Osoyoos

Osoyoos is a town in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia, stretching along the eastern shore of a long lake. Dry slopes with fruit orchards and grapevines frame the settlement, which sits at roughly 283 meters elevation.

Traders from the Pacific Fur Company settled here in the early 19th century before the Hudson's Bay Company took control in 1821. The settlement incorporated as a town in 1946.

The name derives from the Okanagan word sw̓iw̓s, which describes the narrow waterway connecting two lake basins. Vineyards and orchards now shape the landscape around the shoreline.

The Crowsnest Highway runs through town, linking westward to Keremeos and south to the United States border. Summer heat often exceeds 104 °F (40 °C), so early morning or evening visits work better for outdoor walking.

The valley floor here sits at 276 meters, marking the lowest point in the entire Okanagan Valley within Canada. Temperatures can reach 45 °C in midsummer, which is exceptional for this latitude.

Location: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

Inception: January 14, 1946

Elevation above the sea: 283 m

Shares border with: Oliver

Website: https://osoyoos.ca

GPS coordinates: 49.03250,-119.46611

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:45