Hedley: History, River and Crafts

Hedley brings together local history, experiences on the Similkameen River and crafts. The Hedley Heritage Museum and historic points of interest offer different ways to connect with the past; by the river, you can go for a walk or pan for gold. More than 20 artisans add work available to buy directly, classes and one-on-one instruction to these themes. The options range from historical insights to activities where you can take part or learn something yourself.

Museum and Local History

The Hedley Heritage Museum includes the Lyon family home and a replica of a mine worker's lodging. Visitors can enter the replica on days when the museum is open. If this particular experience matters to you, plan your visit around the opening days. The Miners' Lounge features a collection of historical photographs and documents, as well as a family history centre. The two museum areas have different focuses: the replica highlights a place to live, while the collection and centre draw attention to historical images, documents and family history.

Another historic point of interest is the Hedley Post Office, a building with a mural. The mural adds a visual dimension to local history; the post office building is also a landmark in its own right, separate from the museum collections.

Local History on a Self-Guided Walk

In April 2026, Destination BC featured Hedley's Historic Walking Tour as a self-guided journey through time, with points of interest related to local history, handcrafted benches and a compiled brochure. The tour also included significant historic sites, viewpoints and historically significant streets. The museum and walking tour therefore have different focuses: the museum features photographs, documents and family history, while the tour takes in historic sites, viewpoints and streets. This distinction can help you weigh up museum collections against a self-guided exploration with historical points of interest.

On the Similkameen River

You can go for a walk along the Similkameen River. Gold panning is possible at the mouth of Hedley Creek, also known as 20-Mile Creek. The two activities also differ in terms of location: the mouth is specified for gold panning, while the walk follows the river. If you specifically want to pan for gold, use this particular area at the creek mouth as your reference point; walking is another way to spend time by the Similkameen River.

Discover Crafts

Hedley has more than 20 artisans whose work visitors can buy directly. You can also book classes or one-on-one instruction. This gives you different ways to engage with crafts: you can choose a piece or plan a learning activity of your own. One-on-one instruction offers an individual learning format alongside classes. If you enjoy getting creative yourself as well as sightseeing, this offers a different focus from a collection or a walk.

Choose a Vacation Rental to Suit Your Travel Interests

When looking for a vacation rental in Hedley, choosing a location is a good first step: consider whether you're looking for a mix of local history, river activities and crafts. If you're travelling with others, compare which interests matter most to the group. This way, you can assess Hedley based on the experiences you want from your stay, without making one activity the measure of the whole trip.

Discover more destinations: Okanagan Falls, Osoyoos, Kaleden, Cawston, Tulameen, Summerland, Oliver, Keremeos.

For the broader travel overview: Okanagan-Similkameen.