Cawston

Cawston, British Columbia

Cawston is a small town in the Similkameen. With a population of under 1000, it is surrounded by agriculture. There are about 100 organic farms in the area, and some of those farms distribute the Cawston name throughout B.C. and beyond.

Understand

The land where Cawston now lies is part of the traditional territories of the Syilx (or Okanagan) people. At their peak, about 3000 years ago, some 12,000 people lived in the region. The subgroup of Syilx known as the sməlqmix (or Similkameen) followed a nomadic life around present-day Cawston. A village was located in nearby Keremeos. Ancestral remains were found in Cawston during excavation, early in 2016.

Settlers arrived in the area during the 19th century. The Hudson's Bay company opened a trading post in this location. Missionaries and gold prospectors came. The present town is named for 19th-century local rancher, R.L. Cawston.

Get in

BC Highway 3 (the Crowsnest Highway) bisects the town north-west to south-east. It travels east from Vancouver and Hope (British Columbia) and west from Osoyoos in the Okanagan. A private auto is the easiest way to get here.

Do

• Similkameen Independent Wine Growers. Maintains a list of wideries and cideries in the local area, which is the main reason for visiting the area. See also the Drink section below. (updated May 2023)

Buy

• 1 Lidder's Produce Market, 2136 BC Highway 3, ☏ +1 250-499-5656, okfruit@gmail.com. A very large roadside fruit stand, carrying produce from a variety of farmers in the region. The company behind the stand, OK Fruit, also delivers weekly to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. (updated Sep 2017)

Eat

• 1 Crowsnest Vineyards Restaurant, 2035 Surprise Dr (at Crowsnest Vineyards), ☏ +1 250-499-5129, info@crowsnestvineyards.com. European and German cuisine on the menu and weekly specials. (updated May 2023)

Drink

• 1 Twisted Hills Craft Cider, 2070 Hwy 3, ☏ +1 250-499-0807. Daily 10AM-6PM. The first stand-alone cidery in the Similkameen Valley. They grow organic apple varieties specifically for the use of cider. (updated May 2023)

Wineries

• 2 Crownest Vineyards, 2035 Surprise Rd, ☏ +1 250-499-5129. (updated May 2023)
• 3 Eau Vivre Winery, 716 Lowe Dr, ☏ +1 250-499-2655, postmaster@eauvivrewinery.ca. A family-run boutique winery. A wide selection of wines, including whites ranging from a smooth Viognier to a bright, floral Gewürztraminer. The reds range from an earthy, complex Pinot Noir, to a full-bodied rich Cabernet Franc, Malbec and a big, Bordeaux blend. (updated May 2018)
• 4 Harker's Organics & Rustic Roots Winery, 2238 Hwy 3, ☏ +1-250-499-2754, rusticroots@nethop.net. Daily 10AM–5PM. Harker's Organics is a 30-acre organic farm owned by the same family for five generations. Rustic Roots Winery is a fruit wine producer which grew from the fruit of the farm. This highway-side store includes a wine tasting room, a cafe with soups and light meals, retail sales of fruit, and the occasional outstanding deal on excess produce. (updated May 2023)
• 5 Orofino Vineyards, 2152 Barcelo Rd, ☏ +1 250-499-0068. (updated May 2023)
• 6 Seven Stones Winery, 1143 Highway 3, ☏ +1 250-499-2144. (updated May 2023)
• 7 S’milka Vista Winery, 1002 Hwy 3, ☏ +1 250-499-4332. (updated May 2023)
• 8 Vanessa Vineyard, 1090 Highway 3, ☏ +1 250-499-8811. (updated May 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Klippers Organics Guest Suites, 2229 Ferko Rd, ☏ +1 250-499-2050, hello@klippersorganics.com. Each suite has private bathrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, and a spacious living area. All suites have three bedrooms, private entrances, free Wi-Fi and parking. From $300. (updated May 2018)
• 2 Crowsnest Vineyards Guesthouse, 2035 Surprise Dr, ☏ +1 250-499-5129, info@crowsnestvineyards.com. 7 3½-star guestrooms set up in a traditional german style. Open year around with beautiful views of the Similkameen Valley and the vineyard. Home made European breakfast included. From $126. (updated May 2018)

Go next

Routes through Cawston

Hope ← Keremeos ←

W  E

→ Osoyoos → Castlegar / Nelson