrowing of the waters” in the local Okanagan language.
Osoyoos is a border town in the south Okanagon Valley situated around a lake which extends into the US. The border is 20 minutes from town. The town supports a large tourist population year round and is known for the warmest weather in Canada. The area is commonly called the Okanagon Desert. There are shrubs here that are not found anywhere else in Canada, as well as Ratlesnakes and Bull Snakes and of coursse, hundreds of wineries.
We arrange a weeks stay at the NK’Mip Rv Campground at the edge of town, owned by the local tribe, in an area known as Spirit Ridge. There is a large RV park with some sites on the lake – a 9 hole golf course – a winery – an inn with condo rentals and restaurants – and a discovery centre, all owned and operated by the tribe. We are given a site near the office where we are assured the Wifi would be better.
Our stay for the week is relaxing and rejuvinating as the weather warms up a little each day. We golf at 2 local golf courses – NK’Mip which is a 9 hole course in the Spirit Ridge desert where the course rises up into the ridge and provides great views and a unique golf experience for us. The Osoyoos Golf Club is a semi-private course with 2 very different 18 hole choices. On one side, is Park Meadows which is great for walkers, and the other is Desert Gold which climbs high above the town into the desert above. We golf Desert Gold because they have a deal with a cart in the afternoon.
We vist some wineries during the week and take a drive into Penticton, a city 45 minutes or so to the North, in order to start the process of changing over our ID. In Penticton we also visit a winery and cheese factory that we had been to 5 years ago in the upper bench. The cheese there is to die for.
We also took a drive into the US to have lunch at Trino’s which was recommended to us, and on the way back checked out Swiws Provincial park which is located in Osoyoos on a pennisula which juts out into the lake. It is a very small and primitive campground which requires booking well in advance. We will perhaps look into booking it for a future visit.