Nestled in the sunny Okanagan Valley, between Wood Lake to the south and Kalamalka Lake to the north, the community of Oyama is known for its serenity, sunshine, beautiful clean lakes, and warm hospitality.
The Jewel of the Okanagan, Oyama is located in Lake Country, a municipality comprised of four communities; Winfield, Okanagan Centre, Oyama, and Carr’s Landing, all located on the benches above Okanagan Lake and Wood Lake.
The warm, dry climate of the Okanagan Valley provides great recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, sailing, swimming, paddling and all water-borne activities.
Oyama has strong agricultural roots. The Okanagan Valley is renowned for its many orchards of apples, cherries, apricots, pears, and peaches, supplying the people of Lake Country with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Oyama is named after a Japanese field marshal, Prince Iwao Oyama (1842-1916), who fought in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905.
Population: 1,000
Location: Oyama is located in Lake Country, on Oyama Road off the eastern side of Highway 97, 16 miles (25 km) south of Vernon, and 7 miles (11 km) north of Winfield.
Okanagan Produce: Enjoy the splendid fruits that have made the Okanagan famous in all corners of the world. Gatzke’s Farm Market on Highway 97 invites you to savour some of the 50 varieties of sweet fruits grow in the area, as well as many other special farm products available.
Kalamalka Lake Viewpoint, 8 km north of Oyama, provides great views of Kalamalka Lake and the Coldstream Valley.
Golf: Golfers can tee off at Predator Ridge Golf Resort, 9 km north of Oyama. Select from three great nine-hole courses; The Osprey, The Peregrine and The Red Tail, each ranging in length from 2,600 yards to over 3,500 yards. Each course has it’s own style and beauty, allowing golfers to combine different courses to provide a challenging variety. Golf Vacations in British Columbia.
Fishing: The group of lovely lakes east of Oyama, accessed on the Beaver Lake and Dee Lake Roads has long been recognized as one of British Columbia’s finest fishing grounds. Set like pearls in the midst of wooded hills of great beauty, and connected by waterways and trails, this group of 20 lakes or more is well stocked with real fighting Kamloops trout. Top among the lakes are Dee Lake, Island Lake, Deer Lake and Crooked Lake. A recreation site, boat launch and campground are located at Island Lake, with a boat launch at Dee Lake, which boasts the largest rainbow trout, to 2 kg. In addition to good fishing in the larger lakes mentioned below, fishing is also good at Ellison Provincial Park on Okanagan Lake.
Recreational Lakes in the Oyama area include Duck Lake, Wood Lake, Kalamalka Lake, and Okanagan Lake. Wood Lake, between Oyama and Winfield has a solid reputation for Kokanee and rainbow trout fishing, and is named after Tom Wood, who settled on the south end of the lake around 1860. Kalamalka Lake, north of Oyama, is named after the Indian Chief Kalamalka, who lived on the lake. Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park on the northeast shore provides good hiking and birdwatching.
Diving: Otter Bay in Ellison Provincial Park, just a few miles north of Carr’s Landing, is the site of western Canada’s first freshwater scuba-diving and snorkelling park. A number of objects have been sunk here to attract a variety of fish and other lake-dwelling creatures.
Skiing: Oyama is perfectly located between two major ski areas; Big White Ski Resort, approximately 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Kelowna, and Silver Star Mountain Resort, 14 miles (22 km) northeast of Vernon.
Watersports: Surrounded by lakes, as Oyama is, means watersport is a big part of daily life in Oyama. Watersport centres offer an extensive selection of water sport equipment for rental, including Seadoos, jet skis, cruise boats, houseboats, fishing boats, windsurfers, pedal boats, canoes, tubes, knee boards, wake boards, waterskis … and more.
Kaloya Regional Park on Trask Road (off Oyama Road) on the southern shore of Kalamalka Lake, provides a swim area, covered picnic area, walking trails, lily pond, playground, and boat beach.
Reiswig Regional Park on Woodsdale Road south of Wood Lake offers a swim area, picnic area and playing field.
The rocky, forested headlands and sheltered, sandy bays of small Ellison Provincial Park await you on the east side of Okanagan Lake, just a few miles north of Carr’s Landing. Walking trails provide access to the headlands that separate two beautiful bays, offering boulder-climbing excitement and wildflower photo opportunities. The bays are good fishing spots.
South of Oyama is Winfield, the largest community and the commercial centre of the Lake Country area. Winfield is the southernmost of the Lake Country towns, named after Winfield Lodge, the homestead of pioneer Thomas Wood, the first settler in the area.
North of Oyama is Vernon, the oldest community in British Columbia’s interior, ideally nestled between the beautiful Swan, Kalamalka, and Okanagan lakes in the North Okanagan Valley.
To the west of Oyama is Carr’s Landing. Located along Okanagan Lake, Carr’s landing provides a spectacular view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding orchards, and is home to Gibson House in Kopje Regional Park, a 1912 heritage home now housing a museum. Carrs Landing is named after pioneer Andy Carr.
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.
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Flyboarding is the hottest new water sport, a truly unique adventure that cannot compare with any other sport out there. A Flyboard is powered by the water propulsion of a personal watercraft (jetski). The rider on the board is attached to the watercraft by an 80-foot hose that allows the flier the freedom to fly high or dive effortlessly into the water.
Flyboarding is easy to learn, and suitable for people of any age and ability. Your certified instructor will guide you through the experience. The average training time before you’re flying is 5 minutes, so you’ll be grinning from ear to ear in no time … and for days thereafter! Be sure to check this exhilarating challenge off your bucket list.
