If you are looking to take your family for a short walk and view wildlife along the way, stop by and check out the Vaseux Lake Wildlife Centre and Bird Sanctuary.
This walk is perfect for children of all ages as it’s an easy flat 10-minute walk to the wildlife viewing tower to see birds and other animals.
Location
From Penticton, take Highway 97 South and it’s a 21-minute drive (26.4 km) to the Wildlife Centre.
We weren’t paying attention and drove right past the clearly marked sign. You will see it on the right-hand side of the road, just 5km past the famous Tickleberry’s Ice Cream Shop.
From the town of Oliver, you will follow Highway 97 North and it’s a 13 minutes drive (15.6 km).
Parking
There are quite a few parking spaces available, although I could imagine these fill up quickly in the busier months.
Tourists and locals will stop here to take a break or to enjoy a snack by their vehicles or in the Wildlife Park.
Information Kiosk
After parking, you will head to the information kiosk at the entrance of the Vaseux Lake Wildlife Park.
Here you will find information on the grasslands, conservation lands, types of birds, and more.
We didn’t make it far from the information kiosk and the girls already discovered bugs…well ants.
The Boardwalk
From the information kiosk, you will take a short walk along the dirt pathway until you reach the boardwalk.
Be sure to stay on the path as there are lots of poison ivy plants along the walk. There is signage showing what the poison ivy plants look like for you to avoid.
There are a few benches along the pathway where you can stop and rest while looking for fish and birds.
Wildlife Viewing Tower
At the end of the boardwalk is a wildlife viewing tower. You can climb the three sets of stairs to reach the top for views stretching over Vaseux Lake.
At the top, there is a bench to sit and relax along with a sign showing all the birds of the Vaseux Lake area.
Photo Opportunities
We visited Vaseux Lake Wildlife Centre in the spring and everything was lush and green.
This is an ideal location to take family photographs or individual pictures of your kids.
Tips & Tricks
- Washrooms are available on-site (one for ladies, one for men)
- There are benches along the way to sit and rest
- Bring snacks and water to stop and rest and enjoy the scenery
- Stay on the path as there are signs warning of poison ivy
- Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash
