Kal Lake, the beaches and the Rail Trail

The lake itself

Kalamalka Lake is 16 km long, up to 3 km wide, covers about 25.7 km² and reaches 142 m deep, with a mean depth of 58.5 m (Wikipedia). The colour is the headline: marl (calcium carbonate) forms in the warm months and turns the water anywhere from pale cyan to deep indigo, which is why it's called the lake of a thousand colours. It's also a primary drinking-water source for Greater Vernon, so shoreline work, septic systems near the water and boating rules all get more scrutiny than you might expect.

The Coldstream end is the north shore. From there the lake runs south toward Oyama and Lake Country, with the provincial park on the east side and the Rail Trail on the west.

Beaches on the Coldstream end

Kal Beach (Kalamalka Beach)

The big one. Kal Beach is at 13836 Kalamalka Road, right on the Vernon–Coldstream line, and it's listed as a City of Vernon park with swimming and beach volleyball courts (City of Vernon). Coldstream handles planning for much of the surrounding shoreline, including the pier, which the District flagged in 2023 as deteriorating and due for rehabilitation or replacement. In 2026 the District and the Okanagan Indian Band have been working on Indigenous historical storyboards for the beach.

Pumphouse Beach and Kalavista

Smaller and quieter, and named in the District's North Kalamalka planning work along with the Kalavista boat launch (District of Coldstream). Wikipedia counts Kal Beach plus eight smaller beaches along Coldstream's shoreline; many are neighbourhood-scale access points rather than destination beaches.

In the provincial park: Cosens, Juniper and Jade bays

Cosens Bay is the classic: a long walk or bike down through grassland to clear, bright water. Juniper and Jade bays are smaller. Swimmer's itch can show up, cliff diving is not allowed, and dogs must be on leash except at three designated pet beaches: east Cosens Bay, the Crest Trail area and west Jade Bay (BC Parks).

For a wider list across the area, see Tourism Vernon's beaches and lakes page.

Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park

Established on 11 September 1975 and expanded in 2008, the park now covers 3,218 hectares on the east side of the lake, bordering the District of Coldstream and about 8 km south of downtown Vernon off Highway 6. It protects North Okanagan grassland with ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, 432 recorded plant species, and wildlife including bears, cougars and western rattlesnakes.

• Trails: 14+ km for hiking, with designated mountain-bike and horse routes. Rattlesnake Point has a viewing platform.
• Access: Cosens Bay Road, Kidston Road and the Red Gate.
• Winter: BC Parks lists winter use, so the trails stay part of life year-round.
• Operator: Kaloya Contracting Ltd., 1-236-970-7815 (per BC Parks).

Living near a trailhead is one of the quiet luxuries of Kidston and Cosens Bay Road. It also means summer traffic on those roads and some wildfire homework, both covered on the neighbourhoods page.

The Okanagan Rail Trail

The Rail Trail follows the old CN rail line along the west shore of Kalamalka Lake, past Wood Lake and on toward Kelowna. Most of it officially opened on 27 September 2018, and when complete it runs about 49.5 km from Coldstream to downtown Kelowna, passing through Coldstream, Lake Country, Okanagan Indian Band lands and Kelowna (RDNO; City of Kelowna). It follows an old rail grade, so it is gentle and wide: ideal for families, e-bikes and long walks.

Source: RDNO Okanagan Rail Trail page. Dogs must be on leash. RDNO parks: 250-550-3700. Official trail site: okanaganrailtrail.ca.

There's a Canada Day parkrun on the trail (District events listing), and the Ribbons of Green Trails Society publishes Greater Vernon trail maps.

Boating

Kekuli Bay Provincial Park has the main public boat launch on Kalamalka Lake, and the Kalavista boat launch serves the north end. If a home comes with a dock or buoy, confirm the permits and tenure with the province and the District before you firm up; don't rely on the listing description. Sean's sister site on Vernon waterfront property has more on docks and foreshore.

What lake life means for buyers

• Lake access doesn't require waterfront. Many Middleton Mountain and Kidston homes are a short drive or ride from a beach without paying waterfront prices.
• Summer changes the neighbourhood. Visit a Kal Beach-area street on a hot Saturday in July before you buy.
• Second homes pay more. Coldstream is in the Speculation and Vacancy Tax area. If the lake place won't be your principal residence, read the SVT section first.
• No nightly rentals. Coldstream allows only owner-occupied bed-and-breakfasts, so a lake home is not a vacation-rental investment here.