Photo by Doug Nealy on Unsplash
Photo by Julien Kettmann on Unsplash
Photo by Tim van den Boog on Unsplash
Photo by Robbie Down on Unsplash
5 Days in Thompson Okanagan: Sun Peaks Biking and Hiking to Kelowna Wine Country
This 5-day Thompson Okanagan itinerary starts at a Sun Peaks lodge basecamp and blends moderate mountain biking and hiking across mountain trail networks, Battle Mountain, and Myra Canyon's rail trail and trestles, before shifting south to Kelowna for lake paddling, an east shore wine country circuit, and a final Knox Mountain summit push. Travel is by 4x4 SUV, with lodging split between Sun Peaks and a Kelowna lakefront resort, and each day ends with a regroup over a meal.
Built stop by stop, not written as an article.
Xavier starts with this location and helps you build your own version of the trip.
- Days
- 5
- Stops
- 44
- Driving
- 814 km
- On foot
- 32 km
- By bike
- 156 km
- Overnights
- 5
- Level
- moderate
Published by Xploreum · September 2026
ARE YOU XPLORER MATERIAL?
The average Xplorer every year...
Sleeps outside 24 nights
Explores 1,800 miles
Covers 500 miles on foot, skis, bikes, boats and trails
Experiences a 120°F temperature difference
Discovers 18 new places
Does something for the first time 18 times
Sees the Milky Way 11 nights
Takes 6 people on their first adventure
Spends 240 hours away from notifications
Creates stories remembered for decades
The shape of it
How the route moves
5 days and 44 stops, covering 814 km of driving, 32 km on foot, 156 km by bike. Every distance comes from the route records behind this Xpedition.
Route overview, not navigation
Stops are shown at place level. Each leg is coloured by the travel mode we infer from the stops at either end, then drawn along that network: blue for driving, magenta for walking, yellow for cycling and red for water. The mode is our inference, not a confirmed record of how the route was travelled. A grey dashed leg is one we could not route, shown as a straight overview instead. This is an overview of the route, not a turn-by-turn track, and it is not suitable for navigation.
The itinerary
Day by day
All 44 stops, free to read. Every day is editable once the route is yours.
Photo by Max Mustermann on Unsplash
Arrival and First Laps at Sun Peaks
- 10.4 km drive
- Night: Sun Peaks Grand Hotel area accommodation.Remaining fields could be numeric values.height_m:100,
Settle into your Sun Peaks basecamp lodge, which offers underground parking and bike storage, ideal for a mixed biking and hiking group. After check-in, head to the village day lodge area for lunch, trail maps, and bike rentals if needed. From the Sunburst Chairlift base, the group splits for the afternoon mission: bikers descend the Kamloops flow trail, an 8.5 km run through the mid-mountain trail network, while hikers take the Ridge Trail to the Tod Lake viewpoint, a 6 km loop with about 200 m of elevation gain. Everyone regroups at the mid-mountain bar before returning to the Sunburst base to load gear. Cap the day with dinner at the lodge restaurant, featuring a West Coast menu and mountain views, then unwind in the mountain-view rooms with hot tub access for the first night.
Sun Peaks area lodgeDrive
Check-in at your basecamp lodge with underground parking and bike storage facilities.
+0.5 km along the route
Village day lodge areameal
Lunch at the village. Grab trail maps and rent bikes if needed.
+0.4 km along the route
Sunburst Chairlift BaseDrive
Park at the Sunburst base. Gondola loads here for uplift access.
+8.5 km along the route
Mid-Mountain Trail Networkactivity
Split mission: bikers take Kamloops flow trail (8.5 km descent), hikers take Ridge Trail to Tod Lake viewpoint (6 km loop, 200m gain). Regroup at mid-mountain bar at 4:30 PM.
+0.4 km along the route
Sunburst Chairlift BaseDrive
Return to parking, load bikes and gear.
+0.5 km along the route
Mountain restaurantmeal
Dinner at the lodge. West Coast menu with mountain views.
+0.1 km along the route
Sun Peaks area lodgelodge
Night 1. Mountain view rooms with access to hot tub.
