A calm getaway at Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch

Sometimes the best stops are off the beaten path.

This was our experience during a recent getaway to Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch, a quiet rural retreat near Lumby. 

The ranch is 39 kilometres east of Vernon and 14 kilometres east of Lumby. While it is close to the amenities of the North Okanagan, it is on a quiet rural road and offers a relaxed atmosphere for a getaway. It gets its unique name as the property is located at the base of Camel’s Hump Mountain.

For our stay, we had booked a cabin. When we arrived, Tina greeted us at our cabin and showed us around. It had been raining, and it was a bit chilly when we arrived, so we were thrilled that Tina had started a fire in the wood stove for us. We were immediately charmed by the warm, welcoming, and cozy feel to our cabin. 

“We had been looking for a getaway at a cabin in nature. Camel’s Hump was exactly what we were looking for. It combined the luxury of a lovely and cozy cabin within a gorgeous natural setting. We were able to relax, disconnect, read, go for hikes, and soak up nature.”

Kim

The cabin we stayed in was lovely, clean, and well stocked. It featured a king-sized bed on the main level and two small lofts, each with the capacity for two more people. It had a full bathroom with a shower, a full kitchen with everything we needed for a getaway including a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven, slow cooker, and a barbecue on the large, covered patio. We appreciated the special touches in the cabin including tea, microwave popcorn, bottles of water in the fridge, ice in the freezer, and locally made soap in the bathroom. Tina also brought some games and DVD movies for us to watch from the lodge. 

While there is no cell phone coverage, there is satellite wifi on the property. So we felt we were able to recharge by disconnecting, while still being accessible via email. 

There are two hot tubs on the property, one for guests in the lodge and one for guests in the cabins. We enjoyed going for a soak in the hot tub a couple of times over the weekend. The picturesque setting of the hot tub allowed for relaxation after enjoying the activities of the day.

The expansive property is beautiful. While there are no camels at Camel’s Hump Guest Ranch, there are cows, horses and a few friendly dogs and cats. 

One of the dogs, Buster, led us on a hiking trail to Indian Rock, a natural formation on the property. The hike is less than one kilometre from the lodge and cabins, along a well-maintained path. Eager for a longer walk, Buster decided to take us on a longer route, so we ended up doing about a 2.5 kilometre walk, there and back. Indian Rock is a great place to stop and rest a while, and if the weather is rainy, the overhanging rock will provide shelter until the rain ends. 

There are other hiking opportunities, including a climb to the top of Camel’s Hump Mountain. A path to the summit begins on the property and while it has plenty of elevation gain, there are some good view spots along the way and at the top. We did not do the hike this time, but we would like to try it during our next visit.

“We had the opportunity to meet many members of the family who own and operate Camel’s Hump. The family purchased this business in 2021 and have invested significant time into upgrading the property and amenities.”

John

Additional outdoor recreational opportunities are also nearby. Echo Lake Provincial Park is just a few kilometres away and offers canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Pets on leash are welcome. We recommend that before going to this park, ask for directions. The park is on the same road as the guest ranch, but it is not well marked. We enjoyed a nice hike in the park.

You can enjoy a stay at Camel’s Hump any time of year. There are year-round outdoor activities at the ranch. In the warmer months, there are ATV rides, a jet boat excursion on the Shuswap River and a pontoon boat excursion on nearly Kalamalka Lake or Mable Lake. In winter, there are opportunities for snowmobiling, sledding and ice fishing.

While we stayed in a cabin on this trip, we were curious to see the lodge, so Tina took us on a tour of the lodge. It has six bedrooms of varying sizes, accommodating two to six people in each. There’s a full kitchen in the lodge as well as multiple bathrooms, a meeting area, and spaces to relax, play games, and watch movies. We would definitely be interested in a stay in the lodge with friends or family in the future. The property would also be ideal for a small wedding, a family reunion or a board retreat.

After our weekend stay, we left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We are eager to go back later to enjoy another weekend getaway.