Spanning an impressive four miles long, the Penticton River Channel offers one of the best floating experiences in British Columbia.
The man-made waterway cuts across the breathtaking Okanagan Valley and offers tubers a full three-to-four hours of relaxing fun with stunning vistas in every direction. Connecting the Okanagan Lake to the Skaha Lake, the pristine passageway is considered a bucket list item for the summer season.
Float Penticton, a local shuttle service, will also offer service between the channel and homes, hotels or AirBnBs this summer. As such, ‘foaters’ won’t have to worry about finding parking at the channel. In addition, the company states that it offers, “free air fill-up’s for all of our shuttle guests to blow up their flotation device.”
Tubers may opt to bring their own floatie, or they may rent one from the launch site. Coyote Cruises operates daily from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. through the summertime and rents a number of floaties including: solo inner-tubes, double tubes, quad tubes, and ten person party floats. The company also offers a variety of channel-side treats such as hot dogs, ice cream, slushies, and canned drinks.
The best time to visit the channel is between mid-May and September, and preferably on a warm, sunny day. Tubers begin the excursion at Okanagan Lake’s launch site at 215 Riverside Drive.
Tubing can be extremely dangerous in places where the current is strong. Therefore, it is recommended that tubers only go to places that have been approved safe for public use. Further, visitors should never consume alcohol before going tubing.
