Knouff Lake Resort
Image Credit: Submitted/Knouff Lake Resort
December 23, 2023 - 7:00 PM
There are dozens of wilderness lakes in the Thompson-Okanagan region that provide great summertime camping and fishing just by following some well-maintained forestry roads.
Many have small resorts of varying degrees of rusticity – from log cabins and pit toilets to full kitchens and bathrooms.
But, finding a cabin for a winter getaway is much tougher as many of the resorts are closed for the season or limited to season-long rentals.
Still, there are some places that welcome lovers of the wilderness.
Knouff Lake Wilderness Resort
One option on the more rustic side is Knouff Lake Wilderness Resort, 45 minutes north of Kamloops off Tod Mountain Road.
It was established in 1904 and, according to its website, is one of the oldest four-seasons resorts in BC.
It has a dozen rustic cabins. That means they don’t have bathrooms so are served by a central bathhouse. But they do come with wood cook stoves, propane heaters, fridges and two-burner cooktop stoves.
Knouff Lake Resort
Image Credit: Subitted/Knouff Lake Resort
The resort offers skating and cross-country skiing and Sun Peaks Resort is only a half-hour drive away.
On the plus side, too, is the road is well plowed because it is a school bus route.
For more information, go here.
Tunkwa Lake Resort
Also on the (mostly) rustic side is Tunkwa Lake Resort, west of Logan Lake.
It has 19 rustic cabins that come with electricity, stoves and fridges but no running water so pit toilets and the central washroom with showers are available. There are also two full service “luxury log cabins.”
Tunkwa Lake Resort
Image Credit: Submitted/Tunkwa Lake Resort
Tunkwa Lake is renowned for its “extra large” Kamloops Rainbow trout. It hosted the 1993 World Fly Fishing Championship and is a popular destination for hunters in the fall.
But it also puts a big emphasis on winter stays.
“Winter guests often see some of the best wildlife in the middle of winter, including herds of wild horses that frequent the meadows around the lake,” its website says. “Star gazing into the clear winter skies is nothing short of incredible at Tunkwa!”
Snowmobile rentals are available, there is a lighted outdoor skating rink and fire pits along the lakeshore. And, of course, there is ice fishing.
Reservations are only taken by phone at 250-523-9697 or in person.
For more information, go here.
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Chute Lake Lodge
Further south is the Chute Lake Lodge, a 45-minute drive north of Penticton up to the Kettle Valley Railway.
It has half a dozen rustic cabins that are “self-sustaining” in the winter. They come with fridges and stoves or hot plates but, again, no washrooms.
Those include the new Bellevue 12-person log cabin that features showers and its own wood burning sauna.
Chute Lake Lodge
Image Credit: Facebook/Chute Lake Lodge
On the weekend, there are six rooms available in the lodge and the restaurant is open.
“The birth of Chute Lake started approximately a century ago,” its website says. “The combined population of Kelowna and Penticton was a mere 7,000, and the First World War was just wrapping up. A bustling new sawmill on the shore of Chute Lake had a crew of hardworking loggers thinking it was time to build themselves a place to sleep and eat.”
The railway came through a few years later and Chute Lake served as a water stop for the steam engines. Now the rail line is part of the Trans-Canada Trail and great for cycling.
In the winter the resort offers cross-country skiing and skating opportunities along with ice fishing.
For more information, go here.
Idabel Lake Private Residences and Cottages
On the less rustic side is the Idabel Lake Private Residences and Cottages that is not totally out in the wilderness but close to it, off Highway 33 just south of the Big White turnoff.
“Idabel Lake is Kelowna’s Best Kept Secret!” its website says. “Whether you’re looking for a sunny beach vacation or a winter wonderland escape, we have it all!”
Idabel Lake
Image Credit: Submitted/Idabel Lake Private Residences and Cottages
It’s actually a collection of individually owned, fully serviced suites and cottages so they are booked separately as short-term rentals through its website. It lists 10 suites and seven cottages.
There is ice fishing and skating at the lake with snowmobiling options and the Nordic Ski Club’s groomed trails are a 10-minute drive away and Big White is 35 minutes away.
For more information, go here.
Other options
There are a number of individual cabins available through short-term rental sites.
That Adventurer, a UK-based website, offers a list of “24 of the best Okanagan rental cabins” here.
There’s also accommodation at regional ski hills like Apex, Big White, Silver Star and Sun Peaks. They have cross-country skiing, skating and other non-skiing winter activities.
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