Photo by Julien Kettmann on Unsplash
Backcountry Split Mission and Kamloops Lake
- 120 km drive
- 12 km on foot
- 110 km by bike
- Night: Sun Peaks area accommodation.Remaining numbers represent measured metrics.km...6900+elevation_data.Totaldistance:298+driven:145. biked:153 in real terrain. Gains:78m cumulative tally
After breakfast at the lodge, the group heads out to Battle Mountain, where hikers are dropped at the trailhead while bikers continue north for a shuttle. The hiking group tackles an out-and-back ridge route to the Battle Mountain summit, 6 km one-way with roughly 450 m of elevation gain, passing through alpine meadows with regional views before returning to the trailhead to wait for the riders. Meanwhile, bikers shuttle up to the Inks Lake FSR summit for a 25 km descent back toward the Battle Mountain trailhead area, mixing flow, gravel, and technical rock garden sections. Once reunited, the group drives west to Kamloops Lake for a relaxed afternoon of swimming and lakeside downtime, cooler in tow. An early dinner follows at a brewhouse in the Kamloops area, with craft beer and patio seating, before the return drive to Sun Peaks for a second night at the lodge, hot tub included.
Sun Peaks area lodgelodge
Breakfast and gear up. Bikers load bikes, hikers pack daypacks.
+8.2 km along the route
Battle Mountain Trailhead areaDrive
Drop hikers at Battle Mountain trailhead. Bikers continue north for shuttle.
+6 km along the route
Battle Mountain SummitHike
Out-and-back ridge hike. 6 km one-way, 450m gain. Alpine meadow and regional views.
+6 km along the route
Battle Mountain Trailhead areaDrive
Hikers return to trailhead. Wait for bikers to arrive.
+12 km along the route
Inks Lake FSR SummitDrive
Bikers shuttle to top of Inks Lake FSR. 25 km descent starts here.
+25 km along the route
Battle Mountain Trailhead areabike
25 km descent on Inks Lake FSR and connector trails. Mix of flow, gravel, and technical rock gardens.
+85 km along the route
Kamloops Lake access areaDrive
Drive west to Kamloops Lake. Beach access for swimming and afternoon relaxation.
Kamloops Lake Beachactivity
Swim, relax, and regroup. Bring a cooler with supplies.
+48 km along the route
Brewhouse restaurant in Kamloops areameal
Early dinner in Kamloops. Craft beer and casual dining with patio seating.
+52 km along the route
Sun Peaks area lodgelodge
Night 2. Same rooms with access to rooftop hot tub.
Photo by Juliann Hervio on Unsplash
Myra Canyon Trestles and Arrival in Kelowna
- 177 km drive
- 15 km on foot
- 30 km by bike
- Night: Manteo Resort area, Kelowna
Check out of the Sun Peaks lodge and drive south to the Myra Canyon east trailhead area, where the group splits again by activity. Hikers walk the rail trail 7.5 km one-way to the iconic Trestle 10 viewpoint, a gentle grade with about 100 m of elevation gain, then return to the trailhead to wait for the riders. Bikers take on a 30 km out-and-back ride along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, crossing multiple trestles on smooth gravel with sweeping canyon views. With everyone back at the trailhead and bikes loaded, the drive continues into Kelowna. Check in to a lakefront resort and spend the evening exploring the waterfront before dinner downtown at a regional restaurant known for farm-to-table Okanagan cuisine and wine pairings. Night 3 is spent at the lakefront resort, with private beach access and lake-view balconies.
Sun Peaks area lodgelodge
Breakfast, check out, and load the vehicle. Heading south.
+138 km along the route
Myra Canyon east trailhead areaDrive
Myra Canyon east trailhead parking. Bikes unload here, hikers start here.
+7.5 km along the route
Trestle 10 ViewpointHike
Hikers walk 7.5 km one-way on rail trail to iconic trestle. 100m elevation gain, gentle grade.
+7.5 km along the route
Myra Canyon east trailhead areaDrive
Hikers return to trailhead. Wait for bikers.
+15 km along the route
Kettle Valley Rail Trail turnaround areabike
Bikers ride 30 km out-and-back on rail trail. Multiple trestles, canyon views, smooth gravel surface.
+15 km along the route
Myra Canyon east trailhead areaDrive
Bikers return to parking. Load bikes and gear.
+32 km along the route
Kelowna waterfront areaDrive
Drive into Kelowna. Check in to lakefront hotel and explore the waterfront.
+1.2 km along the route
Regional restaurant in Kelownameal
Dinner downtown. Farm-to-table Okanagan cuisine with wine pairings.
+5.8 km along the route
Lakefront resort in Kelownalodge
Night 3. Waterfront resort with private beach and balconies overlooking the lake.
Photo by Anthony Picotte on Unsplash
Paddle and Wine Country
- 103 km drive
- Night: Lakefront resort in Kelowna
Start the day with breakfast on the resort patio, then gear up for water time. The group kayaks and paddleboards on the lake right from the resort, with bikers and hikers alike exploring the shoreline before regrouping by noon. After rinsing gear and changing, load up for a scenic drive south along the east shore into wine country. The wine country circuit includes a first tasting stop featuring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the patio, a late lunch at a vineyard restaurant with wood-fired pizza and charcuterie amid vineyard views, and a final tasting of rose and white wines overlooking the lake. The drive back to Kelowna times out for a sunset arrival at the resort, followed by a beach evening with takeout or snacks and lake sunset views. Night 4 is spent back at the same lakefront rooms.
