Princeton between two rivers and on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail

Princeton lies at the confluence of the Tulameen River and Similkameen River. Rivers, trails and culture shape a variety of ways to explore the town: spend time by the water, travel along the Kettle Valley Rail Trail, or explore the sculptures and collections. Choosing a vacation rental therefore depends on which of these aspects you want to make the focus of your stay.

Rivers and trails in Princeton

Two Rivers Park is an important access point to the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers for visitors and residents. The park has a sandy beach and picnic tables; you can also try your hand at gold panning along the sandy shore. This makes it easy to pair time by the river with a specific activity. If you want to balance nature and activity in different ways, Princeton also has a paved trail that runs through town.

The Kettle Valley Rail Trail is ideal for walking, running and cycling. In Princeton, it runs from Two Rivers Park and the Bridge of Dreams to a 1,000-foot-long illuminated tunnel. The park, trail and tunnel offer different ways to plan your day: a visit to the river has a different focus from spending more time on the trail. The Bridge of Dreams spans the Tulameen River and stands where the last bridge along the historic Kettle Valley Railway was completed. Here, a river crossing and railway history come together.

The Gold Pan Reserve also runs through Princeton. Along with the chance to pan for gold on the sandy shore at Two Rivers Park, it is another point of interest for visitors interested in gold. However, the two are not the same: the reserve runs through town, while the gold-panning opportunity mentioned above is part of the park.

Sculptures, history and collections

The Bronze Sculpture Walk features 15 bronze sculptures showcasing Princeton’s diverse wildlife. The wildlife depicted gives the walk a clear theme. The Pollard Wing at the Princeton and District Museum and Archives houses one of the most extensive mineral and fossil collections in British Columbia. The Princeton Museum also offers historical and cultural exhibits; the specific selection may change. If you like to include art, history or natural history in your trip, you’ll find a variety of cultural points of interest here.

The public Princeton Golf Club in the heart of town offers another way to experience Princeton. The course has 18 holes and a par of 72; the club was founded in 1928. Its clearly defined details make it easy to distinguish from the open-ended river and trail experiences: consider whether golf, activity on the trail or a visit to the water should play a bigger part in your stay.

B.C.’s largest jet weather vane, the T33 Mark 3 Silver Star, stands at the airport entrance on Highway 5A. The Princeton Regional Airport is a two-minute taxi ride from downtown; actual travel time may vary depending on the road and traffic. The weather vane is another distinctive landmark in town, while the taxi information provides a practical guide for getting there.

The municipal events calendar lists the Princeton Traditional Music Festival as a community event in August and the Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo as a community event in June. If either is important to your trip, check the dates in advance. That way, you can tailor your stay to your group’s interests without treating cultural events, time by the river, the trail and golf as interchangeable experiences.

Discover more destinations: Kaleden, Keremeos, Okanagan Falls, Summerland, Cawston, Hedley, Naramata, Osoyoos.

Return to the regional travel overview: Okanagan-Similkameen.