Penticton, BC Outdoor Activities

Surrounded by rolling mountains and the shimmering waters of Okanagan Lake, packs of go-karts spend their days chasing each other around Westside Superkarts’ challenging track. Under new management, Westside allows adult karts to navigate four hairpin and four banked turns at various speeds—basic single and double karts can hit 35 kph, performance karts are capable of 60 kph, and Extreme Elite karts reach velocities of up to 75 kph. Kiddie karts putter around a separate track, offering their young operators important driving tips, such as how to pass politely. After the races are finished, drivers may receive a personalized print-out or e-mail of their lap times, view them through a smart phone app, and have them posted to Facebook.

Adventure Forever's certified mountain guides and first-aid responders enlighten beginning outdoorspeople and seasoned aficionados alike on the intricacies of ice climbing, rock climbing, and easy to difficult day hikes. During full-day treks and lessons, guides escort troupes of thrill seekers up frozen faces and climbing courses, plying their clientele with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle Mother Nature's vertical labyrinths. Each experienced guide carries years of wisdom, capably leading participants through regions stretching across Canada, the United States, and Middle Earth.

Behind the wheel of Top Gear Karting's high performance go-karts, drivers zoom around Penticton Speedway at up to 75 km/h. The wheels of up to 14 Intrepid karts—including senior models for drivers over age 14 and junior models for younger drivers—navigate the 0.7-kilometre track and its one banked turn during drop-in races that last 10 minutes apiece. Top Gear Karting's convenient arrive and drive program outfits drivers with all the equipment they need to take part in these individual races, face foes in league match-ups, or taste burnt rubber during driving academy lessons.

Only 15 minutes from Penticon, BC, Twin Lakes Golf Course stretches out over 285 acres of valley terrain, nestled among mountain slopes thick with deciduous trees such as firs and pines. The 18-hole, par 72 course takes advantage of its scenic surroundings by challenging golfers with elevated tees, which players summit with the help of shoes equipped with either cleats or spider feet. A long, treacherous sand trap lurks along hole 16’s left side, earning it recognition as the course’s second most difficult hole—just on the heels of hole seven, whose own sand trap and narrowed fairway make it the most challenging on the course. Players warm up at a driving range with six hitting stations or the chipping and putting practice areas before swinging through the course, and they can drop by the restaurant afterward to sip a micro-brewed foamer on the patio and gaze out at the players cartwheeling across the grass on holes 1, 9, and 10.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,867 yards from the farthest set of tees
• Course 71.9 rating of from the farthest set of tees
• Slope rating of 125 from the farthest set of tees
• See the scorecard

The staff at Gyro Beach Watersports believes "fun in the sun" is the only way to take full advantage of a summer day. Staffers dedicate their workdays to launching clients into the sparkling water of Okanagan Lake, whether they are paddling in a one-seat kayak or jumping atop a 13-foot water trampoline. At the Giant Water park, located 250 yards from the shore, swimmers leap on bouncy platforms, slide down inflatable equipment, and walk air-filled balance beams, happily slipping into the welcoming, cool lake. For relatively dry fun, the staff pairs visitors with inflatable rafts for relaxing soaks in the sun, or standup paddleboards for on-water gondolier training.

At Urban Links, golfers up their games with hands-on training sessions with certified instructors and access to an indoor facility with the latest in golf training technology. Golfers can cure their slice-, shank-, or narcolepsy-prone swings inside hitting bays that feature TrackMan swing-analysis software, which uses motion sensors and video playback to break down swinging motions. Urban Links’ resident aces also enlist TrackMan technology to help players find out the club specifications that best fit their swing and body type. Along with lessons and club-fitting sessions, golfers can take advantage of the equipment and develop secret handshakes with cyborg Greg Normans during independent practice sessions in the hitting bays.