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Lake Osoyoos, Washington USA & British Columbia Canada

Also known as:  Osoyoos Lake

Lake Osoyoos spans more than 5,700 acres and straddles the border of British Columbia, Canada and Washington state in the United States. The Okanagan River flows into Lake Osoyoos in a semi-arid region of British Columbia known as Desert Wine Country. This region has very low annual rainfall and some of the highest average temperatures in Canada. In fact, the lake is the warmest in Canada and…
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    • All About Lake Osoyoos, WA / Canada

    Lake Locations: Canada - British Columbia, Canada - USA - US West Region - Washington - North Central Washington -

    Lake Osoyoos spans more than 5,700 acres and straddles the border of British Columbia, Canada and Washington state in the United States. The Okanagan River flows into Lake Osoyoos in a semi-arid region of British Columbia known as Desert Wine Country. This region has very low annual rainfall and some of the highest average temperatures in Canada. In fact, the lake is the warmest in Canada and is located in Canada’s only desert, the northern-most tip of the Sonora Desert.

    On the United States side, Lake Osoyoos is located in northern Washington state. Zosel Dam, at the south end of the lake, regulates the water levels. In this hot environment, Lake Osoyoos offers visitors on both sides of the border a welcome oasis with its shady trees, lush lawns, and sandy shores.

    Lake Osoyoos was once a primary encampment for Native Americans who came to the area for plentiful fish and hunting. The name Osoyoos (pronounced Oh-Soy-Use) originates from an Indian word “suius” meaning “narrowing of the waters” and refers to the cinched waistline of the lake. The “O” prefix was attached by early settlers who apparently wanted to adapt the name to be attuned with other O-names in the region: Okanagan, Oroville, Oliver, and Omak.

    During the 1800’s, the region around Lake Osoyoos was on the north-south fur trade route. It then became an important border entry point for cattle drives as well as explorers and gold miners. Lake Osoyoos has evolved into a very popular destination for vacationers and retirees alike. The dry, warm climate is perfect for camping, hiking and golf as well as water sports including fishing, boating, canoeing, waterskiing, and swimming. In winter, visitors enjoy ice skating, ice fishing, playing in the snow, and downhill skiing within an hour’s drive of the lake.

    Campers will find many campsites on both sides of the border. On the Washington state side, campers can visit Osoyoos Lake State Veteran’s Memorial Park, which is a 47-acre camping park with plenty of amenities to make for a comfortable stay. All sites have a picnic table, campfire grill, turf-blanketed tent pads, and a gravel pad for parking. Many camp sites have shade trees, and easy water access. On the Canada side, the shore is dotted with various commercial RV parks and campgrounds with electricity, laundry facilities showers, playgrounds and more.

    Visitors to Lake Osoyoos can also enjoy a special wildlife and bird watching experience, as the area is home to white tail and mule deer, moose, elk, bear, turtles, beavers, and otters, as well as eagles, humming birds, ospreys, yellow-headed blackbirds, loons and mallard ducks. For orchardists, the climate is perfect for cherries, apricots, pears, peaches, plums, apples and grapes.

    For off-lake attractions, the nearby town of Oliver is considered the wine capital of Canada, with the largest concentration of vineyards and commercial wineries in British Columbia. Annual festivals, wine tastings, and tours make the area a wonderful stop for anyone who appreciates good wine. Another fascinating side trip on the Canadian side of Lake Osoyoos is Spotted Lake. Less than two miles from the northern tip of the lake, Spotted Lake is a photographer’s paradise and just plain fun to look at. The lake covers about 38 acres and looks to be full of various colored spots. Due to the extremely high concentrations of minerals such as salts, titanium, calcium, and sulphates, pools of water begin to appear as the lake evaporates in late summer. The lake sits on private land, but is easy to see and photograph from the highway. The best time to check out the spots is between June and mid-September.

    On the Washington side, the quaint town of Oroville sits on the shores of Lake Osoyoos. As the name suggests, the town is famous for its gold mines (the Spanish word for “gold” is “oro”). Most of the Oroville’s “gold” can now be found in the form of locally grown apples, but visitors can still rent a shovel and a pan and spend an afternoon panning for gold with the whole family.

    Lake Osoyoos holds a variety of fish species for the avid angler: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Carp, Kokanee Salmon, Lake Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, Largescale Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Northern Pikeminnow (formerly N. Squawfish), Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Sockeye Salmon, Steelhead, and Yellow Perch. For visitors bringing their own boat, the lake features several marinas and boat launches. Or leave the boat home and rent one instead. Rental options include sport boats, paddle boats, seadoo personal watercraft, skidoos, kayaks, canoes and more.

    The waters of Lake Osoyoos are highly regulated and subject to international water-sharing agreements. Those agreements are governed by the International Joint Commission whose purpose is to help prevent and resolve disputes about the use and quality of boundary waters of the US and Canada, and to advise the two countries on questions about water resources. The International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, which was formed in 1946, supervises the operation of the Zosel Dam. Each spring the six-member Board holds a public meeting to decide whether to raise or lower the levels of Lake Osoyoos based on that year’s drought conditions.

    Vacation rentals including cottages, villas, cabins, homes and condos are available around the Lake Osoyoos shoreline. Plenty of waterfront property and homes are available for those looking to relocate to the area as well. The closest airport is Spokane International Airport 180 miles away. In British Columbia, the Vancouver International Airport is farther, at just over 250 miles away. But with such a wide range of activities in the area coupled with the beauty of the lake and surrounding area, the drive is well worth the effort.

    Things to Do at Lake Osoyoos

    These are some activities in the Lake Osoyoos, WA / Canada area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Water Skiing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Ice Skating
    • Downhill Skiing
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Osoyoos?

    Lake Osoyoos has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Bullhead
    • Black Crappie
    • Carp
    • Crappie
    • Kokanee Salmon
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Perch
    • Pumpkinseed
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Salmon
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Sockeye Salmon
    • Steelhead Trout
    • Sucker
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
    • Whitefish
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Osoyoos

    If you’re considering a Lake Osoyoos lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Osoyoos Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Osoyoos lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Osoyoos Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control

    Surface Area: 5,729 acres

    Shoreline Length: 30 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 911 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 909 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 913 feet

    Average Depth: 46 feet

    Maximum Depth: 208 feet

    Water Volume: 266,800 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1927

    Drainage Area: 3,150 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Mesotrophic

    Lake Osoyoos Map

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