Lumby BC Travel Guide
Don’t miss a visit to Lumby BC, the beautiful small town in North Okanagan Valley. Lumby is a gateway to lakes and rivers and backcountry wilderness in the Monashee Mountains.
Collect the moments, not things – easy to do in Lumby BC
Lumby BC is a small community located at the north end of the beautiful Okanagan Valley at the edge of the Monashee Mountains. It’s only 25 km east of the city of Vernon, British Columbia. The village is a relaxed and friendly place, with many charming quirks.
Is it worth a visit?
Absolutely! There is more to see than just the picturesque village.
And has this town ever changed since I moved here first! In 1999, Lumby BC was a typical logging town. The economy was mainly forestry and agriculture. It was soon after I arrived that the mills started to shut down and people lost their jobs.
Will Lumby be another ghost town?
No. it didn’t. Actually, the ghost town image didn’t last long. Several sawmills survived. Still, employment at these mills has drastically been reduced.
Many small home-based businesses started to emerge. Agriculture is as strong as ever and some manufacturing companies have moved into town.
Many residents have jobs in larger towns such as Vernon and Kelowna. Some Lumby residents work in the mines or oil fields in the Northern part of the country.
Lumby today
Today, the village is growing but the small-town spirit is strongly alive. The village population is around 2000. Approximately another 4,400 people live in the rural communities of Cherryville, Mabel Lake, and Whitevale.
Lumby’s image has improved a lot over the last few years. When people ask where I live and I say Lumby BC, they don’t ask anymore why I chose Lumby for my home. I don’t have to explain anymore why I’m here. It’s a unique place, the village of Lumby BC, and its surrounding wilderness areas.
People come here for hiking, fishing, and camping in the provincial parks. You will find clear mountain lakes and many remote areas to hike in.
Lumby BC and the surrounding backcountry is a hiker’s paradise. With more than one hundred trails to choose from, you won’t know where to start.
The area is known as the “Hiking Capital of Canada”. Many of the trails also attract mountain bikers and horseback riders and are used by snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers in winter.
Why You Should Visit
Sparkling lakes nestled in the mountains and streams and rivers flow to the valleys. The area around Lumby is one of British Columbia’s undiscovered gems!
In Lumby, you can pan for gold, stroll our historical mural walk and the Salmon Trail, go camping, venture on one of the many nearby hikes, or arrange to tour the old mining digs in nearby Cherryville.
Lumby BC is considered the ‘Gateway to the Monashees’. The Monashee Mountains (Mountains of Peace) offer unlimited outdoor recreation.
Lumby BC is the Trail Capital of Canada. In Lumby, you can choose from over a hundred trails that are located throughout the Monashee.
The waters are ideal for fishing and canoeing. Also, the Lumby waters are the easternmost spawning point for Chinook salmon. It’s no wonder they chose this place to begin an exciting journey.
With its small-town spirit, Lumby is the perfect place to get away from it all. There’s a feeling that can only be described as stimulating; as vacationers and travellers approach this charming heritage village away from the buzz and noise of the city.
Shopping in downtown Lumby offers a healthy selection of businesses all within the reach of a small town. And, at the end of the day, you can relax at one of the eating places to explore delicious backcountry food. Make sure to drop in at Jitter Beans, the best and friendliest coffee shop in town.
Getting there
Lumby BC is easy to access, located right on the scenic BC Highway #6 that crosses the Monashee Mountains. It connects the vacation spots of the Okanagan and the Kootenay. We are twenty-five minutes east of Vernon, and only fifty minutes from Kelowna International Airport.
From the West Coast, Lumby is easily accessed by car via the Coquihalla Highway (Route 5 – Vancouver to Merritt), the Coquihalla Connector (Route 97C – Merritt to Kelowna), on to Vernon (Highway 97), and then East on Highway 6 to Lumby.
From Spokane, the easiest route is through Osoyoos (Highway 97 to Vernon). From Calgary or Banff, the TransCanada Highway (Route 1) takes you to Revelstoke, then Highway 97a to Vernon.
