In the green, forested hills of the Falkland Valley in the Northern Okanagan region of British Columbia, is the rural community of Falkland, The Community that Cares.
Falkland is nestled at the confluence of three valleys and two rivers, the Salmon River and Bolean Creek, and is cradled by Tuktakamin Mountain (5811 feet/1771 metres) to the south, and Estekawalan Mountain to the west (5960 feet/1817 metres).
Falkland epitomizes the spirit of Canadian unity with the massive Canadian flag on the mountainside overlooking the town, made from sheets of painted plywood, and considered by many to be the largest Canadian flag in the nation.
Originally known as Slahaltkan, a First Nations word meaning “meeting of the winds”, the farming community of Falkland was named after English Colonel Falkland G.E. Warren of the Royal Horse Artillery, an early pioneer who made his home in the valley in 1893 and established a post office. The Falkland Valley was originally settled by homesteaders who established farming and ranching in the area, with farms, ranches, markets and roadside stalls widespread in the valley today.
Forestry is the mainstay of the Falkland economy, supported by agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, tourism and service industries. Agricultural crops include forage, grains, and vegetables, while apples, plums, and cherry trees are common in yards and gardens.
Falkland is within commuting distance of Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, Armstrong, and Salmon Arm, with growth potential as a bedroom community and retirement community, thanks in part to the warm dry summers and mild Winters.
Still unincorporated, the community has all the amenities; cabins, boat rentals, boat launch ramps, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and – most important of all – friendly people to ensure your vacation is fulfilling and relaxing.
Population: 600
Location: Falkland is located on Highway 97 in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. Although situated on the edges of the Okanagan and Shuswap regions of the Thompson Okanagan, Falkland is closer to the North Okanagan area. Access to Falkland is along Highway 97, 45 miles (72 km) from Kamloops in the west and 26 miles (42 km) from Vernon in the east.
Take a trip into the past at the Falkland Heritage Park Museum, located directly next to the Falkland Library on Highway 97. The Valley Museum with it’s mini village artifacts is a must.
Annual events in Falkland include the Falkland International Sled Dog Races, when mushers from Northwestern USA and western Canada compete in the two-day event on the second weekend in January, and the Falkland Stampede in May, which offers 3 days of rodeo action, a parade and dances.
The growing of ginseng has become one of the Interior’s more prized crops, as evidenced by the acres of black-tarped fields that harbour the hearty root. At present there are multiple ginseng companies operating in the Kamloops area. Ginseng Tour details are available from the Visitor Centre.
Lafarge Canada operates a large gypsum mine in Falkland.
No trip to Falkland is complete without stopping at Pillar Lake. Hikers, rockhounds, photographers and nature lovers will enjoy The Pillar, a 90-foot unique geological conglomerate of dirt and rock that can be reached via a short hike. A giant bony finger, the Falkland hoodoo, points skyward, balancing a precariously perched eight-tonne boulder on its tip.
Fishing: The Falkland area is a haven for fishermen, with excellent fishing on 10 lakes within 10 miles (16 km) of Falkland.
Hiking Hikers can hike the Estekawalan Mountain Trail, or hike up to Tuktakamin Mountain Lookout, where the view is well worth the effort.
Mountain Biking: The backroads and forested hills surrounding Falkland provide plenty of opportunities for mountain biking and outdoor adventure in summer, and snowmobiling in winter.
Golf: Golfers can go north to the 3 golf courses in Salmon Arm: The Salmon Arm Golf Club is set in an idyllic, rolling valley, beautifully treed and inviting. The public facility offers an 18-hole, 6,738-yard, par-72 championship course, or a more relaxed 9-hole executive course. Sonseekers Ridge Golf Course offers a challenging round of golf in a scenic, peaceful family-play place, where the focus is on fun.
Sonseekers Ridge Golf Course is 2,700 yards, 9 holes, and par 35. Canoe Creek Golf Course is a spectacular 7,000-yard, par-72 course encompassing 125 acres of farm and treed land, blending the natural rolling hills and unique waterways into a “Championship course”. Alternatively, neighbouring Kamloops and Vernon each offer 9 golf courses. Shuswap Golf Vacations.
Recreation Sites: With so many small lakes in the area, there is no shortage of recreation sites for camping and picnicking. Established surrounding Falkland include those at Joyce Lake, Pillar Lake, Chase Creek, Charcoal Creek, Bolean Lake, Spa Lake, Arthur Lake, Spanish Lake, Square Lake, and Pinaus Lake.
To the west of Falkland is the sprawling city of Kamloops, situated at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers. Kamloops is the fifth largest in BC, with a landscape characterized by rivers, mountains, lakes and grasslands. Blue skies, endless sunshine, deep powder snow, one thousand lakes and spectacular landscapes make the Kamloops Region the natural place to visit and experience unparalleled adventure opportunities.
To the east of Falklands, ideally nestled between the beautiful Swan, Kalamalka, and Okanagan lakes in the North Okanagan Valley, is the city of Vernon, the oldest community in British Columbia’s interior.
Circle Tours: See the best of the area on Okanagan and Kootenay Rockies Circle Tour. Travel the sunny interior of British Columbia, north through the Okanagan to Sicamous, following Highway 1 into the mountains of the BC Rockies. From Golden, head south through the Columbia Valley to Creston, and west through the Southern Okanagan, starting and ending your sun-drenched voyage in Osoyoos, the place where two lakes come together. Circle Tours in British Columbia.
