Upper Mission Guide: 4 Perks of Living in Upper Mission

The Upper Mission neighbourhood in the city of Kelowna has a lot going for it. Uphill from much of the rest of the city, Upper Mission offers some incredible views of Okanagan Lake. From the new construction homes at the peak of the hillside to the waterfront properties next to the lake, residents have easy access to some great local parks, several wineries, and proximity to Kettle Valley Village Centre. Here are all the reasons to love living in Upper Mission, Kelowna.

Proximity to Kelowna Parks

The Woodhaven Nature Conservancy Regional Park is bordered on its west and south sides by Raymer Road in the Lower Mission community. This 30-hectare park is home to four natural ecosystems:

• Black cottonwood
• Douglas fir
• Ponderosa pine
• Western red cedar

A trail system runs through the conservancy in two directions from the parking lot in the northwest corner of the area. All regional parks are open from dawn until dusk every day, with hours shifting slightly with the seasons.

Upper Mission is also home to the largest off-leash dog beach in Kelowna. Seven-hectare Cedar Creek Park is on the shores of Okanagan Lake and features a boat launch, a beach, a swimming area, and some hiking trails.

Bertram Creek Regional Park is an excellent Kelowna park for a picnic next to the lake in Upper Mission. There are two separate parking areas at Bertram Creek, and it's open from dawn until dusk daily. This park also has several great beaches for boating and swimming. Picnic tables are available for public use, and visitors can reserve a pavilion for events. Three separate trails wind through the park's wooded areas.

Homes with Beautiful Views

Homes in Upper Mission offer stunning views. The gated homes next to Okanagan Lake overlook the water toward the West Kelowna community and Westbank neighbourhood. Homes in Upper Mission's hillside have views stretching from the wineries in the Kelowna South neighbourhood to downtown Kelowna.

The average price of homes for sale in Upper Mission is around $2.1 million, but some homes also list between $600,000 and $1 million. A more expensive modern-style estate near the top of the hillside containing five bedrooms and five bathrooms can sell for anywhere from $5 to $8 million, depending on its view. Smaller homes on the hillside tend to have more than 4,000 square feet and are fairly new, having been built between 2000 and the 2020s.

Nearby Kelowna Wineries

Anyone who drives along Lakeshore Drive in Upper Mission can look to the right and see the incredible vineyard rows of St. Hubertus & Oak Bay Estate Winery. British Columbia is the wine capital of Canada, and Kelowna has temperate weather due to its proximity to the lake, creating an excellent wine-growing season for Kelowna wineries like St. Hubertus. This organic winery was first planted in 1928 and is well known for its award-winning Pinot Noir.

The Summerhill Pyramid Winery & Bistro is on the hillside between Lakeshore Drive and Chute Lake Road. Visitors can look downhill from the parking lot for amazing views of the winery's vines and the lake. The Bistro serves lunch, dinner, and $7 glasses of wine daily during Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m. Summerhill crafts sparkling, red, white, ice, and specialty wines.

The CedarCreek Estate Winery is also just up the hill from Lakeshore Drive, and won the Winery of the Year title at the 2022 WineAlign National Awards. Its tasting room has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide unobstructed views of the lake, while there's an indoor fireplace for the colder months and two outdoor courtyards to enjoy tastings during summer. CedarCreek's Home Block restaurant provides upscale dining that includes two-course lunches with wine pairings, three-course dinners with wine, and a wide range of specialty dinners throughout the year. The menu tends to change with the seasons, so it's worth coming back again and again to try new food and wine.

Kettle Valley Village Centre

The small Kettle Valley neighbourhood is in Upper Mission, halfway between the hillside and the water. The Village Centre is the shopping hub for Upper Mission and is in the Kettle Valley area. About 20 businesses offer dining, retail, health and beauty products and services.

All of the businesses in Village Centre are locally owned. The Kettle Valley Convenience Store is a spot for light grocery shopping that people can walk to from virtually anywhere in the village. Other businesses in the Village Centre include Kettle Valley Coffee & Scoops, Kettle Valley Fitness, the New You Day Spa, and the Kettle Valley Liquor Store. Restaurants include Papito's Pizza, Kettle Valley Public on Main Bar & Grill, and the Dastan Kaiseki.

Kettle Valley is a designed community with seven public parks in the central part of the village. These parks and well-designed sidewalks make the Village Centre a very walkable part of the neighbourhood.

Discover Upper Mission in Kelowna

The stunning views and water activities on Lake Okanagan, combined with a laid-back lifestyle and spectacular weather, make Upper Mission a desirable place to call home. As the neighbourhood continues to develop, it will remain one of the most coveted spots in Kelowna.

If the opportunities in Kelowna excite you, contact the agents at KelownaHomes.ca at 250-999-9844 to get in touch with a local real estate agent who can help you find the perfect home in Kelowna today.