You will know you’re getting close to Lumby when you see distinct Camel’s Hump getting into the scenic picture in front of you.
From Vernon BC you can catch a local bus to Lumby. Check BC Transit for the schedules.
The town itself is small and easy to get around. You won’t get lost, I promise!
Lots to See and Do in Lumby
Plenty to explore in Lumby BC and its surroundings
- Lumby Days family fair takes place each June, attracting people from around the valley. Other annual events are the Wild Salmon Music Festival, Mabel Lake Fishing Derby, and Cherryville Days.
- Hang Gliding and Paragliding are popular in Lumby BC. The village has hosted many National and International events, usually taking place off nearby Cooper Mountain. The terrain around Lumby creates excellent conditions for paragliders and hang gliders.
- Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing are popular activities on the many lakes and the Shuswap River. Trout and kokanee in four easily accessible fishing lakes and numerous creeks and streams make this an angler’s paradise.
- The many waterfalls in the area are worth a visit for a refreshing getaway. Three of the waterfalls are located on the Shuswap River and one you find close to Mabel Lake Provincial Park.
- Mural Walk – Stroll the historical mural walk and the educational Salmon Trail to spend a leisurely afternoon. Pick up a Mural Guide and Mapbook at the Lumby Visitor Centre and stroll through a little bit of history.
- Lumby Market – If you happen to be in Lumby on a Saturday morning, check out the Lumby Public Market which offers quality arts and crafts.
- Artists and artisans work in studios throughout the region and some display their products at the Cherryville Artisans’ Shop, Gallery, and Marketplace.
- Museums – The region’s mining heritage is preserved in a small museum at the Gold Panner Campground. And don’t miss a visit to the Lumby Museum.
The perfect place for everything outdoor
Lumby BC and the area around it has miles of open backcountry roads ideal for horseback riding and ATV adventures. Check out the adventure tourism outfitters in town.
Are you a golfer? Enjoy one of the three golf courses and two driving ranges and experience the backcountry atmosphere.
Lumby is known by bikers as a great starting point for one of the best circle routes in British Columbia.
During the winter season, snowmobilers come from far away for excellent sledding conditions. Park Mountain, Aberdeen, Graystokes, and Keefer Lake areas are a few of the snowmobiling destinations.
The Lumby/Mabel Lake Snowmobile Association provides groomed trails and maps for the Park Mountain Range, the Pinnacles, the Monashee Mountains, and Silver Star.
Opportunities for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are plenty in our backcountry areas.
Where to stay
A motel and B & B suits are available near the village centre. For short-time visitors, this is ideal as you are within walking distance of shops, restaurants, Blue Ox Pub, coffee shops, the Visitor Centre, and all other services. Other accommodation options include rustic lakeside cabins and campsites.
For a special Lumby getaway, find a rustic cabin on a lake surrounded by pristine wilderness, ideal for casting a line for trout and kokanee and for wildlife viewing.
Fishing resorts and Wilderness Retreats in the Lumby area offer accommodation in pristine wilderness settings.
RV camping and tent sites are available in the heart of the village at the municipal campground. Private campgrounds are situated in the Mabel Lake Valley, as well as in Cherryville, 29 km east of Lumby.
One of the most beautiful campsites is at Mabel Lake Provincial Park.
Hardcore backcountry campers head for the rustic walk-in sites at Monashee Mountain Provincial Park.
Motors are restricted on Echo Lake and therefore it’s a great lake for canoeing and kayaking.
Climate
Lumby BC has a humid continental climate with hot summers. Fog often sets in during the winter and can last for days.
At an elevation of 495 meters, Lumby receives 1,890 hours of sunshine every year. The average rainfall is 43.6cm and the average snowfall is 143.2 cm.
Visitor Information
Drop in at the Visitors Information Centre when you get to Lumby BC and pick up brochures and maps. The Visitor’s Centre is located at 1882 Vernon Street.