Lakefront resort in Kelownalodge
Breakfast on the patio. Gear up for water activities with sunscreen and protective clothing.
Lake water activities areaWater
Kayak and paddleboard on the lake. Bikers and hikers explore the shoreline. Regroup by noon.
Lakefront resort in KelownaDrive
Return to resort, rinse gear, change clothes. Load vehicle for wine country.
+48 km along the route
Wine country south of KelownaDrive
Drive south to wine region. Scenic route along the east shore.
+1.2 km along the route
Winery tasting roomactivity
First tasting stop. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the patio.
+2.8 km along the route
Winery restaurant areaactivity
Late lunch at vineyard restaurant. Wood-fired pizza, charcuterie, vineyard views.
+2.5 km along the route
Winery tasting roomactivity
Final tasting. Rose and white wines with lake views.
+53.5 km along the route
Lakefront resort in KelownaDrive
Drive back to Kelowna. Sunset arrival at the resort.
Beach area at resortactivity
Beach evening with sunset views. Bring takeout or snacks from town.
Lakefront resort in Kelownalodge
Night 4. Same rooms with lake views.
Knox Mountain and the Journey Home
- 404 km drive
- 5 km on foot
- 16 km by bike
- Night: Home
After an early checkout and breakfast, drive to the Knox Mountain Park trailhead for one final split mission. Hikers climb the ridge trail to the summit, 2.5 km one-way with about 300 m of elevation gain and rewarding city and lake views, then head back down to the trailhead. Bikers ride an 8 km loop to the same summit via multi-use trails, also gaining about 300 m through a mix of flow and technical sections, before returning to the parking area to load bikes and gear for the last time. Celebrate the trip with a downtown brunch of eggs and beverages, then begin the drive home. The final leg is about a 5.5 hour highway drive, with stops along the way for fuel and snacks.
Lakefront resort in Kelownalodge
Early checkout and breakfast. Load vehicle for one last adventure.
+7.2 km along the route
Knox Mountain Park Trailhead areaDrive
Drive to Knox Mountain Park main trailhead. Parking for all activities.
+2.5 km along the route
Knox Mountain SummitHike
Hikers take ridge trail to summit. 2.5 km one-way, 300m gain. City and lake views.
+2.5 km along the route
Knox Mountain Park Trailhead areaDrive
Hikers return to trailhead.
+8 km along the route
Knox Mountain Summitbike
Bikers ride 8 km loop to summit via multi-use trails. 300m gain with flow and technical sections.
+8 km along the route
Knox Mountain Park Trailhead areaDrive
Bikers return to parking. Load bikes and gear for the final time.
+4.8 km along the route
Regional restaurant in Kelownameal
Brunch downtown. Celebrate with eggs and beverages.
+392 km along the route
Home destinationDrive
Drive home via highway. 5.5 hour drive with stops for fuel and snacks.
5 days does not quite fit?
Take this route as your starting point and reshape it around your dates, your pace, and the stops you care about most.
WHAT XPLORERS ARE SAYING
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Before you go
What this route assumes
Only the fields this route actually holds data for.
Where you sleep
Overnight areas in route order: Sun Peaks Grand Hotel area accommodation.Remaining fields could be numeric values.height_m:100,, Sun Peaks area accommodation.Remaining numbers represent measured metrics.km...6900+elevation_data.Totaldistance:298+driven:145. biked:153 in real terrain. Gains:78m cumulative tally, Manteo Resort area, Kelowna, Lakefront resort in Kelowna, Home. Xavier pairs each with live lodging options once the route is yours.
Vehicle
Built as a 4x4 suv route, mixed mountain biking and hiking. Xavier adapts it to what you actually drive.
Level
Paced for moderate travelers. Days can be split or merged to change the load.
How this Xpedition was built
Assembled from structured route and waypoint records, not written as an article, and reviewed before publication. Confirm conditions, closures, and permits before you travel.
- Route structured
- Distances calculated
- Reviewed before publication
- Published September 2026
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Make this Xpedition yours.
Dates, pace, lodging, vehicle, and who is coming can all be rebuilt around you, starting from this exact route: 5 Days in Thompson Okanagan: Sun Peaks Biking and Hiking to Kelowna Wine Country.
You keep
- The full 5 day route, editable day by day
- Distances and pacing recalculated around you
- One conversation to change anything