My COVID-19 social distancing walk took me out and about in the great city of Kelowna, British Columbia (BC). Whilst living up on Big White, a trip down to Kelowna would not be complete without taking the time to search for the legendary Ogopogo, who reputedly resides in Okanagan Lake.
Lake Okanagan is about 400 kms east of Vancouver. The lake is 135 kms long and between 4 kms and 5 kms wide, with an average depth of 249 ft. Up to 800 ft deep in some places, ample space for a large creature.
I’ve long been fascinated by cryptozoology … intrigued with folkloric creatures with the likes of the Loch Ness Monster, the Sasquatch, Chupacabra, Abominable Snowman, Kraken, Sea Serpents, The Mothman, Thunderbirds, and Jersey Devil, just to name a few. And since I’m here, I definitely could not pass up the opportunity to search out Ogopogo. A few years ago I visited Toutes Aides, Manitoba (while I lived in Manitoba) in search of Manipogo -> you can check out that blog here.
It’s not really a monster, it’s a spirit of the lake and it protects this valley from one end to the other,”
~ Pat Raphael of the Westbank First Nation
What is Ogopogo?
Claimed to be a distant cousin of the Loch Ness Monster and is said to reside in Lake Okanagan, near Kelowna, BC. Ogopogo to Kelowna what Nessie is to Loch Ness: a yet-to-be-identified cryptid that reputedly resides in the lake’s depths and surfaces just often enough to keep the legend alive.
Per the Kelowna Tourism Board:
“Stories date back thousands of years where the Interior Salish First Nation people spoke of N’ha-a-itk, the spirit of the lake. Stories of N’ha-a-itk changed over the years as European settlers transformed the stories they heard into a creature, which later became known as Ogopogo, and the purported sightings over the years continue to strengthen the legend.”
The original N’ha-a-itk legend described a powerful spirit who demanded respect and could be dangerous if ignored. Many First Nations accounts portray it as a cautionary presence — a guardian of the lake rather than a mindless monster. Over time, European settlers reimagined N’ha-a-itk as a creature to “hunt” or spot, giving rise to the Ogopogo stories we hear today.
What am I searching for?
Descriptions vary, but certain characteristics have been repeated through the decades:
Ogopogo is green with a snakelike body.
About length 15 to 25 meters.
Looks like a horse; others say that it is reptilian or goat-like.
What are eyewitnesses seeing?
Dark and multi-humped, with green, black, brown, or gray skin.
The head is said to look like that of a snake, sheep, horse, sea,l or even an alligator.
Some eyewitnesses say it has ears or horns; others don’t.
Length: 15 to 25 meters.
Many sightings simply describe a featureless log that came alive.
Oddly enough, quite a similar description to when I posted about Manipogo!
Not to be confused with:
- A giant sturgeon
- An aquatic serpent
- A wave
- A floating log
- A river otter
- A beaver
My Kelowna Ogopogo Hunt
It was 17° and partially sunny in Kelowna a couple of days ago when I was out and about — the weather was perfect!
To scope out Ogopogo, I decided to take a walk down by Kelowna City Park and the Waterfront Boardwalk. The park/waterfront/marina area is a beautiful location to go for a walk and enjoy the scenery of Lake Okanagan. I loved breathing in the fresh air and soaking in the moments. People were out today, maintaining and respecting the social distancing measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. I also searched out Oggy while taking a hike up on Knox Mountain.
Pro tip for visitors: the best chance of spotting unusual shapes on the water is early morning or late afternoon when the lake is calm. Bring binoculars if you have them — you never know what might break the surface!
Around town, Oggy takes the form of a cartoonish 15-foot-long green and cream coloured statue placed along Kelowna’s waterfront walk. I also spotted another Oggy at the Parkinson Recreation Centre, near the kids’ water park (which was closed due to the coronavirus).
The Verdict
I had about as much luck finding Ogopogo as I did Manipogo. None.
Here are a few shots of my walk around Lake Okanagan down by the marina and Kelowna City Park.
That aside, Kelowna and the lakefront itself are absolutely stunning and 100% worth the visit.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the stories of Ogopogo are part of the charm of Okanagan Lake. Keep your camera and your curiosity handy — who knows, maybe your next stroll along the waterfront will be the day you catch a glimpse of the legendary creature!
Happy searching!
Related Video:
Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack – Season 2 Episode 17 – Full Episode
(Fast forward episode to 38:38)
My Tiny World Corner 
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