The Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is one of Canada's most varied and rewarding gravel cycling destinations. Unlike the Rockies, the appeal here is contrast — arid desert landscapes in the south, glacial turquoise lakes throughout, forested highlands above the valley floor, and a ribbon of vineyards and orchards threading through it all. The terrain rewards both casual explorers and serious climbers.

The scenery shifts dramatically even over short distances. Orchards and vineyards give way to sagebrush hills, forested corridors, and sun-bleached canyon walls where wildlife sightings are common. Known locally as the "lake of many colors," Kalamalka Lake's extraordinary turquoise and cyan hues, caused by light refracting off limestone crystals in the water, are one of the Okanagan's most memorable natural sights.