Located on the benchlands above Okanagan Lake, 16 km from Vernon, Ellison Provincial Park makes a great beach getaway. The lovely pink sand and pebble beaches in sheltered coves are perfect for swimming and paddling, and there is even a beach exclusively for pets!
Ellison Provincial Park is just out of the way enough that the beautiful beaches are clean and never too crowded, but if youβre planning on camping, plan ahead! The campground fills up three months in advance and those hoping to nab a first come, first served site must be prepared to spend a few nights in the overflow lot. There are no power sites, but there are flush toilets throughout the campground and showers.
Sites are large and partially shaded with moderate privacy (low shrubs between most sites). The campground can get quite hot by late afternoon, but fortunately, respite is just a 5-minute walk away. There is plenty of shade at the beaches and adjacent picnic area as well as a volleyball net, (cold) shower, and outhouses.
My girls loved swimming to the rock at Otter Bay, swimming to the buoys (at both beaches) and playing at the adventure playground. There is a great network of hiking and mountain biking trails in the area we hope to explore more on future visits.
Know Before You Go
- Be sure to bring plenty of groceries, cash, and ice as the nearest store is 10 km away.
- The campground operator (cash only) sells ice, firewood, and frozen treats.
- Bring a bug screen house as wasps can be bad at certain times of year.
- If youβre travelling with baby, a travel crib with a mosquito net would be helpful for naptime by the beach.
- Summer temperatures get really high β plan to be done hiking or biking by 11 am.
- Take precautions against swimmersβ itch β put on lots of waterproof sunscreen or baby oil before going in the water and then shower and towel off vigorously after. If you get swimmersβ itch, apply calamine lotion and take an antihistamine to help with the intense itching. Our girls did not get swimmersβ itch at Ellison Provincial Park, but they got it at Kin Beach (near downtown Vernon).
Getting Here
Ellison Provincial Park is located 17 km from downtown Vernon, or 572 km from Calgary.
Reserve Now
To reserve a campsite at Ellison Provincial Park, visit BCParks.ca/reservations.
Recommended Excursions
- Kalamalka Lake β Kal Beach, Cosens Bay Beach
- Vernon β Paddlewheel Park (sandy beach, shade, playground), Polson Park (gardens, a duck pond, playground, spray park and outdoor workout equipment!)
- Wine Tasting in Lake Country: Several wineries offer free tastings, but only Gray Monk has a restaurant. We had a fantastic dinner at Gray Monk!
- U-pick farmsβ Peterβs U-Pick Orchard and Davison Orchards were highly recommended to us.
Conclusion
We enjoyed the private feel of Ellisonβs sheltered coves and would stay here again for the opportunity to stay in a smaller (71 sites), quieter campground. Bring bikes and kayaks so you can make the most of the park!
Where do you like to camp in the Okanagan?
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